My brain hurts ...

[Paws]

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We have three exams next week 😱 (and it's been an exam a week so far) and I am doing my darnedest to keep up and actually feel competent. Somehow, I am not sure the number of hours will be enough to do well in all these courses, but I am soldiering on.

While I knew medschool would be hard, I guess the tidal wave of information, and the sheer volume are overwhelming. I sleep a little, eat every few hours, sit in class, and the rest of the time I am studying. But like right now, my brain can't seem to absorb any more stuff. I've given myself a 20 minute 'walk around the library' break.

How do other people cope with this volume and pace? I feel like I am just holding on by my thumbs ... but I am stubborn and won't let go! 🙂

Any ideas, suggestions that other people have used to keep up with the pace?

 

[MeowMix]

My advice:

sleep more
go to fewer lectures
don't try to study more than a few hours at a stretch
never more than 1.5 hours without a 15-min break

 

[SarahGM]

I also think you need to prioritize down-time. If you're studying 24/7, you're going to burn out. Sometimes taking a break and doing something fun makes things that much more absorbable when you come back to them.

Work to live, not live to work! 🙂

 

[omarsaleh66]

stop reading the textbook and just focus on the lecture notes.

 

[ParisHilton]

If you're studying 24/7, you're going to burn out.

Not only burn out, but if you're studying 24/7, you are simply not focusing on the critical information. There is enough info out there to keep everyone studying all the time. How do others manage to get by without killing themselves? How did some manage in college to do 500 other things besides school and still do well academically? To be sure, there are geniuses out there who pick-up things extremely quickly, but is everyone (except you) a genius? Somehow you slipped through the cracks during your med school interview? Of course not! Learn to cut corners. All Bush bashing aside, how is he able to just take off to his ranch so frequently? You must find short cuts and develop a knack for knowing what's important and what's not. Next year, after you've finished these courses, you'll realize how much time you wasted reviewing useless things. But that doesn't help you now, right? So get old tests not just for possible repeated questions, but to see what topics are stressed. If it's the same prof, it'll probably test very similar info. Make connections with the M2s and they'll help you narrow your focus for this year and the next, Step 1, what to do on rotations, help you with ERAS, interviews etc. If you don't make some buddies in the class ahead of you now, you'll never have the chance to when they're all over the place during clinicals (unless you're really good looking and people trip over themselves to help you).

 

[paranitroxide]

We have three exams next week 😱 (and it's been an exam a week so far) and I am doing my darnedest to keep up and actually feel competent. Somehow, I am not sure the number of hours will be enough to do well in all these courses, but I am soldiering on.

While I knew medschool would be hard, I guess the tidal wave of information, and the sheer volume are overwhelming. I sleep a little, eat every few hours, sit in class, and the rest of the time I am studying. But like right now, my brain can't seem to absorb any more stuff. I've given myself a 20 minute 'walk around the library' break.

How do other people cope with this volume and pace? I feel like I am just holding on by my thumbs ... but I am stubborn and won't let go! 🙂

Any ideas, suggestions that other people have used to keep up with the pace?

Hey Paws:

can you share with us all the classes you are taking right now?

 

[awdc]

Study smarter. If you're not getting anything out of a lecture, leave and learn it on your own. If the handouts or notes don't make sense to you, pull out a textbook. If the textbook doesn't make sense, try a review book or just stick with the notes. Sometimes studying or reviewing as a group helps. Some people like to know what they're studying really well the first time they look at it. For me, repetition is the key, so I don't even stress about learning it all the first time I go through the material because I know I'll go through it again and again... picking up more each time I look at it.

Point is to try to find out how you learn best and use it to your advantage. And of course, knowing what's important, somewhat important, and not important helps to prioritize your studying.

 

[Paws]

Good suggestions guys! I really don't study 24/7 but it sure feels like it. I am trying to stick in some fun time and to somehow find a balance.

I guess it's a balancing act that each person has to find. And the upper classmen at my school have been awesome! really helpful and supportive, which is great.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

My Mantra...

Accept that Failure Exists,
Embrace that Failure,
Transcend the Failure,
SUCCESS!!! 😀

I know it's corny, but what it means, is that you need to 'let go a little.'

Oh yeah, and studying smarter helps too. Alcohol as well.

... ...
...



...

