Serious Question: Why doesn't everyone do well on Step 1?

[Espressso]

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You can score high and still have time to live life. The people in my class who scored 260 plus still had lives we just managed time and energy better. The whole “oh I didn’t try hard” thing is just bs that people say making it sound like they could have done better if they actually tried. Even if you don’t want a competitive specialty it’s worth doing well. It’s much better not having to interview at 100 programs and going to maybe 8-10 knowing you will probably get too 3 because you worked hard for boards and clinicals. Also if you didn’t try as hard as you could realistically that’s just dumb since u might discover that you like something competitive later on. Doing well on step saved me thousands on applications and interviews. I applied to 1/8th the amt of programs as some of my friends got just as many invites and only had to go to places I REALLY WANT to go to. Plus the knowledge gained helps out for the rest of your career (depending on field)

so you're argument is that the people who don't score 260+ don't manage their time and energy well?

 

[slowthai]

so you're argument is that the people who don't score 260+ don't manage their time and energy well?

I'm pretty sure he's saying that you don't have to spend every waking moment studying just to get 260+. You can work hard, do everything you need to do, and still have a life as long as you're efficient with your studying and manage your time well.

 

[alprazoslam]

so you're argument is that the people who don't score 260+ don't manage their time and energy well?

If someone is destroying themself and does not do well on boards yes. But mostly what the poster below you said. It’s more time management and good habits than natty brain power

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

If someone is destroying themself and does not do well on boards yes. But mostly what the poster below you said. It’s more time management and good habits than natty brain power

It’s common for people who don’t do as well to want to say the people who did better spent more time studying and that they are okay with scoring lower since they got to spend more time living their lives. The idea that some people score well without spending every waking moment studying goes against that and challenges the assumption that they could do better if they too spend all their time studying. It’s just a self defense mechanism.

 

[sella.turcica]

Ah another pre-med who thinks they are special. Let's talk again when it's time for Step 1.

 

[libertyyne]

It’s common for people who don’t do as well to want to say the people who did better spent more time studying and that they are okay with scoring lower since they got to spend more time living their lives. The idea that some people score well without spending every waking moment studying goes against that and challenges the assumption that they could do better if they too spend all their time studying. It’s just a self defense mechanism.

To be fair the evidence that does exist , points to more unique questions and higher number of anki card reviews being associated with higher scores. Both of those things are effort related.

 

[FindersFee5]

To be fair the evidence that does exist , points to more unique questions and higher number of anki card reviews being associated with higher scores. Both of those things are effort related.

I think this is a mis-application of that finding. It's like the 10000 hours = expertise that everybody quotes. Yes, that was the average, and yes, on average more questions and cards increases step scores. But in the 10000 hours study, there was SIGNIFICANTLY more variance within any level of expertise than between levels (people at equal levels of expertise getting there in 2,000 or 20,000 hours of practice). Similarly, some people do just do better with less. That being said though, the best option for most people is still to assume they're average and what works for most people will work for them.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

To be fair the evidence that does exist , points to more unique questions and higher number of anki card reviews being associated with higher scores. Both of those things are effort related.

Oh yeah I know. Most of the time more effort means doing better.

 

[Iz_FtB]

It's the quality of the time spent just as much as the quantity.

Two people can engage in the same activity and walk away with totally different experiences.

One person might get a Q right on uworld and move on immediately.

Another might get a Q right and then read the explanations in depth then move on.

Another might get the Q right and then think about all the scenarios in which the answer might be different.

Each person engaged with the material to a different depth and will walk away with different levels of understanding and mastery despite doing the same Q and getting it right.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

You can score high and still have time to live life. The people in my class who scored 260 plus still had lives we just managed time and energy better. The whole “oh I didn’t try hard” thing is just bs that people say making it sound like they could have done better if they actually tried.

It’s common for people who don’t do as well to want to say the people who did better spent more time studying and that they are okay with scoring lower since they got to spend more time living their lives. The idea that some people score well without spending every waking moment studying goes against that and challenges the assumption that they could do better if they too spend all their time studying. It’s just a self defense mechanism.

