Study Strategies for Copious Amount of Material

[pilsburydocboy]

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Hey SDN, I'm an accepted med student for the class of 2022 and I'm genuinely concerned about keeping up with the amount of materiel thrown at you in medical school As a an undergrad I was fortunate enough to space out my tough classes, but even then it took me whole days to get through tough lectures adequately. I felt stressed and stretched with minimal distractions outside of school so I'm looking for tips to improving my methods.

So how have you successful medical students kept up with the large amount of materiel? Especially getting through it at a quick effective pace. Thanks.

 

[Alienman52]

Hey SDN, I'm an accepted med student for the class of 2022 and I'm genuinely concerned about keeping up with the amount of materiel thrown at you in medical school As a an undergrad I was fortunate enough to space out my tough classes, but even then it took me whole days to get through tough lectures adequately. I felt stressed and stretched with minimal distractions outside of school so I'm looking for tips to improving my methods.

So how have you successful medical students kept up with the large amount of materiel? Especially getting through it at a quick effective pace. Thanks.

I've changed my study style around a bit throughout first year, but I've found that making Anki cards is very efficient. You should definitely give it a shot during your first year.

 

[Cath Up]

I've changed my study style around a bit throughout first year, but I've found that making Anki cards is very efficient. You should definitely give it a shot during your first year.

I tentatively plan to use Zanki and make some of my own cards as needed. Is there a reason why you don't use Zanki? Genuinely curious- want to start off with what I think will work best.

Thanks for the underdog thread last year.

 

[Alienman52]

I tentatively plan to use Zanki and make some of my own cards as needed. Is there a reason why you don't use Zanki? Genuinely curious- want to start off with what I think will work best.

Thanks for the underdog thread last year.

When I make my own anki cards, I actively study. Afterwards, I've already got a good idea of what I need to study by the time I'm done making my cards. Do what works for you though. Trying new things until you find something that works is always the best way to go.

And no problem!!!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

The Zanki deck will carry you through troubled waters.

 

[cjcarter]

I’ve just accepted that I’m constantly at least 3 lectures behind and I think a lot of my classmates are in the same boat. You just learn to adapt honestly. I personally don’t use anki, I find it a complete waste of time. I think the best way to stay on top of the materials is to review the lectures you were taught the same night. Put in the work to get caught up before exams and you’ll be fine.

 

[FEHLBN]

Ok, here is a question for all of those who swear by making cards on Anki. How on Earth do you have time to make all the cards and then go back and actually learn them? In the past, I've found making flash cards to be a waste of time because I spend so much time making the cards when I could be actively learning. Am I doing it wrong?

 

[Deleted member 737595]

Ok, here is a question for all of those who swear by making cards on Anki. How on Earth do you have time to make all the cards and then go back and actually learn them? In the past, I've found making flash cards to be a waste of time because I spend so much time making the cards when I could be actively learning. Am I doing it wrong?

Making the cards is active learning for some. This is a very general thing to say, because copying verbatim from a textbook the definition of something isn't super active learning. It has to do with careful creation of cloze deletion cards and image occlusions, along with strategic use of basic vs basic(reverse) cards.

If you make the write cards and are comprehensive, Anki could potentially be 95% of your studying. Take the time to make the cards, spend your time on the go on Anki. This is how I view it.

 

[FEHLBN]

I’ve just accepted that I’m constantly at least 3 lectures behind and I think a lot of my classmates are in the same boat. You just learn to adapt honestly. I personally don’t use anki, I find it a complete waste of time. I think the best way to stay on top of the materials is to review the lectures you were taught the same night. Put in the work to get caught up before exams and you’ll be fine.

One argument I've heard for Anki is that it's an easy way to review old material quickly so you don't cram and forget. I tend to support the non-flashcard makers, but what about when you go to review material for boards or try to stay fresh? How do you or would you approach that? Do you organize your notes in a certain way that makes it easy for quick review? Just curious.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

One argument I've heard for Anki is that it's an easy way to review old material quickly so you don't cram and forget. I tend to support the non-flashcard makers, but what about when you go to review material for boards or try to stay fresh? How do you or would you approach that? Do you organize your notes in a certain way that makes it easy for quick review? Just curious.

This. I have the same question.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

but what about when you go to review material for boards

UFAP. Uworld/First Aid/Pathoma and I would add Sketchy to that.

 

[cjcarter]

One argument I've heard for Anki is that it's an easy way to review old material quickly so you don't cram and forget. I tend to support the non-flashcard makers, but what about when you go to review material for boards or try to stay fresh? How do you or would you approach that? Do you organize your notes in a certain way that makes it easy for quick review? Just curious.

I don’t plan on using my school notes as a main resource when it comes time for boards, so I don’t think making anki cards for that reason justifies the time sink. Plus there’s premade decks for boards anyway. So everything @AnatomyGrey12 said, along with B&B.

 

[FEHLBN]

I don’t plan on using my school notes as a main resource when it comes time for boards, so I don’t think making anki cards for that reason justifies the time sink. Plus there’s premade decks for boards anyway. So everything @AnatomyGrey12 said, along with B&B.

UFAP. Uworld/First Aid/Pathoma and I would add Sketchy to that.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[pilsburydocboy]

Thanks for the advice guys, I looked into ANKI and really like it. If I can learn to make them quick it should be super effective.