Info retention

[vin5cent0]

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So I'm in my junior year now and finally starting to take classes that are actually relevant to prior classes. I'm starting to find my retention of info I learned in earlier years is AWFUL. I took precalc two semesters ago. Now I'm in calc.. we took a series of ungraded quizzes this week to see where we fell, I couldn't even remember 50% of what I had learned. I used to be very strong at math. This week, I'm coming to realize I'm possibly below average on review stuff that I once rocked at.

I started thinking about it, I have such pathetic knowledge of prior biology classes, even Cell Bio which I took only last semester! 99% sure it has to do with my study method, which is more of a "learn for the moment" where I cram for tests the two days before it. Can anyone suggest alternate study methods that really ingrain things into your head? Feel like I'm only robbing myself of not remembering classes I'm paying for.

Thanks

 

[Greater Voice]

You can start by studying little by little everyday. No cramming before tests.
Also, reviewing the materials before you learn new things may help.
OR
try to memorize notes if you have to, it helps me remember.

 

[vin5cent0]

Thanks. I poke to a friend of mine who boasts a 4.0 nearly every semester, gave me the exact same advice of studying a little bit every day.

 

[raginfly]

i got the same problem as you
studying for the MCAT is going to suck

 

[vin5cent0]

i got the same problem as you
studying for the MCAT is going to suck

Yeah I know it.. glancing over my EK bio books earlier and it's all foreign

 

[tennisball80]

If English is your second language, I can see why info retention is sometimes difficult. Because you are not so familiar with the English words you are trying to study, the brain would not remember them. You might have noticed that it is easier to retain information in your first language because you understand the structure of that language so well. A great amount of repetitive practice should be accomplished to solve this issue. That's the only way to get around it if English is not your first language.

 

[zempa]

i feel that nothing really helps except going over this stuff like 2 or 3 times separated by like a month or two apart. Of course that's not how I study for tests but for exmaple I still remember much of what I learned for the MCAT because it was like the 4th time I was seeing the same info

 

[FloatOn]

In addition to studying a little everyday and studying EARLY, make sure to learn the material well the first time you look at it. Don't half-ass your way through and keep on "learning" it superficially because when test time rolls around, you're going to realize that you don't really know it as well as you thought.

 

[elektroshok]

I am in the same boat. I don't remember anything I took last year to the point that I can write a test on it.

But do you at least have "aha" moments when you review?

Some of the stuff is bound to stick which makes studying it later so much easier because you have a framework.

This.

 

[Drexon]

Same my retention for things are horrible 1 year after the course has ended.
I usually retain almost 80% of the information from a class about 1 quarter after the class but it really drops after that. I still remember major concepts and themes but specifics and details elude me! This happens because I'm not using the information in a day to day basis. Thus it degrades...

However if you were thinking... how can i be a good doctor when I forget things that i've learned? Then have no fear. Med students and the doctor I shadow says it gets easier to remember things later on because you're practicing all the time and the knowledge becomes a second language you acquire over time. You'll keep using it all the time so it's hard to forget.

hope this helps