Studying Hours

[dwijeshsheth]

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I'm sorry if this thread has already been started but I can't find a clear answer.

Let me introduce myself a little bit. Graduated high school in 2009 and now in my last sem of 3rd year MBBS course. I'm an IMG studying in China (US Citizen from California) and to be honest the lectures suck here and I'm studying on my own.

Never actually started to prepare myself for the USMLE and realized I wasted so much of time and was just studying enough to pass the schools exam.

My goal is to do my step 1 before my 5th year (clerkship year) which basically gives me a proper year to study. I'm shooting to be ready by Feb and also do the Pass Program course back home. Is this actually possible?

I'm actually watching Dr. Najeeb's lectures and review the topic through Kaplan but to be honest I run out of fuel after 4 hours of studying. How are people studying for 7-9 hours continuously? Any advice is gladly appreciated!



What's your schedule like?

 

[hotchik]

I'm sorry if this thread has already been started but I can't find a clear answer.

Let me introduce myself a little bit. Graduated high school in 2009 and now in my last sem of 3rd year MBBS course. I'm an IMG studying in China (US Citizen from California) and to be honest the lectures suck here and I'm studying on my own.

Never actually started to prepare myself for the USMLE and realized I wasted so much of time and was just studying enough to pass the schools exam.

My goal is to do my step 1 before my 5th year (clerkship year) which basically gives me a proper year to study. I'm shooting to be ready by Feb and also do the Pass Program course back home. Is this actually possible?

I'm actually watching Dr. Najeeb's lectures and review the topic through Kaplan but to be honest I run out of fuel after 4 hours of studying. How are people studying for 7-9 hours continuously? Any advice is gladly appreciated!



What's your schedule like?

Planned during second year to study 10-12hr/day...been averaging only 7-8hrs/day...lol make a schedule and stick to it

 

[shan564]

That's how I started out too. It helps to do a lot of questions early on so that you get an idea of what sorts of things you need to be learning from your other review.

Before long, I'd gone from 4-5 hours to 5-6 hours to 6-7 hours to 7-8 hours to 8-9 hours to 9-10 hours. The most important factor, in my opinion, was to make a very specific schedule (make sure that it's realistic and reasonably ambitious), stick to it, and increase your workload as you get better at studying.

 

[The kitchen sink]

That's how I started out too. It helps to do a lot of questions early on so that you get an idea of what sorts of things you need to be learning from your other review.

Before long, I'd gone from 4-5 hours to 5-6 hours to 6-7 hours to 7-8 hours to 8-9 hours to 9-10 hours. The most important factor, in my opinion, was to make a very specific schedule (make sure that it's realistic and reasonably ambitious), stick to it, and increase your workload as you get better at studying.

ARghhhh every schedule I make goes to waste. I am too slow to keep with any schedule. I made a general schedule. Get through as much of 1 HY priniciple in FA + 1 Subject every day + Questions and top it off with some pharm flash cards.

My advice. Keep it simple and if you can get 8 hours of studying in a day, then be happy move on and try to add another hour the next day.

 

[illegallysmooth]

I mostly stand while studying (instead of sitting) and take little breaks through the day, plus a lunch or dinner break (depending on what time I started). Standing helps me keep my energy up. On my breaks, I set a timer for 10-15 minutes, play some music, do some household chores, take a walk, etc. I try to take a long walk with my dog every morning and do some yoga or pilates, that actually helps me keep my energy up and puts me in a nice frame of mind throughout the day.

I can't believe people go for 12 hrs. I usually do 7-8 and make sure I have some relaxing time in the evening, before bed.

 

[The kitchen sink]

I mostly stand while studying (instead of sitting) and take little breaks through the day, plus a lunch or dinner break (depending on what time I started). Standing helps me keep my energy up. On my breaks, I set a timer for 10-15 minutes, play some music, do some household chores, take a walk, etc. I try to take a long walk with my dog every morning and do some yoga or pilates, that actually helps me keep my energy up and puts me in a nice frame of mind throughout the day.

I can't believe people go for 12 hrs. I usually do 7-8 and make sure I have some relaxing time in the evening, before bed.

Agreed, my mind shuts down at 10.