study strategies and advice

[ohnoMD]

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Hi guys! This is my first post here 😛 I finally decided to join after lurking all this time.

Anyway, I'm going to be starting Med School on August. My general study method involved reading the textbook taking notes, filling out the test and hoping for the best. It wasn't the best strategy and so I'm looking to modify my study habits into something more productive for medical school.

So the question is: how do you study? What's your general strategy to handle such loaded classes like Anatomy or Histology?

 

[CherryRedDracul]

ankisrs.net

I make flashcards using Anki and use that for the rote memorization stuff. It consumes a lot of time, but I found it useful.

 

[theseeker4]

Hi guys! This is my first post here 😛 I finally decided to join after lurking all this time.

Anyway, I'm going to be starting Med School on August. My general study method involved reading the textbook taking notes, filling out the test and hoping for the best. It wasn't the best strategy and so I'm looking to modify my study habits into something more productive for medical school.

So the question is: how do you study? What's your general strategy to handle such loaded classes like Anatomy or Histology?

Flashcards. They helped me get through anatomy, and I would have done better than I did in my classes if I had used them elsewhere. Try them at least, even if you never used them in college (I never had). Also, make your own flashcards, don't just use pre-made ones, since making your own will help you retain the information better.

I pre-read the notes given to us, at least once before the lecture, watched the lecture at 2x speed and took notes on anything said that wasn't already in the notes, then used the printed notes and my notes to make a new set of notes. I filled in shortly before exams, studying anything I didn't have down well. This got me through first year.

I never opened a text book other than a Netter's and a photographic anatomy atlas all first year (a lot of images were provided to us for histo, if your school doesn't provide pictures, you will probably need a text for that).

 

[Anastomoses]

anatomy/biochem: I have 2 medium size white boards in my room. I'm not sure why but when I make lists of things or charts, it sticks better when I do it on whiteboard. After putting the information in chunks - esp anatomy origins/insertions/innervation...Then I pace repeating the information aloud as if telling someone - check the board if I forget something...then I erase and write the chart from memory this time. Helps it stick.

With physio or embryo I make a question list for each subtopic and when there's enough time...I answer the questions aloud...if I'm not able to describe a process, mechanism, or concept clearly...I know I need to work out the information better- read for more details that are escaping my understanding.

 

[Kaustikos]

First year differed drastically from second year for me...

Anatomy - Powerpoints, Netters, Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Read powerpoints a million times, use Netters as reference when pictures in powerpoints suck and then go over the cases in the anatomy book. Rinse and repeat... Also - we had multiple lcd screens setup in our anatomy lab with ct/x-ray/whatever images we could use during lab. I put those on a flashdrive and basically went over structures on those images.

Biochem - notes...no book.
Histo - notes, no book.
Immuno - notes, no book.
Micro - Micro made easy, bug sheet (basically a tabled breakdown of all the bugs) and first aid.
Physio - Notes, First Aid and... I might've used BRS
Neuro - notes, book, neuro book as reference.

First semester I focused on Anatomy a lot (no prior knowledge). I crammed histo and biochem because I had too much familiarity with it.
Second semester - a lot of attention on Micro because I sucked at it. Neuro, too, but because I loved the course. Physio/Immuno was cramming...

SECOND YEAR -

Path - Notes and Goljan with Rapid Review
Pharm - Awesome notes with First Aid
Clinical Medicine - Cluster ****...complete cluster****. Notes were useless. NMS was useless. Clinical Medicine was essentially First Aid, Step Up to Medicine. And making my own notes.... This was a solo effort class. The professors were, for the most part, useless. They had no idea what to teach, what others were teaching or what to focus on. They gave incorrect info and didn't have a clue about what the curriculum/syllabus was. I've never had as much trouble studying for a class... 😡 👎

 

[ohnoMD]

thanks for the insights so far, guys 👍
not gonna lie, I'm scared.

 

[Kaustikos]

thanks for the insights so far, guys 👍
not gonna lie, I'm scared.

You haven't even started... I would stop worrying at this point and focus on enjoying the rest of your summer. Don't have a stroke because of med school. I didn't worry about it until.... 1 week after classes started.

 

[Kal EI]

My advice would be to take it one step at a time.

Don't focus on Step 1 at all. Instead become the best possible student at the subject you're studying at the moment.

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

I would start by not worrying. You will fall into a habit of study that works for you within the first couple weeks because you'll be forced to. There's nothing you'll be able to do right at this moment that will change how you study. Studying in medical school is different than any other studying you've ever had to do. So wait, enjoy the summer, and enjoy the fact you're going to med school.