A different way to look at it is not that all people who score well have no lives, but that the effort and sacrifice it might take one person, individually to score higher may not be worth it to that person. Ignoring how other people score, I have chosen to prioritize having free time and not spending every waking hour studying. The effect that will have on my score (which is tbd, because I have yet to take step) will depend on a lot of factors, many of them likely innate. For example, I took a similar approach to the MCAT and my preclinical classes so far. Does everyone who scores above me have no life? certainly not. I also know that there are also people who study way, way more to achieve lower scores. But could I personally score higher if I chose to prioritize differently? almost certainly. Is it worth it to me? not really. Everyone's innate test taking abilities, learning styles, and priorities are different.

 

[slowthai]

A different way to look at it is not that all people who score well have no lives, but that the effort and sacrifice it might take one person, individually to score higher may not be worth it to that person. Ignoring how other people score, I have chosen to prioritize having free time and not spending every waking hour studying. The effect that will have on my score (which is tbd, because I have yet to take step) will depend on a lot of factors, many of them likely innate. For example, I took a similar approach to the MCAT and my preclinical classes so far. Does everyone who scores above me have no life? certainly not. I also know that there are also people who study way, way more to achieve lower scores. But could I personally score higher if I chose to prioritize differently? almost certainly. Is it worth it to me? not really. Everyone's innate test taking abilities, learning styles, and priorities are different.

I think this is fair, but I think we should do a poll asking how many 260+ scorers spent every waking moment studying outside of dedicated. Like my comment if that was you, lol. I'm joking. But I think, like Iz_FtB said, it's about the use of that time over two years that matters more.

 

[libertyyne]

I think this is a mis-application of that finding. It's like the 10000 hours = expertise that everybody quotes. Yes, that was the average, and yes, on average more questions and cards increases step scores. But in the 10000 hours study, there was SIGNIFICANTLY more variance within any level of expertise than between levels (people at equal levels of expertise getting there in 2,000 or 20,000 hours of practice). Similarly, some people do just do better with less. That being said though, the best option for most people is still to assume they're average and what works for most people will work for them.

No. It is not a misapplication .It was literally the finding from the study. More practice questions and anki cards lead to a higher score. Not everyone is going to get a 250, but it's going to lead to a higher score compared to baseline. The same studies indicated self reported hours studied alone did not lead to a higher score.

 

[slowthai]

But yeah even now I see people carrying around their FA and I hope they’re actually reading it as often as they’re carrying it!

Yeah I see this and I think "What a tool. They're experts in brandishing FA like it's open carry but they don't even know how to use it." If this is you, feel bad for carrying FA. Don't forget your stethoscope and white coat, you transient step 1 sock puppet.

This is 100% a joke, before I get reported haha

 

[studentdocftw]

I know it is 2019 and this might be dangerous.....but it probably has to do with the fact that some people are just more "intelligent" than others. How we actually define intelligence is for another day.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

Way over-estimate. Of the small amount of people who actually use it, like 1% actually use it correctly. Most people will finish a module then just suspend those cards, which defeats the entire point of it lol

Just because Im anxious im doing it wrong. but doing all your reviews everyday is the way to do it correctly right?

 

[ohmanwaddup]

Maturing Zanki is by far the most difficult thing I've done in medical school. The demoralizing feeling of waking up to see 1000+ reviews day after day...

OR those days when you have to take a day off from review because of an exam, only to have to do 2000 the next day.....