 

[closertofine]

Yeah, I can relate...studied today until I did actually get a headache...and then looked at last year's exam and estimated I wouldn't get above a 50! 🙁 I guess I should go back to my discarded technique of taking notes off of the lecture transcripts, and then studying from those...

What got me off track was this surgeon-to-be (or so he says) in my class who recently asked me, "So what ARE you doing to study for anatomy?!". And then proceeded to tell me that this exam will cover "only" 350 pages of this huge textbook...so that's barely anything...and that's what you'll really be tested on now and later...

The thing is, I'm OK with not getting 90% on the exam...but it seems like I should be able to pass, right?!

Argh! And to think I missed a day of fun (everyone else is out on a class activity) for a day of frustration with this heavy textbook! 😡

OK, guess I feel a little better now that that's out of my system! 😛

 

[gatsbyjo]

No offense, but you don't really need a textbook for anatomy.

 

[Gerg]

Closertofine:

Don't worry 'bout the Surgeon to be. Worry 'bout yourself. Study the best way you know how. If some dude is being a prick, and bragging about how easy it is, when you're having a difficult time I've got some advise for you.

Basically, it's a short experiment that will help you learn some anatomy.
After reading it, you should be more well versed in some craniofacial anatomy, as well as some upper limb and superficial back anatomy. For more details on the specific muscles/nerves, see a Netters.

1st, approach your Surgeon-to-be who's too proud of himself, and has to put others down to make himself feel better.

Utilize your recurrent branch of the median nerve to oppose your thumb. You could also use your Posterior and Anterior Interossious nerves to flex your thumb and all of the wonderful flexors of your digits that are located in the anterior compartment of your forearm I'm sure your Ulnar and it's deep branches will come into play too.

Then medially rotate your forearm, utilize the muscles of your rotator cuff to abduct and retract your arm, and use your flexors of your arm to retract your forearm.

In one swift, fluid motion, utilize the opposing muscles of your rotator cuff, and extensors of the arm and forearm to move your flexed phalanges and their superficial tissues to come into contact with the cocky bastard's zygomatic arch and the more anteromedial aspect of his maxillary bone (and superficial tissues).

If you apply enough force, you should be able to shatter the thin bone that makes up the floor of the orbit, AND the roof of the maxillary sinus.

This is called a blow out fracture.

If done correctly, his globe will descend into his maxillary sinus, and his trigeminal nerve will become quite active, carrying a large ammount of information from the infraorbital nerve to his ophthalmic division, and I'm sure that some information will be transmited along the maxillary division of Trigem as well. I don't recall which nucleous of the brain it will synapse on, but be prepared, as he will most likely exhibit a Sympathetic response.

Hope you've learned something, and enjoyed the exercise!

 

[closertofine]

Closertofine:

Hope you've learned something, and enjoyed the exercise!

👍

(didn't want to take up too much space by quoting it all...but it's much appreciated...too bad we're only getting tested on the thorax and abdomen this time, though!)

 

[docquaker]

haha...gerg, that's hilarious=)

 

[Paws]

What I am feeling is like what closertofine (great song, man! isn't that the old REM?) described.

I just took a practice test from the school website and I scored a blessed 62%. 😡 Anatomy test on tuesday, written and practical. I feel better about the practical, but this written is a real bear. These questions are so gnarly. Why can't they just ask questions like: where is the vagus located? instead of questions like this:

69. Identify the TRUE statement regarding the venous drainage of the heart
A. The coronary sinus drains into the left atrium
B. The anterior cardiac veins begin over the anterior surface of the left ventricle, cross over the atrioventricular groove (coronary groove), and directly drain into the left atrium
C. The great cardiac vein is the largest tributary of the coronary sinus and this vein starts at the apex of the heart and ascends with the anterior ventricular branch of the left coronary artery
D. The middle and small cardiac veins drain most of the areas supplied by the left coronary artery
E. All of the above statements are true

😱

[Answer is C]

I actually really need the textbooks too, and I find that a huge amount of information on these exams comes directly from the textbooks. Also, I am not so good at just memorizing the class syllabuses which are just weird, shorthand notes. I need to see the regular scenario written out with some diagrams and whatnot.

I know some people in my class are also real gunners like what was described above, but I am way too slow moving to be a gunner. I just want to be able to pass my courses and somehow get through these first two years in one piece. I try and ignore the types who are like: "anxious? what's there to be anxious about? these tests aren't hard ... " and just focus on what I need to do.