 

[GunbydayJREbynt]

OP, How much time and effort will you be willing to put in? Do you like have a family or are you willing to gun all day and night and have no life? Because that definitely changes how I would recommend studying for classes...

Also, what are your goals? Honor every class and get a 270 on step 1? Or pass every class and get a 230/240?

 

[GunbydayJREbynt]

anatomy/biochem: I have 2 medium size white boards in my room. I'm not sure why but when I make lists of things or charts, it sticks better when I do it on whiteboard. After putting the information in chunks - esp anatomy origins/insertions/innervation...Then I pace repeating the information aloud as if telling someone - check the board if I forget something...then I erase and write the chart from memory this time. Helps it stick.

With physio or embryo I make a question list for each subtopic and when there's enough time...I answer the questions aloud...if I'm not able to describe a process, mechanism, or concept clearly...I know I need to work out the information better- read for more details that are escaping my understanding.

👍

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

I actually studied by not going to class much🙂 I spent my mornings during class time studying in the library from scribes the day before and played golf or basketball every afternoon then back to the scribes/books that night. It's a balance no matter what way you look at it. It worked for me and you'll figure out real quick what works for you.

 

[ohnoMD]

ok ok I'll try to calm down. 😛
I just feel like I haven't even started and I'm already behind.
I didn't do that great in undergrad so I'm a bit scared that I'll be lagging behind... if that makes any sense 🙄

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

During my first day of med school a pediatric neuro opthalmologist came to welcome us and started pimping the students day one. He put a picture up of a girl with a disconjugate gaze, one eye looking off, or wonky eye. He asked what the problem was and one girl raised her hand who he picked. She said there was a lesion in some internuclear cranial nerve tract and went on and on. All the other student's mouths dropped. We couldn't believe she knew all that. We all felt so behind! He actually planted her there to teach us a lesson. If we knew it all, we wouldn't have to go to school🙂 you'll find a way🙂

 

[Anastomoses]

ok ok I'll try to calm down. 😛
I just feel like I haven't even started and I'm already behind.
I didn't do that great in undergrad so I'm a bit scared that I'll be lagging behind... if that makes any sense 🙄

Some people say calm down...and yeah, calm down I guess. But that doesn't mean you can't pre-prepare. I'm a big fan of pre-prep. You know what classes you have first semester. Start reading through the material - don't make it stressful because that's gonna come anyway. Read it more for fun...like...oh wow, the body does that. Or...hm, I wonder why we'd learn this...what clinical impact would this make?

Can't hurt to at least recognize things when teachers start talking about them. Comfort and familiarity can go a long way - even if you don't have the details etched to your memory - yet.

 

[Bojack Horseman]

Some people say calm down...and yeah, calm down I guess. But that doesn't mean you can't pre-prepare. I'm a big fan of pre-prep. You know what classes you have first semester. Start reading through the material - don't make it stressful because that's gonna come anyway. Read it more for fun...like...oh wow, the body does that. Or...hm, I wonder why we'd learn this...what clinical impact would this make?

Can't hurt to at least recognize things when teachers start talking about them. Comfort and familiarity can go a long way - even if you don't have the details etched to your memory - yet.

Bad advice. Don't pre-study.

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

Bad advice. Don't pre-study.

I don't know if I would call it "bad advice", just not for everyone. I tried studying an anatomy and physiology book the summer before medical school but it just didn't fit with where I was at in my education, it lasted for two days. Things are done systematically in medical school and are layered on accordingly.
Think of your first chemistry class. You didn't learn complex organic chemistry reactions first, you learned about the hydrogen bond and worked your way up. I don't believe in pre-studying either.
I have a saying, "every monkey will learn the medicine", don't rush it. It'll be presented to you when you're at the level to understand and apply it. Enjoy the summer cause you won't have many more that are this care free 🙂

 

[GunbydayJREbynt]

Bad advice. Don't pre-study.

I'm going to have to agree that pre-studying is bad. Especially for your first class in medical school. One of the great skills learned in the beginning of medical school is time management (and this is really kinda trial and error). I think pre-studying, if done right, does take away some of that stress when you first start med school. But that is not a good thing. you want to dive into the chaos when its full tilt and learn how to swim. That's almost as important as learning anatomy or biochem or whatever.

 

[ohnoMD]

Hmm... well i hadn't exactly planned on pre-studying. More like reviewing my past knowledge, for example in biochemistry, so at least I have a vague idea of what the professor talks about...