 

[fldoctorgirl]

To echo what others have said, I think SDN seriously overestimates the amount of people actually doing Zanki correctly and maturing the deck. I'm churning out close to 1200 cards a day, but most of my classmates who will tell you they "use Anki" dump the cards after the block is over..I've tried multiple times to convince a close friend to stick with it, and she's just now deciding to try and keep up with micro/pharm cards, although she still doesn't do them every day. Also, it's a terrible feeling waking up every day and seeing 1,000+ cards due-- I went home for Thanksgiving break and woke up early every morning so I could churn out those reviews. It sucks. Most people aren't doing it. And, at the end of the day, I would still be surprised if I scored anywhere near a 250. Thinking that you can mature Zanki and then be owed a high score for it isn't that realistic, in my opinion, because not everyone tests well and things happen.

 

[TheSingularity]

LOL you guys are too funny. Stumbled over here by accident. Graduated < 7 yrs ago, never heard of Anki, or Pathoma for that matter.

Scored 260 on both steps.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using SDN mobile

 

[Jesus1]

Zanki is a hard, long soul sucking process that most people dont keep up with. It's not easy to do much less to do it so well to mature it all. Nobody wants to do 1000 cards on Thanksgiving. Nobody wants to be doing cards the morning of Christmas the day of your best friends wedding. Zanki sucks and noone really enjoys doing it.

And maturing Zanki does not also guarantee that you'll do well on Step 1.

 

[Chelsea FC]

And maturing Zanki does not also guarantee that you'll do well on Step 1.

Exactly, you have 6o commit so much time and energy everyday for something you have no idea will actually pay off in the end.

 

[aldol16]

To echo what others have said, I think SDN seriously overestimates the amount of people actually doing Zanki correctly and maturing the deck. I'm churning out close to 1200 cards a day, but most of my classmates who will tell you they "use Anki" dump the cards after the block is over..I've tried multiple times to convince a close friend to stick with it, and she's just now deciding to try and keep up with micro/pharm cards, although she still doesn't do them every day. Also, it's a terrible feeling waking up every day and seeing 1,000+ cards due-- I went home for Thanksgiving break and woke up early every morning so I could churn out those reviews. It sucks. Most people aren't doing it. And, at the end of the day, I would still be surprised if I scored anywhere near a 250. Thinking that you can mature Zanki and then be owed a high score for it isn't that realistic, in my opinion, because not everyone tests well and things happen.

I personally did not use Zanki (used Bros) but over 1000 cards a day sounds overboard. I know people on here do it and make it sound routine but it just sounds miserable. I finished all of Anki and never did more than 500ish a day. Towards the end was closer to 400. It would take around an hour. At most it took 2 hours. I think that there's diminishing returns on how much one can memorize and time is better spent doing other things.

People who do well have found a good balance between Anki and spending time on other resources.

 

[iforget2]

And maturing Zanki does not also guarantee that you'll do well on Step 1.

Absolutely true. However, another way I’ve been viewing it is even if I get a 190 after maturing zanki, it will always be higher than if I had never done zanki. Zanki > no zanki

 

[Ho0v-man]

To echo what others have said, I think SDN seriously overestimates the amount of people actually doing Zanki correctly and maturing the deck. I'm churning out close to 1200 cards a day, but most of my classmates who will tell you they "use Anki" dump the cards after the block is over..I've tried multiple times to convince a close friend to stick with it, and she's just now deciding to try and keep up with micro/pharm cards, although she still doesn't do them every day. Also, it's a terrible feeling waking up every day and seeing 1,000+ cards due-- I went home for Thanksgiving break and woke up early every morning so I could churn out those reviews. It sucks. Most people aren't doing it. And, at the end of the day, I would still be surprised if I scored anywhere near a 250. Thinking that you can mature Zanki and then be owed a high score for it isn't that realistic, in my opinion, because not everyone tests well and things happen.

You might not hit something insane like 250, but you’ll be very surprised how high your baseline is. This is especially true when you see your classmates scurrying to relearn 70% of pharm and half of path next semester. Keep it up!

 

[fldoctorgirl]

I personally did not use Zanki (used Bros) but over 1000 cards a day sounds overboard. I know people on here do it and make it sound routine but it just sounds miserable. I finished all of Anki and never did more than 500ish a day. Towards the end was closer to 400. It would take around an hour. At most it took 2 hours. I think that there's diminishing returns on how much one can memorize and time is better spent doing other things.

