Studying in MSI

[BCqueen]

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Hi everyone,

This week is my first week in med school and I shocked by how much material we are expected to know.

To get pointers on studying went to the academic service department at my school and the person there suggested that I outline (basically rewrite my lecture notes) using my own words. I am doing that and it seems to be time-consuming. Plus, I don't even know if I am really remembering anything.

Does anyone use this method to study? How did you study for MS1?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions/advice.

 

[lattimer13]

i did it (still do) and it helps me a ton, because when it comes time for review, i got all the stuff i need in maybe 1-2 pages per lecture in front of me instead of thumbing through the notes and book. i'd review it again on the weekends and then a couple more times before the exam...so i'd see it about 4-5 times before an exam. i also found that skipping some lectures and going to the library to study shaved some time off my academics each day.

takes some time, but i find it works...PM me if you want to know more.

 

[Leinie]

I would recommend getting board review books early and using them to study. It may not work for all of your classes, but it can be very helpful for some and you will be more familiar when it comes time for step 1. Also, when you get into a time crunch they can save you. I used them for biochem, embryology, neuroscience, micro, path, pharm, and biostats with success. Probably not the best for something like anatomy, though.

 

[roja]

I did the same thing. It definatley helps to review things in your own words.. also it requires you to assimilate the material..... to sort threw it all.

And keep review materials to a minimum....

Feel free to PM me.

 

[lilmo]

I would recommend getting board review books early and using them to study. It may not work for all of your classes, but it can be very helpful for some and you will be more familiar when it comes time for step 1. Also, when you get into a time crunch they can save you. I used them for biochem, embryology, neuroscience, micro, path, pharm, and biostats with success. Probably not the best for something like anatomy, though.

which board review books did you find most helpful??

 

[jpp]

Go ahead and purchase First Aid review for Step I. There is a section towards the end of this book that offers a pretty good evaluation of all the review books on the market by subject. I have concurred with all of their evals so far. You don't want to simply buy all of one series (ie, all BRS or all HighYield).

As for the studying, a tip I got from someone last year was to use a highlighter, but EVERY time you highlight something, write out in the margin the question that is answered by the highlighted text. This is great for multiple choice exams especially - you can look in the margins and quiz yourself while you review.

 

[roja]

The First Aide is crucial... The other thing that I discovered during second year and have always regretted not finding during first year was the Underground clinical vignettes... I only studied these two things for step1 and did very well. I also used them all through the first (first aide) and second year (both) and both were well worth the bucks..

Of course, our school tested in USMLE style format so even biochem questions were done this way...

 

[Mumpu]

I hated First Aid, it's so disorganized. Step-Up is a much better book IMO (that and Qbank was all I used for Step 1 studying... worked just fine 😉).

 

[Howard Roark]

good luck

 

[doc05]

the best advice you'll ever get: don't go to class. spend your days memorizing handouts/review books/texts/whatever works for you.

 

[agp4]

You've probably heard this a million times - everyone has their own learning style. What I did was mix it up a bit during the first one or two weeks and then I stuck with what seemed to work the best. For me, it seems to be meeting with two or three of my classmates every day after class and reviewing/quizzing each other. This was a huge surprise for me - I always studied alone in college. I have no doubt you'll figure it out! 🙂

 

[nutmegs]

I like to draw/make my own charts, although I never found writing note outlines to be helpful at all. I also found that religiously answering in writing the objectives that were given to us for each lecture made for thorough understanding of the material as well as a fantastic way to review for exams. There is just SO much stuff, keep quizzing yourself on anatomy but trust me when I say you WILL adapt to it, your brain just kind of stretches, and memorizing huge amounts of stuff will become easier. Good luck.

 

[Leinie]

which board review books did you find most helpful??

Generally I used the BRS series (I had path, physiology, micro, biochem, and pharm). I did use some of the high yield series too for neuroscience, pharm, embryology, and stats. I can't remember what I used for histo. The disadvantage of high yield is no practice tests at the end, but they are much shorter and easier to review for a final exam. I used BRS biochem only to study for the class and ended up with a 92%ile on the shelf final. I thought First Aid was a better study guide for Step 1 than for classes.

And the advice about not going to class and studying with that time is really good also. You may feel guilty, but your grades the first semester will make up for it.

 

[superdood]

this is an interesting question.

i used the same study methods i used in undergrad. attended the lectures, read the notes, and took the test.

medical student 9 is right.

i thought we all learned how to study a long time ago.

 

[nutmegs]

this is an interesting question.

i used the same study methods i used in undergrad. attended the lectures, read the notes, and took the test.

medical student 9 is right.

i thought we all learned how to study a long time ago.

not all of us studied much in undergrad.

 

[omarsaleh66]

Hi everyone,

This week is my first week in med school and I shocked by how much material we are expected to know.

To get pointers on studying went to the academic service department at my school and the person there suggested that I outline (basically rewrite my lecture notes) using my own words. I am doing that and it seems to be time-consuming. Plus, I don't even know if I am really remembering anything.

Does anyone use this method to study? How did you study for MS1?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions/advice.

MS1 - questions come from class notes so u should memorize or know everything in these. Then fill up the rest of the holes with good review books.
Text books are too lenghty and u might spend alot of time reading but u may not retain anything, and u dont know what is high yield.

My advice for anatomy; go to class, pay attention and use the following resources:
High Yield Anatomy, High Yield Embryo, BRS Anatomy and maybe also Pretest Anatomy ( alot of questions) u do these then u will really know ur stuff.
-Use First AID to see the most importnatn stuff for biochem, anatomy and whatever other classes u are taking.

Get Rohens atlas to ace the practical exams.


Biochem: get Lippincotts Biochem, and maybe pretest biochem (always do as many questions as possible) use these 2 sources along with class notes. No text books!!! Also use First AID for this subject - very high yiled!!!!

Histology: pay attention in class and labs, BRS histology, and just wheaters atlas for pictures, maybe Leesons as well.

If u are taking some other classes just ask me and Ill let u know what to do.


What really helped me ace classes first year was: for example, week 2 - go over week 1. WEek 3- go over week 2 + week 1 , week 4 - go over week 1,2,3. This way, when ur exam comes up, u REALLY know ur stuff.

peace

Omar

 

[superdood]

i never said i studied much in undergrad too, but i did enough to do well, and did the same in med school

 

[Long Dong]

MS1 - questions come from class notes so u should memorize or know everything in these. Then fill up the rest of the holes with good review books.

Text books are too lenghty and u might spend alot of time reading but u may not retain anything, and u dont know what is high yield.


What really helped me ace classes first year was: for example, week 2 - go over week 1. WEek 3- go over week 2 + week 1 , week 4 - go over week 1,2,3. This way, when ur exam comes up, u REALLY know ur stuff.

peace

Omar

These bits of advice are golden. 👍

 

[ayo302]

any advice for how to study from a pbl curriculum? i feel kinda lost right now..