To go to class, or not?

[Hamiltonian]

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M1. My school podcasts ever lecture. About 10% of lectures are mandatory. They give us all the info we need, so we don't really have to come to class. The only reason I would ever go to class now is to see my friends. Class itself is a waste of time for me, but I also want to know and hang out with the people I'm in school with. Anyone else encountered this?

 

[LRAccord624]

Med school is all about being efficient with time management. If something is a waste of time for you (even going to class) then don't do it if you aren't required to do so. You can always study at school and have lunch with friends, or see your friends in the evenings/on weekends.

 

[theseeker4]

M1. My school podcasts ever lecture. About 10% of lectures are mandatory. They give us all the info we need, so we don't really have to come to class. The only reason I would ever go to class now is to see my friends. Class itself is a waste of time for me, but I also want to know and hang out with the people I'm in school with. Anyone else encountered this?

I have been watching all the lectures from home since the first week. It is a better use of my time to study on my own for the time between mandatory labs/etc. and stream from home at night at 1.8 speed than it would be to go to lecture and cram my studying in during non-school hours. For me, it is much better and more efficient.

 

[Rumalum]

if you go to lecture, you have to be super active. I go to see people, but I really focus on the slides, reading them several times before the lecturer goes on to the next one. I also have a PC/tablet so I can draw on the powerpoints in class while typing up explanations and stuff.

the thing is I don't know how long my brazen productivity is going to last or if it will be effective for M2 when the material is actually hard

I try to skim through my syllabus to see if the next day's material is easy or not, and that way I can decide whether to go or just sleep in and watch at 2x later on

 

[notbobtrustme]

class is worthless when you can watch lectures at 1.5 to 2.0 speed.

Most people I see in class aren't even paying attention, they are dicking around on the internet. I was guilty of this too, the first week. That's when I gave up on class.

 

[Dr McSexy]

The only reason I would ever go to class now is to see my friends. Class itself is a waste of time for me, but I also want to know and hang out with the people I'm in school with. Anyone else encountered this?

Yes. Class is social power hour.

Go to class as often as you would like to. But keep in mind that if you are someone who wakes up earlier-ish, watching podcasts on your own time will always be a more efficient use of your time.

 

[Tiburon]

M1. My school podcasts ever lecture. About 10% of lectures are mandatory. They give us all the info we need, so we don't really have to come to class. The only reason I would ever go to class now is to see my friends. Class itself is a waste of time for me, but I also want to know and hang out with the people I'm in school with. Anyone else encountered this?

I have yet to meet anybody that said they wished they had gone to class more. I've met many who said they would go to class much less if they had to do med school over again.

 

[hiyaman]

Yes. Class is social power hour.

Go to class as often as you would like to. But keep in mind that if you are someone who wakes up earlier-ish, watching podcasts on your own time will always be a more efficient use of your time.

I gotta work on that..

 

[bauber]

Don't bother going. Once you have to be at school every day for long hours and then you realize that this is what your foreseeable future will be you will value the time you took off much more.

 

[Alvarez13]

Stay away. Can't tell you how many times school got in the way of me learning medicine 😡

 

[dr zaius]

Stay away. Can't tell you how many times school got in the way of me learning medicine 😡

👍

Figure out which lecturers are worth seeing and go to those.

 

[evilbooyaa]

I have yet to meet anybody that said they wished they had gone to class more. I've met many who said they would go to class much less if they had to do med school over again.

Agree with this.

 

[sylvanthus]

Omg skip.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I gotta work on that..

I don't even get up early. I probably don't wake up until 9ish, work out most of mid morning, eat lunch and then don't look at anything school related until afternoon/evening if at all. I say enjoy it while it lasts, there won't be anymore of this sweet life third year. I actually didn't know who my professors were for any of the classes last semester until I sw them at the tests.

 

[achamess]

Ask yourself, how are you actually spending time in class? Are you there in body but not in mind? Are you on facebook, twitter, espn.com and everything else? If that's the case, then your time in class is wasted. You don't get brownie points for showing up. You gotta learn, and just being present in a classroom can't do that for you.