People who do well have found a good balance between Anki and spending time on other resources.

It's not really overboard to me...that's just how many reviews + news I have due every day, and I make sure to do all my reviews every single day otherwise it defeats the point of Anki. It would be a bit less, but I fell behind with Anki in my last block of M1 (neuro lol) and didn't catch up until the beginning of this year, so I did the math and broke down how many news I needed to do per day to finish by the time I wanted to. Then, I do a bit more than that to cover for days that I can't do news (always do all reviews, though). It's a lot, but it's what needs to be done for me and I'm doing okay with it.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

My buddy who is just 1 year ahead of me who wants to do Neurosurgery (may God have pity on him) got a 260+ on step and 700+ on comlex without anki at all. His study method already includes space repetition on its own without having to do 1000s of cards from anki. That's what I've been using myself. It's so much easier to do than anki, and it works like a charm for me as well.

Sent from my SM-G973U using SDN mobile

 

[ohmanwaddup]

At this point I'm convinced I am going to fail no matter what I do and how much work I put in.

 

[Fatalis]

I've seen a lot of threads about how to score 250+ on Step 1. Pretty much everyone says maturing Zanki and completing UWorld before dedicated does the trick, and there has even been formal research done that supports this.

My question is, if the formula for success is so black and white, how come everyone doesn't score 250+? What are the reasons students do poorly, or simply "average" on Step?

EDIT:

I didn’t mean for this thread to be about Zanki specifically. There are multiple threads about what to do when preparing for step. I was hoping we could make a thread about common pit-falls students make when preparing for Step that ends up hurting them. Ex: not doing enough practice full lengths, etc.

simple; they don't git gud

 

[Scrubs101]

Its been said already but ill reiterate for dramatic effect.

Finishing zanki and UW x2 isnt JUST zanki and UW x 2. Its a mind grueling process that takes up da** near every second of your day from when you wake up till you go to bed, every single day, usually a year + before dedicated even begins. My friend and I made a bet whoever got 3000k in a day first had to buy the other a full cheesecake at the coffee shop we studied at. It happened 5months out from boards, 2000+ were reviews, 500 news (counted x2), and I believe it was a 13hr zanki sesh (nothing else done that day, no UW, sketchy, class, gym, etc). It becomes your life, its what you did right before bed and is what youll do right when you wake up in the morning.

It is 100% easier said than done. I stopped doing regular zanki 4 months out from boards I think due to it just not being sustainable during my class load anymore.

 

[zhuang]

My buddy who is just 1 year ahead of me who wants to do Neurosurgery (may God have pity on him) got a 260+ on step and 700+ on comlex without anki at all. His study method already includes space repetition on its own without having to do 1000s of cards from anki. That's what I've been using myself. It's so much easier to do than anki, and it works like a charm for me as well.

Sent from my SM-G973U using SDN mobile

What did your buddy do to get 260+ on step? What is his study method including spaced repetition on its own? Doing practice questions? Thanks in advance

 

[DrStephenStrange]

What did your buddy do to get 260+ on step? What is his study method including spaced repetition on its own? Doing practice questions? Thanks in advance

He used a complex notebook system where he would take simple notes (1-2 sentences max each) on things he didn't know well or were just difficult topics and review them everyday before moving on to studying something new, and yes, also lots of practice questions. I use a similar system, but it's on a word document instead, and I've been doing well on practice questions so far.

 

[stickgirl390]

Its been said already but ill reiterate for dramatic effect.

Finishing zanki and UW x2 isnt JUST zanki and UW x 2. Its a mind grueling process that takes up da** near every second of your day from when you wake up till you go to bed, every single day, usually a year + before dedicated even begins. My friend and I made a bet whoever got 3000k in a day first had to buy the other a full cheesecake at the coffee shop we studied at. It happened 5months out from boards, 2000+ were reviews, 500 news (counted x2), and I believe it was a 13hr zanki sesh (nothing else done that day, no UW, sketchy, class, gym, etc). It becomes your life, its what you did right before bed and is what youll do right when you wake up in the morning.