But I don't know.. I'm just saying that now, maybe the last weeks will come and I'll be too busy rewatching Arrested Development to care about reviewing 😛

 

[EmergencyMonkey]

They will include what you need to know. Go watch some tv and get off the forum for the night🙂

Welcome to the forum btw.

 

[tco]

Pre-study...*chuckles* I remember asking about pre-studying, too...

You'll get to the point where you're watching the Stanley Cup Finals instead of studying for your pediatrics clerkship exam that's 6 days away. Oh...And earlier I was watching the US Open...Yeah, I've done nothing all day...

Just relax and enjoy your summer. It will be the last *true* summer that you have off (extremely arguable whether you should do something between MSI and MSII).

 

[Anastomoses]

I'm going to have to agree that pre-studying is bad. Especially for your first class in medical school. One of the great skills learned in the beginning of medical school is time management (and this is really kinda trial and error). I think pre-studying, if done right, does take away some of that stress when you first start med school. But that is not a good thing. you want to dive into the chaos when its full tilt and learn how to swim. That's almost as important as learning anatomy or biochem or whatever.

I did exactly that - made my life easier the first semester having had some prestudying under my belt. I think that time pressure comes either way - prestudy or not. And for some of us, we're gonna want to know the info that much better and actually there is no less intensity about it. I don't like the feeling of panic. So...when I've covered all the info for one class, I just get ahead in another. Maybe some people need time pressure? I feel like there's time pressure even without time pressure. I still had to learn how to strategize my studies better...still had to learn that I didn't need to attend lectures 90% of the time, etc.

I don't know if I would call it "bad advice", just not for everyone. I tried studying an anatomy and physiology book the summer before medical school but it just didn't fit with where I was at in my education, it lasted for two days. Things are done systematically in medical school and are layered on accordingly.
Think of your first chemistry class. You didn't learn complex organic chemistry reactions first, you learned about the hydrogen bond and worked your way up. I don't believe in pre-studying either.
I have a saying, "every monkey will learn the medicine", don't rush it. It'll be presented to you when you're at the level to understand and apply it. Enjoy the summer cause you won't have many more that are this care free 🙂

It may be bad advice for some people it sounds like. I'm still not quite sure why - other than Gunbyday's theory. Prestudying and reading a few chapters doesn't mean he has to leap into purine salvage pathway. But how in the world can you go wrong learning the muscles before anatomy starts? Or reviewing enzymes and metabolism? OP: there's a lot in first year med school that is gonna be super familiar from undergrad if you were the kind of student that paid attention/found things interesting. You'll just be coloring in more detail. And I wasn't a bio major.

 

[D elegans]

Don't pre-study. You will gain nothing. I respectfully but strongly disagree with anyone who says otherwise. You won't know what to focus on and you won't be able to meet up to the pace that will be demanded of you when you begin. Enjoy your summer, relax, and you will be fine!

 

[Double A]

Most people in my class read the syllabus before watching each lecture and then used a mix of the two (ppt from the lecture) to review. I did this for a while, but actually started to do better once I stopped prereading the syllabus.

It worked better for me to watch the lectures and then spend the time on the ppts (usually a shortened, focused version of the syllabus).

This may not be pertinent if you aren't given thorough syllabi for each course.

 

[cver02]

I had a hard time finding a study technique that worked well for me but last semester I finally got it!

Take notes in class but write them kinda sloppy...if you are a perfectionist like I am then you'll want to go back and fix them. So after class rewrite the notes neatly! Also..

Use a couple different highlighters and highlight the important notes and then write and star things in the margin of your book. Those helped me concentrate more and study better!

 

[DrClarkson]

I had a hard time finding a study technique that worked well for me but last semester I finally got it!

Take notes in class but write them kinda sloppy...if you are a perfectionist like I am then you'll want to go back and fix them. So after class rewrite the notes neatly! Also..

Use a couple different highlighters and highlight the important notes and then write and star things in the margin of your book. Those helped me concentrate more and study better!

This is what I actually do but I still need to find a good way to study anatomy . I don't fail but I feel like I'm wasting my time for some techniques . Ohh anatomy 🙁

 

[Anastomoses]

This is what I actually do but I still need to find a good way to study anatomy . I don't fail but I feel like I'm wasting my time for some techniques . Ohh anatomy 🙁

same. i thought i had totally honed study techniques and then i met anatomy. it was like pouring water into sand half the time.