Recommendations for Learning Strategies

[MadDogg91]

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Hey Guys!
As the school year is quickly (and yet simultaneously is very VERY slowly) drawing closer, I have been reflecting on a lot of my previous learning strategies and was looking to start getting in the mindset for vet school. On our class Facebook page, the admins recommended that we read "Make it Stick" by Peter Brown, and "Understanding How We Learn" by The Learning Scientists. Currently in the process of checking them out now, but I was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations for getting in the mindset of vet school or new learning strategies to try out.
Thanks in advance!

 

[MixedAnimals77]

Hey Guys!
As the school year is quickly (and yet simultaneously is very VERY slowly) drawing closer, I have been reflecting on a lot of my previous learning strategies and was looking to start getting in the mindset for vet school. On our class Facebook page, the admins recommended that we read "Make it Stick" by Peter Brown, and "Understanding How We Learn" by The Learning Scientists. Currently in the process of checking them out now, but I was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations for getting in the mindset of vet school or new learning strategies to try out.
Thanks in advance!

Hey Guys!
As the school year is quickly (and yet simultaneously is very VERY slowly) drawing closer, I have been reflecting on a lot of my previous learning strategies and was looking to start getting in the mindset for vet school. On our class Facebook page, the admins recommended that we read "Make it Stick" by Peter Brown, and "Understanding How We Learn" by The Learning Scientists. Currently in the process of checking them out now, but I was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations for getting in the mindset of vet school or new learning strategies to try out.
Thanks in advance!

There are similar threads in prevet and you'll get a better response there.
Overall if you've been successful in undergrad I wouldnt recommend changing anything drastically. Flashcards are good because repetition helps stick info in your head for long term use. You'll figure out fast what does and doesnt work. Work smarter not harder for vet school-me and my best friends split up study material making. Our class is also great about sharing study stuff. Also stay out of the vet school mind for as long as possible you'll thank yourself later. They recommended we read some book as well but I didnt and I'm just fine. Enjoy your summer if you can. Just when school starts be open to anything and everything and you'll be fine. It's like drinking from a fire hose that wont shut off and TBH nothing can prepare you for that except throwing you straight in head first

 

[Squeaksmom]

I second what Mixy said. Generally speaking, if your grades are high enough to get into vet school, you already have a pretty good idea of what study methods work for you. Don't try to make drastic changes unless things aren't working once you get there. You may also find that different classes require different approaches, so it's important to be flexible. I had to study very differently for anatomy (mostly memorization) versus physiology (understanding a process) for example.

I also second the advice not to think about it too much before the fall. There will be quite enough time to be obsessed with vet school (and quite enough vet school to obsess about) once you get there. Make the most of your summer, because downtime is a rare thing to be hoarded where you're going!

 

[Minnerbelle]

Honestly you’ll realize very quickly what “coping strategy” will get you through vet school. If it aint working and you’re not doing well, then think about it or even better ask for help.

You don’t have time to sit and methodically follow some learning strategy/theory and apply it to vet school. You’ll fall behind and you’ll likely abandon it. If you’re twitchy type A disciplined enough to do such things, you probably don’t need it. For the rest of us, it usually turns into a futile frustrating experience that lasts maybe 3 days to a week.

I did really like Anki as a platform for flash card memorization though. That did truly help. Not sure if it still exists but the way they repeat flash cards strategically was really helpful for me as someone who memorized well through flash cards.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

I was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations for getting in the mindset of vet school or new learning strategies to try out.

I don't really believe that there's any strategy for learning that will work for everyone, and I just don't have (and never had) the patience to try out a whole bunch of protocols. You probably know the basics of what works for you - repetition, writing, speaking, tactility, Q&A, charades, interpretive dance.........and you can craft what you need from that. For me, repetitive drilling of facts never worked (with the exception of the wretched citric acid cycle, and I only resorted to repetitively drawing it out because I couldn't think of any other way), so flashcards were a waste for me. I was better with interactive Q&A, preferably with a classmate, but with myself if necessary, and finding interdependent variables. I also found I was better when I could move, so sitting in a library sucked, but others found the discipline of sitting at a desk in a quiet atmosphere to be helpful.

As has been said, since you're coming straight from school, you probably already have a method that works - but you might find the speed and volume of things at vet school might require you to make some adjustments. I returned to school almost 10 years after I had last been a student, so my mind wasn't as accommodating to memorizing lists of things.

 

[MadDogg91]

As has been said, since you're coming straight from school, you probably already have a method that works - but you might find the speed and volume of things at vet school might require you to make some adjustments. I returned to school almost 10 years after I had last been a student, so my mind wasn't as accommodating to memorizing lists of things.

See I neglected to mention I graduated undergrad like 4 years ago, MY BAD should have mentioned that I have been taking very part time grad school classes in the meantime but it's been more, write a paper every week vs the hardcore memorization that had to be done in undergrad...
So that's more where my concern comes from, I understand I will feel behind the second set through the door, but I want to mentally prepare for what study strategies look like in vet school.
@CalliopeDVM I really like the q and a strategy idea thank you for that!