There are definitely others like me who are struggling and fearful and not afraid to admit it. I usually feel ALOT better when I can just be honest about my fears with one of these types.


Actually, I could use a little REM right now, and a beer, if I drank alcohol ... 👍

 

[omarsaleh66]

hang in there

it gets easier after anatomy... so far second year has been alot better for alot of people i know so just get thru anatomy and then u can learn alot from just the lecture notes and alot of stuff wont seem so trivial like that question u mentioned.

 

[lotanna]

We have three exams next week 😱 (and it's been an exam a week so far) and I am doing my darnedest to keep up and actually feel competent. Somehow, I am not sure the number of hours will be enough to do well in all these courses, but I am soldiering on.

While I knew medschool would be hard, I guess the tidal wave of information, and the sheer volume are overwhelming. I sleep a little, eat every few hours, sit in class, and the rest of the time I am studying. But like right now, my brain can't seem to absorb any more stuff. I've given myself a 20 minute 'walk around the library' break.

How do other people cope with this volume and pace? I feel like I am just holding on by my thumbs ... but I am stubborn and won't let go! 🙂

Any ideas, suggestions that other people have used to keep up with the pace?

Hmmm looks like you're in my schl?? Are u at mich state? either CHM or COM???

 

[efex101]

Hell I wished our questions here at Mayo would be like yours...ours almost every single one is a clinical huge paragraph and they all sound good! it takes eons to take our exams...I am not complaining bc it for sure pays off come USMLE time but dang it bites for now.

 

[MeowMix]

What I am feeling is like what closertofine (great song, man! isn't that the old REM?) described.

Indigo Girls, not the "old" REM

ah, youth...

 

[felipe5]

just wanted to wish Paws and everyone else good luck this week. I also have 3 exams within the next two days, and I'll need all the good vibes I can get

Here's to stress

 

[TTSD]

No offense, but you don't really need a textbook for anatomy.

No, not really. But I highly recommend the following from my studies so far:

Clinical Anatomy by Moore - For the past 4 weeks I've been reading ahead on the weekends with it, and it's an AWESOME supplement, especially the blue boxes and case studies.

BRS Anatomy - What can I say? This is a life saver.

High Yield - Good outline notes, especially clinical-related

I have to say, I do most of my REAL studying on the weekend, when I can just take a whole day with my textbooks and notes. Sit, review and preview. Then the rest of the week is just solidfying the information.

 

[Doc Ivy]

U Mich has a great website with multiple choice anatomy questions like this to study with... hope it helps. (unless you go ot U mich and already knew about it) 😉

I feel better about the practical, but this written is a real bear. These questions are so gnarly. Why can't they just ask questions like: where is the vagus located? instead of questions like this:

69. Identify the TRUE statement regarding the venous drainage of the heart
A. The coronary sinus drains into the left atrium
B. The anterior cardiac veins begin over the anterior surface of the left ventricle, cross over the atrioventricular groove (coronary groove), and directly drain into the left atrium
C. The great cardiac vein is the largest tributary of the coronary sinus and this vein starts at the apex of the heart and ascends with the anterior ventricular branch of the left coronary artery
D. The middle and small cardiac veins drain most of the areas supplied by the left coronary artery
E. All of the above statements are true

😱

[Answer is C]

 

[Paws]

Oh, right. Indigo Girls, what was I thinking. But isn't Michael Stipes on there too??? I do feel old ...

We just had the anatomy exam(s) - practical and lecture, and now two more exams. So I guess is that really four exams? Hard to keep track. Lordy, I just want to pass at this point. 😱

I feel like EfEx101, it took me the entire hour and a half to just answer the lecture questions. Each question was a struggle because all the answers sounded pretty decent - or pretty difficult. I like practicals because it's all visual, my strength!

...must...keep...going...for...exams ........... 😴

 

[efex101]

Just hang in there paws..we just finished our microanatomy final both lab and practical and i cannot celebrate just yet for we have a quiz tomorrow....agh.

 

[DrMom]

Oh, right. Indigo Girls, what was I thinking. But isn't Michael Stipes on there too??? I do feel old ...

Michael Stipes sang on another song on the same album (Kid Fears) 🙂