Time, efficiency, and grades

[fiznat]

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I've been concerned lately that my studying isn't as efficient as it could be. I know medical school is "supposed to be difficult," but I've never had to work so hard before for such mediocre results. I'm not failing or anything - I'm right around average - but I'm spending countless hours studying, working really hard and it seems that oftentimes I'm just not getting everything out of it that I could be. I'm not even sure how it is possible to achieve consistent A's.

Anyone else experiencing this? What have you done to re-evaluate your study technique, and is there anything you've found that has helped with efficiency?

 

[DrHogFan]

It's not how much you study, it's WHAT you study, and how much you study that WHAT. I find myself spending too much time on filler that may at most be a single question used every 3 years on a test. Try to hit high yield material first as lectures go on. Once larger concepts are earned, fill in the gaps with the lower yield stuff prior to the test. That's the difference between A's and C's for me. Also, what it's worth to you to spend the time for straight A's. I myself have a family, and am happy with above average to average grades. I don't want to sacrifice important moments in my daughters life for class rank.

 

[Morsetlis]

It's not how much you study, it's WHAT you study, and how much you study that WHAT. I find myself spending too much time on filler that may at most be a single question used every 3 years on a test. Try to hit high yield material first as lectures go on. Once larger concepts are earned, fill in the gaps with the lower yield stuff prior to the test. That's the difference between A's and C's for me. Also, what it's worth to you to spend the time for straight A's. I myself have a family, and am happy with above average to average grades. I don't want to sacrifice important moments in my daughters life for class rank.

Yeah after my first medical school test...

...I realize that there are better things to do with my time than memorizing what a metamyelocyte look like.

There's high-yield information. And then there's drawing out the multifidus.

I'm currently relying a lot on the upperclassmen to disseminate information on what's useful and what's not.

 

[Postal]

upper upperclassmen are by guides for med school. I just ask them what I should focus on