It is 100% easier said than done. I stopped doing regular zanki 4 months out from boards I think due to it just not being sustainable during my class load anymore.

500 new cards in one day??? I found your problem.

 

[Scrubs101]

500 new cards in one day??? I found your problem.

Haha not the norm, he just wanted that cheesecake

 

[EnterTheVoid]

He used a complex notebook system where he would take simple notes (1-2 sentences max each) on things he didn't know well or were just difficult topics and review them everyday before moving on to studying something new, and yes, also lots of practice questions. I use a similar system, but it's on a word document instead, and I've been doing well on practice questions so far.

Apologies for reviving an old thread, I just wanted to ask you for a bit more detail and wasn't able to send a personal message. I'm hoping I can get a bit more detail on the method that you and your friend used.

I'm (nontrad) going to be starting medical school this year and I'm planning to take a similar approach. Once school starts, my basic plan is to pre-read using a review book so I have a barebones conceptual framework, attend lecture to fill in more of the details, do questions relevant to the topics covered after class, and keep track of areas of weakness and fix them. I'm planning to use the Feynman technique as well for learning content and practice questions to take advantage of the testing effect and interleaving. I'll build in some time review older context to keep that knowledge relatively fresh (I like the notebook idea you wrote about).

I'm much more of a conceptual learner (have a successful career in another concept-heavy field but want to pursue medicine in addition to that) than someone who is able to learn from flash cards (quite frankly I hate flash cards haha). I know the process will be refined once I actually get started but do you have any suggestions or would you be willing to provide more details on how you and your friend studied on a daily and weekly basis?

 

[Redpancreas]

I've seen a lot of threads about how to score 250+ on Step 1. Pretty much everyone says maturing Zanki and completing UWorld before dedicated does the trick, and there has even been formal research done that supports this.

My question is, if the formula for success is so black and white, how come everyone doesn't score 250+? What are the reasons students do poorly, or simply "average" on Step?

EDIT:

I didn’t mean for this thread to be about Zanki specifically. There are multiple threads about what to do when preparing for step. I was hoping we could make a thread about common pit-falls students make when preparing for Step that ends up hurting them. Ex: not doing enough practice full lengths, etc.

The ANKI-worshippers who score below 240 aren't outspoken. The 270+ scorers I know in real life don't use ANKI. N=4.

 

[Redpancreas]

Apologies for reviving an old thread, I just wanted to ask you for a bit more detail and wasn't able to send a personal message. I'm hoping I can get a bit more detail on the method that you and your friend used.

I'm (nontrad) going to be starting medical school this year and I'm planning to take a similar approach. Once school starts, my basic plan is to pre-read using a review book so I have a barebones conceptual framework, attend lecture to fill in more of the details, do questions relevant to the topics covered after class, and keep track of areas of weakness and fix them. I'm planning to use the Feynman technique as well for learning content and practice questions to take advantage of the testing effect and interleaving. I'll build in some time review older context to keep that knowledge relatively fresh (I like the notebook idea you wrote about).

I'm much more of a conceptual learner (have a successful career in another concept-heavy field but want to pursue medicine in addition to that) than someone who is able to learn from flash cards (quite frankly I hate flash cards haha). I know the process will be refined once I actually get started but do you have any suggestions or would you be willing to provide more details on how you and your friend studied on a daily and weekly basis?

Don't be so deliberate about your future study strategy. Medical school is different from undergraduate studies. I agree with the review book/video but what you use depends on the lecture. If you have detailed information on your curriculum structure, I can suggest which ones to use.

Examples:

Pulmonary Physiology - Costanza
Calcium Metabolism - OME>Endocrine>Hypercalcemia
Renal Pathology- Pathoma

Best of luck.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

The ANKI-worshippers who score below 240 aren't outspoken. The 270 scorers I know in real life don't use ANKI. N=4.