Or if you're not, do you find that, even after spending 8 hours in class/day, you still need to go home and read something else or stream to really learn? If so, then your time in class is wasted yet again. Why do double duty? Why not get a coherent story at your own pace at home by reading or watching videos?

You can tell I'm biased against going to class. I think the idea of the physical lecture is a thing of the past. It was necessary when knowledge was privileged to the brick and mortar places, but no longer. It just makes sense to do it on your own.

Some people tell me that they like class because it keeps them disciplined and imposes structure on them. I can't argue with that. If that's what you need, then going to class really is helping you. I think med school selects for people who are self-driven, but nevertheless, we all could use an outside push. If that's you, then by all means go to class.

Another option: mix it up. Go to classes where the lecturer is known to be highly effective or entertaining. Stay home for the snoozers.

 

[Osakhomen]

It just depends on who you are. I personally get a lot out of going to class (Note, my school has half days, so it's not like I'm in class all day anyway) because I actually am really focused during lecture, IDK if it's the setting or seeing other people get focused, but being in the lecture hall helps with my attention. Also, it wouldn't make sense for me to not go to class, because I can't listen recorded lectures in 2x speed... I can't listen that quickly and comprehend the information. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping up in class, but it also kind of helps, because I am forced to summarize what the lecturer is saying in the shortest way possible. If I'm watching a recorded lecture, I know I will stop a billion times to make sure I have what the lecturer said down correctly... Which would mean it would actually take me longer to watch recorded lectures.
Again, it's all up to you and your learning/study style. If your not required to go to certain lectures and you feel it's a waste time to go, don't... Try not going for a week, and see how you handle your time and if you're learning/studying effectively without going to lecture.

 

[gasknight]

I've been trying to wean myself from class, but I'm scared I'll miss something.

 

[Renaissance Man]

I like class, we go every morning and I try to always be there. I don't bring my computer, and I put my phone on airplane mode though. I think if I relied on recordings I may start pushing things back, and end up behind. However, once I figure out the terrible lecturers, I will be selective.

 

[Alvarez13]

I've been trying to wean myself from class, but I'm scared I'll miss something.

Like when your professor randomly includes a vacation slide of him in the alps half way through and drones on about it for 10 min?

Or are you worried about those 2 guys who have to ask a question every 5 slides? I swear I almost spray-painted "Google" on a brick.

 

[RookTookIt]

I feel like not going to class is another thing that is more common on SDN than it is in real life. I go to all of my classes and I would say that about 90% of my classmates do too. Usually, I think the lecturers are great, but I go even when I hate the lecturer. Why? Because it's human decency to sit in a class that somebody took the time to prepare and give. It's uncomfortable to lecture to a mostly empty room and I would feel bad if that happened to any of my lecturers.

If you are so pressed for time that you need to watch lectures at faster than 1x speed, then you are doing M1 wrong.

 

[FunnyCurrent]

Sometimes it's faster to go to class than to podcast.

For example, there are lecturers here that will say, "you have to know this, this, and that (pointing with laser pointer but not saying what they are pointing at)."

 

[Alvarez13]

This will be an interesting thread to come back to come step study time.

At the end of the day, it's all about what works for you. I think some people really need that structure. Maybe my school is just more inefficient. I would've much rather pocketed that $50k for MS1/2 and taught myself. Er, I basically did, just didn't get to keep the $$$ 🙁.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I feel like not going to class is another thing that is more common on SDN than it is in real life. I go to all of my classes and I would say that about 90% of my classmates do too. Usually, I think the lecturers are great, but I go even when I hate the lecturer. Why? Because it's human decency to sit in a class that somebody took the time to prepare and give. It's uncomfortable to lecture to a mostly empty room and I would feel bad if that happened to any of my lecturers.

If you are so pressed for time that you need to watch lectures at faster than 1x speed, then you are doing M1 wrong.

