Prioritizing and how to study

[predentlove]

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Hello,

I was just curious about the different ways that work for students in terms of prioritizing and studying.
How do you prioritize your work as a dental student? Ex. Make deadlines for yourselves? Reward yourself? Make a schedule to fit in social life?
How do you study? Ex. Do you read your textbooks a lot, study from lecture notes, take notes? What is most efficient for you?

Thanks in advance!

 

[txaggie03]

depends on the class.
depends on the prof.
depends on the number of credit hours.
depends on relevancy in the future.
depends on enjoyment of class.
depends on lab work.
depends on if i've seen my kids in the last several days.
depends on if i've seem my wife in the last several days.
depends on how many 'father' duties i have waiting on me.
depends on how much sleep i've had.


seems to be a rather transient thing.

 

[SoulPower]

It's totally a class by class basis. Obviously most people make more time for high credit classes than the 1 credit courses.

As a general rule of thumb I like to study a subject everyday for three days before the exam. This usually gives me enough time to get through all the material and rough out the things I do not know.

 

[jeffity]

It's easy to peioririze for me. I'm on a module system. Heavy science lectures during the week, all of it tested the week after. Repeat. So it's like summer school: fast-paced, every week feels like finals week, but it's sort of just 1 class. It's not by subject though, it's by system/topic. I thought I'd operate better with this curriculum and I like it. Being just 1 test to study for, that's easy to focus on rather than juggling multiple (science) classes. We have some dental classes and lab mixed in there every week as well.

One thing I've noticed, is that what worked for me in undergrad doesn't work here for me. I'm still trying new things and it's not easy to find a nice fluid system for me. And falling behind is easy to do, so you just keep chugging. There's no choice but to get back up and keep going if you have a rough exam.

As for prioritizing, science is #1 and the thought of just a few days to be ready to pass an exam is motivation enough. For me, I have to get some family time in or I start to feel guilt. That's acceptable. For the single/younger folk, they seem to really get in some leisure time. They don't see how we can handle having a family - I wonder how the manage such down time. I'd say most really get down to studying on the weekend one you have the full set of powerpoints and notes in front of you to tackle. There is no time for reading textbooks. I'd say 95% of the class uses 100% powerpoints. The school knows this and so powerpoints have to include everything covered on exams and they tend to crack down on any ridiculous trick questions (like undergrad liked to do). I take notes with powerpoints. I'm usually just taking note of major things mentioned, especially if it seems that the particular lecturer might have a question about that on the exam. So my studying is powerpoints and my notes, and the occasional study guide from classmates. NBDE I emphasis comes up all the time in lectures (they all seem really familiar with things they like to ask on boards). So when I study for that, I can search my notes briefly for 'NBDE' to make sure I know those things.

In short: priority is easy as far as studying (only 1 main class to study for) and motivation just happens (rapid-fire exams); family people seem to get that time in and younger folk seem to get plenty of social life.