Is your grade going down because you're studying for boards?

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BlackNDecker said:
Only in the classes that expect us to memorize Bull$hit minutiae :meanie:
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That's exactly what my problem is. I do not have time to memorize the little stupid details in lecture notes, and it's not like they are relevant to Step 1, most of them are really for Step 2. So, I screwed! I really need time to study for boards....but at the same time in order to do well in class, I have to spend so much time worrying about memorizing these bull$**** details.
Anybody has any advice?
 
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mrdowntoearth said:
That's exactly what my problem is. I do not have time to memorize the little stupid details in lecture notes, and it's not like they are relevant to Step 1, most of them are really for Step 2. So, I screwed! I really need time to study for boards....but at the same time in order to do well in class, I have to spend so much time worrying about memorizing these bull$**** details.
Anybody has any advice?
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I feel the very same way. I think it is different for everybody, but some of the people that i see doing their "very best work" are the people that can finally stay caught up with the work load (supposedly reduced for board studying even though it dosn't seem like it) vs. everybody who is studying for board using their own program. Good luck w/ boards
 
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I know plenty of people studying both but we have to take step 1 by April 22 and we start rotations the first of May. I've been studying since November because we only get a max of 4 weeks to study after our final. I think it's better to spread stuff out over time instead of cramming 2 years of school into 1 month. But then again I'm not a crammer.
 
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how is studying for boards different from studying for class?
class = boards + little extra details.

it's probably bad to just read FA and BRS all day when you should be reading your class notes and textbooks. I know I was lazy and did just that! in the end, you feel like you don't know much, and then you have to go back and crack open texts to relearn shiz properly.
 
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mrdowntoearth said:
Anyone having the same experience?
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Studying for classes IS studying for boards.

Therefore, by studying for boards, I improve my grade.

Fortunately, my pathology course is simply a high-yield comprehensive review for boards anyway.
 
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OSUdoc08 said:
Fortunately, my pathology course is simply a high-yield comprehensive review for boards anyway.
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Subtle, very subtle.

Kudos.
 
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My grades were about to slip so I kinda put boards prep on the back burner and concentrated on crushing Neuro. Just took the last neuro exam today!

It's on now baby (rolls up his sleeves...).
 
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I think for me, it's harder to do well right now not because i'm just studying BRS/FA for the subjects, but because i'm concurrently reviewing other things. Right now, in addition to learning pathology, i'm also reviewing micro, immuno, and pharm because after glancing at FA, I realized that there's no way I could possibly review and re-learn that much information in just a couple of days during review time. So every day, i'm putting in a couple of hours doing that - in addition to normal class/boards studying. *Sigh* - it's going to be a long couple of months!
 
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Thanks guys for sharing your experiences. At least now I know I'm not alone and that makes me feel better.
 
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I am in the same boat. I started reviewing important boards subjects like pharm, beh sci, micro while not focusing much on classes. My grades did slip quite a bit, but i really don't care because in the end I think boards matter a whole lot more as long as I pass my classes.
 
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chintu said:
I am in the same boat. I started reviewing important boards subjects like pharm, beh sci, micro while not focusing much on classes. My grades did slip quite a bit, but i really don't care because in the end I think boards matter a whole lot more as long as I pass my classes.
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I'm not sure how other schools work, but I am currently taking pharmacology, psychiatry, and pathology. We are covering micro in our next pathology unit. I don't see the benefit in studying for these subjects other than for the exams, since this is the same material that will be on the board exams. Our class designs the exams to be high-yield for the boards.
 
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OSUdoc08 said:
Studying for classes IS studying for boards.

Therefore, by studying for boards, I improve my grade.

Fortunately, my pathology course is simply a high-yield comprehensive review for boards anyway.
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Dude I think in almost every post I've read of yours you mention your pathology course. Everyone knows Goljan is your teacher...good for you.
 
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HoodyHoo said:
Dude I think in almost every post I've read of yours you mention your pathology course. Everyone knows Goljan is your teacher...good for you.
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But were you aware that Goljan's class is HIGH YIELD?!
 
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OSUdoc08 said:
If that is true, then so is Kaplan, and all of those audio tapes you people cream your pants over.
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Not your pathology class. Everyone else's.

We were sort of mocking you: "Goljan's class is HIGH YIELD ...FOR THE BOARDS!!!11!!1 p.s. Your pathology class is worthless"

Isn't it so much better when I explain it?
 
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Forget about in-house exams. Rock/ace/destroy Step1. Preclinical grades mean very, very little for residency. Step 1 is everything. It's really the only thing that matters first 2 years.
 
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this post topic is sooo true. Its annoying that I study really hard, read all the books, review those topics in the boards review books..and yet don't do as well on the tests, just because i didn't memorize the useless notes that were handed out in class. Veryy annoying, but whatever, i know this is the way to go. So i do have the same experience also. =(. Frustrating haha 😡
 
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