Got that first year fear going and can't seem to get rid of it. First set of exams tell me I need to study a different way but I don't know what that might be. Anatomy was the one exam that I did okay on.
Anyone have any study tips, pretty please?!
I agree with DVMD that any test anxiety you're dealing with should be addressed as soon as possible. I'm sure it's a common problem and that your school has good resources.
Studying it's tough because you need to know your own learning style. Also, I felt as though each class required a different method which is frustrating!
For example, anatomy and histology require you to go through visual pattern recognition and the only way to really be good at those tests is to see the images, recognize the patterns/context and put it all together to understand what you're looking at. For histo, I would recommend Youtube videos (Shotgun histology, for example) that show you the images and talk you through what you should be seeing in them. You could also hand-drawn your own version of what various tissues look like (I used this approach for anatomy, as drawing my own diagrams helped imprint the information/placement in my mind).
For the more concept-based subjects like physiology and immunology, I liked to find a way to make all of the text into pictures or diagrams. I used Kahn Academy on Youtube to help explain the more basic processes (he draws/diagrams as he talks) and also would just google certain concepts and read a variety of sources as each would present the concept a little differently and a different presentation may make it stick better.
Just general miscellaneous things: I like to use color coding for notes as I have a mostly visual memory. For example, if I put all of the forelimb extensor names in pink and all the flexors in green, I could usually close my eyes and remember that such and such a muscle was in the green column. I would also jot notes in the margins of powerpoints; I think copying large amounts of text is useless and time consuming for most students.
I also found that group studying (it was me and two other students for three years) was great, once we got our routine down. Asking each other questions, teaching each other concepts in our own words, filling in each other's weak spots...it all really helped solidify things. You need to find the right people that will not be talking and goofing off the whole time but also who you feel comfortable with so that you don't feel embarrassed saying, "Gee, I don't actually know how that works, could you explain it to me?" Getting into a routine with some good people can be invaluable. I'm certain I owe them my grades!