Really important question regarding study methodology

[protonate]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey SDNers!
I am facing a dilemna as I am having difficulties studying. So during my undergrad years, I would read/highlight/take notes (extensive) and then recopy those notes while I study which is REALLY time consuming. Last summer, I tried to do the same for the MCAT... but it truly slowed my studying down as this was too time consuming and within a 6-8 hour session I could barely finish a chapter in berekeleyreview. Now I imagine that most people do not do this to study and am asking you for advice on how to study(i.e would u read and then take light notes, or simply read the material and do the problems). I am planning to restart studying and I truly need advice from you guys. Thank You again very much!

 

[KPCOFGS]

For me, highlighting can be disengaging, as I don't end up absorbing what I read.

Everyone's study habits will be different. For me, I found that reading the chapters more than once over time was the best way to reinforce the material. I would read it, do review problems (and work them out), and then a couple days later redo or do more problems to see how much I remembered.

I also supplemented much of what I read by looking concepts I wasn't sure the book explained well enough online (usually wikipedia... risky, maybe, but I always found it to be clear and detailed). In fact, wikipedia was a big blessing in bio especially. The figures especially usually provide a different perspective from most review material.

If you find that taking notes is the best way for you to learn, definitely do that. But I think you might be able to get away with taking much less exhaustive notes than it sounds like you have been doing. I think other people will be able to offer advice that could help you as well. And check out the 30+ strategies thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=503250

Good luck!

 

[Isoprop]

Hey SDNers!
I am facing a dilemna as I am having difficulties studying. So during my undergrad years, I would read/highlight/take notes (extensive) and then recopy those notes while I study which is REALLY time consuming. Last summer, I tried to do the same for the MCAT... but it truly slowed my studying down as this was too time consuming and within a 6-8 hour session I could barely finish a chapter in berekeleyreview. Now I imagine that most people do not do this to study and am asking you for advice on how to study(i.e would u read and then take light notes, or simply read the material and do the problems). I am planning to restart studying and I truly need advice from you guys. Thank You again very much!

Like mentioned above, everybody studied differently. However, the common denominator of most successful students is repetition. You sound like someone who tried to learn everything in one pass.

 

[Emerald84]

I like to take detailed notes as well. I found reading once over for pleasure and to get the main idea was helpful then (since I am a fast typer) would type only the main idea in well organized notes. Then my notes were really nice and I kept looking over them on a weekly basis, which was really helpful.


Good luck! it takes a bit of adjustment to get used to the volume of material. Don't give yourself a hard time. You might also be trying to do too much in a day. Try 4-6 hours with a break every hour. Breaks are helpful. When your brain is tired, look over your nice notes from the day before and help it get into your long term memory. And yes, get lots of sleep. lots. I think getting enough sleep helped my memory and retention the most.

Best-

 

[J ROD]

I suggest trying 2 chapters a day with breaks every hr or two. I read it and then work some problems and then come back and do some more. Rinse and repeat. Then, repeat some more.

Think, classes are never more than a couple of hours because we start to lose attention.