Lectures short - feeling as though just studying notes hindering learning...

[The Imprisoned]

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So not exactly sure how to explain this, but here goes...

I am in week 3 of MSI, and I feel as though our professor's notes (for Gross in particular) are extremely concise and not aiding in understanding - more of just a memorize and move along thing. Only problem with this is I feel as though it is not preparing me for Step 1 in the future, and that also it is encouraging more "learn and dump" kind of "learning."

I have experimented with different types of studying, but it just seems as though getting more information from textbooks, etc. is a waste of time...but at the same time I want to gain enough understanding that the information sticks.

Example: Professor says to only worry about 1 or 2 origin/insertion points for the shoulder...

Any help or ideas is greatly appreciated.

 

[WDeagle]

So not exactly sure how to explain this, but here goes...

I am in week 3 of MSI, and I feel as though our professor's notes (for Gross in particular) are extremely concise and not aiding in understanding - more of just a memorize and move along thing. Only problem with this is I feel as though it is not preparing me for Step 1 in the future, and that also it is encouraging more "learn and dump" kind of "learning."

I have experimented with different types of studying, but it just seems as though getting more information from textbooks, etc. is a waste of time...but at the same time I want to gain enough understanding that the information sticks.

Example: Professor says to only worry about 1 or 2 origin/insertion points for the shoulder...

Any help or ideas is greatly appreciated.

There is basically like zero anatomy on any of the steps.

 

[kpcrew]

There is basically like zero anatomy on any of the steps.

wtf...
I heard that histology is low yield as well.

 

[smq123]

wtf...
I heard that histology is low yield as well.

Very.

 

[JoshSt]

So not exactly sure how to explain this, but here goes...

I am in week 3 of MSI, and I feel as though our professor's notes (for Gross in particular) are extremely concise and not aiding in understanding - more of just a memorize and move along thing. Only problem with this is I feel as though it is not preparing me for Step 1 in the future, and that also it is encouraging more "learn and dump" kind of "learning."

I have experimented with different types of studying, but it just seems as though getting more information from textbooks, etc. is a waste of time...but at the same time I want to gain enough understanding that the information sticks.

Example: Professor says to only worry about 1 or 2 origin/insertion points for the shoulder...

Any help or ideas is greatly appreciated.

It's hard to make the the minutia of specific details in anatomy stick before you've had systems, physiology, ect. The best retention/learning advice I can give is to buy/somehow get access to a board review book. The multiple choice questions will present a situation where you can have some association with a body part. Also, books like the BRS or Moore's Essentials have little clinical correlation paragraphs that will help you make further associations with something that may seem otherwise irrelevant.

You can get a board review book with questions or access to an anatomy question bank and supplement your course with that. I had a pdf version of a Step 1 review book that I printed off pages and took them to gross lab. This helped when dissection was boring, I read a relevant section to give some clinical correlation with whatever we were studying.

Don't stress too much over trying to retain things from anatomy. As an earlier post said, pure gross anatomy in itself is not super high yield on boards. The important particulars will be stressed to you when you have systems. Most medical students have it so overkill that they need to do very little to prepare for boards once the time comes.

 

[oceanillusion42]

Don't sweat the minutia... Anatomy is a bear and studying the minutia only adds insult to injury.... if you're prof says study a and b and forget about c, d, and e... then just study a and b. The bottom line is that the first months of school are a real pain. There is so much info being thrown at you that you just need to prioritize and digest the important stuff.

As was said earlier most anatomy is low yield on the boards and (hate to say it) regardless of how many origins and insertions you memorize now you will NOT remember them by second year (or even the end of first year for that matter). This is just the nature of the beast and makes the whole point kind of moot.

Also don't start worrying about the boards in your third week of MS1.

 

[Bacchus]

Agree. Plus, you'll be surprised by how much you recognize come boards season. You're going to be teaching yourself a whole lot, regardless, so don't worry about the petty stuff now.

 

[The Imprisoned]

Thank you for the input I truly appreciate it!

 

[Girfaroo]

There is basically like zero anatomy on any of the steps.

Just going to say... I disagree. I had more anatomy than I was expecting, and I was not prepared for the questions I got. Maybe on average, it is a very small part, but my exam definitely had more.

 

[mimelim]

There is very little anatomy or histology on any of the Step exams. That having been said, if you have any interest in surgery, it is worthwhile pushing yourself to learn as much as you can because it will be worth it. But like others said, the minutia is silly to learn. You will never see it again.

 

[The Imprisoned]

There is very little anatomy or histology on any of the Step exams. That having been said, if you have any interest in surgery, it is worthwhile pushing yourself to learn as much as you can because it will be worth it. But like others said, the minutia is silly to learn. You will never see it again.

I am trying to absorb the most I can as I still am planning on pursuing surgery.

 

[link2swim06]

wtf...
I heard that histology is low yield as well.

Anatomy is low yield because there really isn't that much to learn that is clinically relevant.

Know the arteries, nerves, bones, etc and you know anatomy. Subjects like path have a much much greater volume of info which seemingly goes on forever.