Methods Of Studying... what do you guys recomend?

[Btemp687]

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Basically this thread is just to gain a jist of different study methods that Med students have been using and gaining successfull results. My method
Read text/powerpoint
Then read outloud while typing keypoints on my laptop
Finally review the notes

Another method my friend told me he does in Podiatry school is to use a white boards and jot down key points of each class he had that day. He reads the texts, and I told him to get an atlas for that subject and he reviews with the atlas. Now he's 2 weeks ahead of the professor in the syllabus!

Others please chime in.... could be a good reference. Half of the battle is to KNOW how to study and understand material... not just memorize to spit back out for a test.

 

[WiscDoc]

It might vary from class to class, depending on the type of info (anatomical locations/functions vs. biochemical rxns), and depending on the type of resources provided. I just stick with whatever problems, objecives given to us, along with the ppts and the coursebooks. I don't do any outside searching for resources (not yet atleast). Generally, for me it is:

-Pre-read before lecture (skimming)
-go to lecture
-read after lecture, try to understand everything and memorize some details (knowing that I won't get it at all just yet). Do any problem sets etc. prepare for the next day.
weekends: review as much as possible/ catch up on anything that i didn't get to.
Few days before the test: try to go through the course book and or all problems given to us... review anything I feel rusty on.

 

[tk2med]

skim
Go to lecture, highlight what they really mention and make a point to spend more than 5 seconds on.
That afternoon, MEMORIZE, go to the book if I have to to clear anything up (for anatomy that meant memorize all innervations, arteries, insertions, relationships etc)
Weekend-review re-memorize

When I say memorize, I mean ppt slides. However you memorize best that's up to you, but seriously, it's all about memorization, whether you like it or not.

 

[Btemp687]

OK.... sounds good. Next question. On average, how many classes are taken at one given time? 4,5,6 or more? Also, does anyone work while in medschool? Is it recommended? Im my case... Im taking 6 classes my last semester and I do work usually a couple days a week and every weekend. With that said, study times are drastically cut for me when it comes to the weekend catch up.

 

[45408]

Here's what I do. Skip class. Read course handout and possibly the textbook. Highlight the information that seems important that I don't already know. Later, when the co-op notes from lecture are available, I check to see if there was anything specifically highlighted in lecture. Then I just read and re-read and re-read my notes. I'll also pimp my study partner with random facts, and he'll do the same to me. The day before the exam, I'll look at old exams, if they're available. If it's a fact-based exam (bacteriology), then it's not very helpful, but the concept-based exams (phys) were a Godsend.

 

[shantster]

OK.... sounds good. Next question. On average, how many classes are taken at one given time? 4,5,6 or more? Also, does anyone work while in medschool? Is it recommended? Im my case... Im taking 6 classes my last semester and I do work usually a couple days a week and every weekend. With that said, study times are drastically cut for me when it comes to the weekend catch up.

Number of classes depends on each individual school. We are on a block schedule so we only have one science class at a time (started with 7 weeks of anatomy, now are finishing cell and tissue). We do have other classes, but they are only once a week and fairly skipable (ethics and biostats). We also have a patient care course to prepare us for when we start getting clinical experience in Spring (first interviewing and now physical exam). So all in all it's 4 at a time, but really you're only going to be studying for one of those. The other three are fairly straightforward.

 

[shreypete]

do check out some of the anatomy and histo. sites online....they're AWESOME!!!...and make studying a lot easier (for eg. some of the medical univs. dissection sites...)

i have 12 subjects this yr.....so that sucks big time....

 

[Blondbondgirl]

Well I try to keep up with lecture every day (if I don't go, I read a textbook and make myself an outline) and then either once a week or once every 2 weeks (depending on how often we're quizzed) I review everything up to that point again, by myself and because I have trouble "quizzing" myself I either do multiple choice questions on the topic, or (even better) have a quizzing session with my study buddies. It helps me think about what I learned instead of passively re-reading it. I find that MC Q's help even for an oral exam, but I usually make key-word outlines for oral exams, so that I can start broad and build in details as I remember them...

 

[CigarTragic]

Early on, you must get into the head of the professor and study accordingly. Make a strategy. This will vary from class to class. But spending all those hours studying suddenly seems much more tolerable day-to-day when you know for sure that what you're studying IS important for the tests.

 

[CTtarheel]

It depends on the material and YOU. Seriously, try several different ways and go with what works best. Luckily we have a pass/fail first year which gives you some time to figure it out!

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Stick with reading prose (text, core notes) in initial studying. Avoid powerpoints and review books until second pass if you really want to learn the material.

 

[Btemp687]

damn lol so you guys are just studying to pass the tests? Learn the material later for clinical and usmle step one i guess is the strategy. Im still trying to find the best way to study. For example... in my undergrad anatomy class/lab i used an atlas after i read the material and that highlighted fine details and I was able to put together the "big picture" and break it down to the details if need be. That worked for me in undergrad but who knows about med school. Im a visual learner. If i see something done I can picture it in my mind and go from there. That really helps with gross anatomy.