Below 240 zanki dude here.

definitely think it works but you have to spread it out enough that you have time at the end of the day to review weak spots and do questions.

I was doing 2000+ reviews a day during step 1 dedicated and there was barely any time for uworld, let along targeted review topics

 

[Redpancreas]

Below 240 zanki dude here.

definitely think it works but you have to spread it out enough that you have time at the end of the day to review weak spots and do questions.

I was doing 2000+ reviews a day during step 1 dedicated and there was barely any time for uworld, let along targeted review topics

Thanks for this. I wasn't in your shoes but the bolded is definitely an issue, no? In terms of whether or not it works, I'm sure it does but there are no studies comparing it to adequate controls (another spatial repetition technique). People who use ANKI are also on the more motivated side so there's issues with randomization.

 

[Captain_Falcon]

Anki worshipper here. Got 249 on Step 1 (and took it weeks before most people in my class took it). Never had more than 700 reviews a day. With my new cards added, still never had more than 1000 in a single day. The key is you need to start early enough where you only need 50-60 new cards a day to get through the premade Anking deck. From start to step 1 date, I averaged a total of 650 cards daily.

When I hit "dedicated" I had less than 600 total cards everyday, and that was only that high because I made new cards straight from UW myself that I got wrong of needed more practice at

 

[ohmanwaddup]

Thanks for this. I wasn't in your shoes but the bolded is definitely an issue, no? In terms of whether or not it works, I'm sure it does but there are no studies comparing it to adequate controls (another spatial repetition technique). People who use ANKI are also on the more motivated side so there's issues with randomization.

Oh 100% zanki has almost 30k cards now. I did that all in 10months. It was insane. People should really start it first day of first year.
I’m doing OG Dorian now and only have like 500 reviews a day. I have way more time to do uworld and do targeted review, and my shelves and practice exams show a major score increase.

 

[Cath Up]

Oh 100% zanki has almost 30k cards now. I did that all in 10months. It was insane. People should really start it first day of first year.
I’m doing OG Dorian now and only have like 500 reviews a day. I have way more time to do uworld and do targeted review, and my shelves and practice exams show a major score increase.

That's awesome dude! Strong work. When is step 2 scheduled for you?

 

[Heatstroke]

Anki worshipper here. Got 249 on Step 1 (and took it weeks before most people in my class took it). Never had more than 700 reviews a day. With my new cards added, still never had more than 1000 in a single day. The key is you need to start early enough where you only need 50-60 new cards a day to get through the premade Anking deck. From start to step 1 date, I averaged a total of 650 cards daily.

When I hit "dedicated" I had less than 600 total cards everyday, and that was only that high because I made new cards straight from UW myself that I got wrong of needed more practice at

How much time did it take you to do 650 cards each day?

 

[bGMx]

I still have no idea how people have less than 1000 cards. I average adding 600 new cards a week, which means on I usually have about 500 review (from the previous week) and 500 t+1 (from the previous day). Week after week. Tuesdays suck.

Now that break is coming, I can see from the simulator that by mid August I will only have to review about 70 a day. That's going to be sick.
How people have less than 1000 regularly during the term is beyond me. I know its real, but it doesn't work out like that for me... more evidence that this is world is a hologram.

In response to above poster, it takes me about 2-5 hours to do 650 each day, depending on my familiarity with the material.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

tm

That's awesome dude! Strong work. When is step 2 scheduled for you?

tmr lol. I wanna vomit. much more nervous about this one than I Was for step 1, even though my practice exams are way better this time around. People just seem much more doom and gloom about it.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

How much time did it take you to do 650 cards each day?

Depends on the deck. Step 1 cards? I could easily do 325-350 an hour.

