Med School Studying- Best way to re-review covered material

[DoctorLacrosse]

Hey guys, hope your years are off to a good start.

As many of you know, I am an M1 at a US MD school who has done decently well so far. We are approaching our third written exam and second anatomy practical, and each exam has had more material covered on it than the one before (anatomy and histology). I feel far less prepared for this one at this point as the material is a bit more difficult and higher volume, so I wanted to ask for some tips/advice. The exam is in a week.

I write this post mainly to ask, what is the most efficient way to re-review material you have already done your initial pass of? I have gotten through all of the lecture material by this point (re-watching and annotating slides), but I find myself having trouble deciding how to go back through all of it. Do you guys just read it all a bunch of times? Make condensed study sheets of each lecture? Flash cards?

On the first exams, I did condensed sheets and some flash cards, but I feel like they take too long for the amount of material I have this time. Anyone with any tips (particularly for re-reviewing anatomy)? Thanks to all!

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[cs24]

I annotated ppt slides on my first pass and just go through those for subsequent passes. While doing subsequent passes I write things like tricky biochem pathways, pathophysiology of disease processes, etc out on a white board to figure out what I know vs don't know and help solidify concepts/details in my brain. I think flash cards are far more trouble to make than they're worth. Of course, YMMV

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

I annotated ppt slides on my first pass and just go through those for subsequent passes. While doing subsequent passes I write things like tricky biochem pathways, pathophysiology of disease processes, etc out on a white board to figure out what I know vs don't know and help solidify concepts/details in my brain. I think flash cards are far more trouble to make than they're worth. Of course, YMMV

I swear my next plan was to utilize my white board to test myself during my next passes. thanks for solidifying that idea! I'll definitely be trying this out.

 

[solitarius]

I write up a very abridged outline of the lecture. This helps me organize the stuff, and it's tempting to cram all this stuff in but this is the type of stuff where you can get lost in the trees.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

I write up a very abridged outline of the lecture. This helps me organize the stuff, and it's tempting to cram all this stuff in but this is the type of stuff where you can get lost in the trees.

so do your outlines only include the big picture from the lecture? how long do they typically take you to make?

 

[solitarius]

so do your outlines only include the big picture from the lecture? how long do they typically take you to make?

They will vary by lecture. Some lectures are much longer or more detailed. Very big picture, but I give myself the creative license to add detail as I deem appropriate.

 

[Merely]

Anki

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

Anki

I've tried. the cards just take so long to make and I'm not good enough with the program to do it efficiently.

 

[moisne]

I used Firecracker - but honestly I didn't start to review until the summer

 

[ridethecliche]

I have some of the BRS books that the academic help peeps recommended.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

I have some of the BRS books that the academic help peeps recommended.

yeah I have them also. they're excellent for quickly clarifying things that seem confusing in lecture. highly recommend