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Struggling in medical school?
- Thread starter up40loves
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See your dean, course coordinators, student tutors, learning specialists, and psychiatry department.
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Find the root of the problem and deal with it. Is it lack of motivation? Poor or inefficient study habits? It's probably one of those two.
There is no secret to success in med school. You were accepted, so you're smart enough to succeed. If you're not a savant (and most of us aren't), the winning formula is motivation + effective study habits. Don't expect stellar grades without both of those. Find whatever is impeding your full potential and deal with it.
There is no secret to success in med school. You were accepted, so you're smart enough to succeed. If you're not a savant (and most of us aren't), the winning formula is motivation + effective study habits. Don't expect stellar grades without both of those. Find whatever is impeding your full potential and deal with it.
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Be penetratingly critical and honest with yourself with how you should improve, even when the results aren't what you want to hear (e.g. don't study at Starbucks because you enjoy it if you're distracted there).
After every test in MS1, I would look up Q's I didn't know, not only trying to find out what I got wrong but why I got it wrong. What characteristic of my studying prevented me from knowing that question?
-Was it a fact I missed? --> Study broader, more repetition
-Was it a component of understanding I missed? --> Study deeper, read slower and thoroughly
-Was it something I didn't even know was testable? --> Reconsider which materials I'm studying from
Study yourself studying. Observe yourself learning. If your score in Micro is lowest, and Physio is highest, ask yourself why that is. What about Physio allows you to do so well, and what about Micro is so difficult for you? Time yourself studying, and track your results for comparison over time. Experiment with study strategies, while remembering not to abandon what has worked in the past. And most importantly, keep your head up.
After every test in MS1, I would look up Q's I didn't know, not only trying to find out what I got wrong but why I got it wrong. What characteristic of my studying prevented me from knowing that question?
-Was it a fact I missed? --> Study broader, more repetition
-Was it a component of understanding I missed? --> Study deeper, read slower and thoroughly
-Was it something I didn't even know was testable? --> Reconsider which materials I'm studying from
Study yourself studying. Observe yourself learning. If your score in Micro is lowest, and Physio is highest, ask yourself why that is. What about Physio allows you to do so well, and what about Micro is so difficult for you? Time yourself studying, and track your results for comparison over time. Experiment with study strategies, while remembering not to abandon what has worked in the past. And most importantly, keep your head up.
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As an addendum to my post, some of those resources might be useless (my Dean in particular was a rather rude and unhelpful man), but others can be useful. The learning specialist at your school works with many medical students, and s/he can help you form a study plan. The psychiatrist can assess your mental issues and give you access to controlled medications if you need them. Tutors are drawn from the top of their classes (or have Ph.Ds in the subject), and can help you in places you are struggling in.
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I would use the free on-campus services before even considering dropping money on an online company. Most schools offer SI, free one-on-one tutoring, or at least a study skills assessment + recommendations. You could also talk to your peers, second years, and even professors of courses you are struggling in. The recommendations you get from your own school will be much more personalized and useful for your actual school's exams. A catch-all service doesn't quite seem worth it to me.
Thanks![/quote]
I took the course and am happy to answer any questions. It was worth the time/money for me.
I took the course and am happy to answer any questions. It was worth the time/money for me.
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My two cents:
What's your definition of "struggling?" If it's the SDN defn, then you're not honoring your classes. This applies to ~90% of medical students. By that defn, I'm struggling. I make mid to low Bs, and haven't come close to honoring a class yet. If this is the case, then by all means, you're not struggling. Just continue trying to learn as much of the big picture as you can. You'll fill in the gaps as you go along.
On the other hand, if you are actually struggling to pass tests and classes, consider a few things that "most" people do to pass their first two years of medical school. Try going to class. (Most of SDN will disagree, but I actually get something out of it. Strangely, I get more distracted at my house than in the lecture hall). Review your ppts and notes at least 4-5x before the test. Read the textbooks recommended here and by your school. (Costanzo's Physiology, Baby Robbins, Katzung Pharm, etc.) Try talking it out with a class mate. It's easy to say that you understand something in your head as your reading it, it's entirely different to try to explain it to someone verbally. Lastly, get some exercise and dedicate some time each day to yourself. No one in their first two years needs to study 12 hours a day to pass. Exercise will make you more productive, you'll feel better about yourself, and you'll be healthier.
What's your definition of "struggling?" If it's the SDN defn, then you're not honoring your classes. This applies to ~90% of medical students. By that defn, I'm struggling. I make mid to low Bs, and haven't come close to honoring a class yet. If this is the case, then by all means, you're not struggling. Just continue trying to learn as much of the big picture as you can. You'll fill in the gaps as you go along.
On the other hand, if you are actually struggling to pass tests and classes, consider a few things that "most" people do to pass their first two years of medical school. Try going to class. (Most of SDN will disagree, but I actually get something out of it. Strangely, I get more distracted at my house than in the lecture hall). Review your ppts and notes at least 4-5x before the test. Read the textbooks recommended here and by your school. (Costanzo's Physiology, Baby Robbins, Katzung Pharm, etc.) Try talking it out with a class mate. It's easy to say that you understand something in your head as your reading it, it's entirely different to try to explain it to someone verbally. Lastly, get some exercise and dedicate some time each day to yourself. No one in their first two years needs to study 12 hours a day to pass. Exercise will make you more productive, you'll feel better about yourself, and you'll be healthier.