Step 2 cards? was 200-280 an hour

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Anki lays the foundation which opens the door to a great score. Is it necessary for everyone? Obviously not. But if you want a surefire way to give yourself a good foundation to build upon, Anki is the way. Making your own decks is a waste of time with all the pre-made ones out there, but to each his own. Obviously there is more to a high step score than simply foundation, but I believe Anki is the most clear cut path to set yourself up for success. Not everyone who uses Anki will be a 250+ scorer, but those who scored lower probably would've scored even lower than they did without Anki.

 

[Captain_Falcon]

How much time did it take you to do 650 cards each day?

Most days when I was not efficient those 650 would take me probably 3 hours. If I was truly buckled down and focused (i.e. dedicated) 2 hours. Normally I'd do 20-30 min at a time, so about 150 per half hour, 300 an hour. Rest of the day was videos or practice questions. Once dedicated hit it was practice questions only

I still have no idea how people have less than 1000 cards. I average adding 600 new cards a week, which means on I usually have about 500 review (from the previous week) and 500 t+1 (from the previous day). Week after week. Tuesdays suck.

Now that break is coming, I can see from the simulator that by mid August I will only have to review about 70 a day. That's going to be sick.
How people have less than 1000 regularly during the term is beyond me. I know its real, but it doesn't work out like that for me... more evidence that this is world is a hologram.

In response to above poster, it takes me about 2-5 hours to do 650 each day, depending on my familiarity with the material.

What setting did you have your intervals at? That can make a big difference. Also, we're you hitting hard for a lot of them? If so you'll see them a lot more and that adds up fast

 

[EnterTheVoid]

Don't be so deliberate about your future study strategy. Medical school is different from undergraduate studies. I agree with the review book/video but what you use depends on the lecture. If you have detailed information on your curriculum structure, I can suggest which ones to use.

Examples:

Pulmonary Physiology - Costanza
Calcium Metabolism - OME>Endocrine>Hypercalcemia
Renal Pathology- Pathoma

Best of luck.

Thank you Redpancreas! The school I'll be attending has an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum. In terms of the review books I'm mainly just planning to use the First Aid for Basic Sciences books (General Principles + Organ Systems). I figure that will give me a good conceptual overview, but be a bit less dense and fact-based than the regular First Aid book that people use. I don't really know what other books/resources people use at this point, but I'm guessing I'll figure that out once things actually start up.

What study methods do you recommend? What processes did the high scorers that you know use to master the material? I'm mainly just looking for an effective and efficient way to develop a solid and lasting understanding of the material so that I can become as good of a physician as I can be. Thank you for your time!

 

[Redpancreas]

Thank you Redpancreas! The school I'll be attending has an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum. In terms of the review books I'm mainly just planning to use the First Aid for Basic Sciences books (General Principles + Organ Systems). I figure that will give me a good conceptual overview, but be a bit less dense and fact-based than the regular First Aid book that people use. I don't really know what other books/resources people use at this point, but I'm guessing I'll figure that out once things actually start up.

What study methods do you recommend? What processes did the high scorers that you know use to master the material? I'm mainly just looking for an effective and efficient way to develop a solid and lasting understanding of the material so that I can become as good of a physician as I can be. Thank you for your time!

I don’t recommend First Aid for the Basic Sciences. I recommend following the school curriculum but to use Pathoma, Sketchy, and First Aid Rx or ONlineMedEd Basic science to review other basic science topics.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

The ANKI-worshippers who score below 240 aren't outspoken. The 270+ scorers I know in real life don't use ANKI. N=4.

I’ll match your anecdotes with my own. The only peeps (except 1) I know who got below 240 didn’t use anki.

 

[bGMx]

What setting did you have your intervals at? That can make a big difference. Also, we're you hitting hard for a lot of them? If so you'll see them a lot more and that adds up fast

I have it set to 30 1440 7200 11520 and graduating interval of 13 days, that way if I get it wrong again within 2 weeks it resets to 24 hours without decreasing the ease. Over time, I've come to realize that if I can remember it 2 weeks later, I can remember it for 6 months.
I never hit hard-- I only hit again or good.