Our attendance was prob 50/50 last year and dependent on who was the lecturer. I'm the kind of person that never goes but a lot of my classmates would go to the first few of a new lecturer to see if he/she could keep them awake or not. if not, no more class. Like I said about half the class still shows up no matter what though so it seems to be working for them. Anyway, you're an M1 I'm guessing. Report back how many people are still showing up in December.

I think you overestimate the amount of time they actually take to "prepare and give" lectures. If your school has recordings from years before take a look at the last few years lectures for the same subject. Like 90% of the time they are word for word the exact same slides or slideshows with something like one new slide added. Some of the lecturers made their slides so long ago they have trouble remembering why they put a graph in there and can't even explain it (it happens).

 

[notbobtrustme]

Sometimes it's faster to go to class than to podcast.

For example, there are lecturers here that will say, "you have to know this, this, and that (pointing with laser pointer but not saying what they are pointing at)."

yea, that's a dick move. Most of our lecturers will point it out explicitly (eg, know these molecules/pathways) or highlight in the PP/notes.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Sometimes it's faster to go to class than to podcast.

For example, there are lecturers here that will say, "you have to know this, this, and that (pointing with laser pointer but not saying what they are pointing at)."

Yeah luckily we don't get that too often or they say specifically what we need to know. If someone did that all the time though it would be annoying.

 

[JP2740]

I streamed all first year. This year I've been going to class and like it more. If you pay attention, write stuff down, and read the slide over as he/she is presenting it, it makes a difference when I review it later. Also, you don't have the option of pausing so for some people it is more efficient to go to class (if you are easily distracting, pausing, and such). I like the choice I've made. Either way you could do pretty well whichever choice you make.

 

[munchymanRX]

M1. My school podcasts ever lecture. About 10% of lectures are mandatory. They give us all the info we need, so we don't really have to come to class. The only reason I would ever go to class now is to see my friends. Class itself is a waste of time for me, but I also want to know and hang out with the people I'm in school with. Anyone else encountered this?

Hang out with your friends outside class. Grab a pizza, a beer or two, and study on your own time.

I haven't been to class in well over a year apart from exams and some of the more interesting guest speakers. Medical school is enough of a lien on your time as it is. If you don't learn by having someone talk at you for 6 hours every day, then don't go to class. It'd be a waste of time.

 

[evilbooyaa]

I feel like not going to class is another thing that is more common on SDN than it is in real life. I go to all of my classes and I would say that about 90% of my classmates do too. Usually, I think the lecturers are great, but I go even when I hate the lecturer. Why? Because it's human decency to sit in a class that somebody took the time to prepare and give. It's uncomfortable to lecture to a mostly empty room and I would feel bad if that happened to any of my lecturers.

If you are so pressed for time that you need to watch lectures at faster than 1x speed, then you are doing M1 wrong.

It's not that I'm pressed for time and have to study for so long therefore I can't watch lectures at 1x. It's the fact that >50% of the material is review, and to sit through it at 1x is mind numbingly boring and not productive. I'd rather use that time to watch TV or do other things than simply re-learn step by step something I knew from undergrad.

Also, I have less of a tendency to zone out when I have to focus for 25-30 mins when I watch it at >1x.

 

[RookTookIt]

It's not that I'm pressed for time and have to study for so long therefore I can't watch lectures at 1x. It's the fact that >50% of the material is review, and to sit through it at 1x is mind numbingly boring and not productive. I'd rather use that time to watch TV or do other things than simply re-learn step by step something I knew from undergrad.

Also, I have less of a tendency to zone out when I have to focus for 25-30 mins when I watch it at >1x.

Yeah, I hear that. While going to class absolutely works for my style, it's definitely useless for my roommate. He still comes to each lecture, but ends up having to re-watch a bunch because he zoned out and was on facebook or reddit the whole time.

Of course, everybody needs to find their own style. But as someone who thinks they might like to teach in the future, I know I would prefer a full classroom so I try to go with that mindset.

 

[Renaissance Man]

Yeah, I hear that. While going to class absolutely works for my style, it's definitely useless for my roommate. He still comes to each lecture, but ends up having to re-watch a bunch because he zoned out and was on facebook or reddit the whole time.

Of course, everybody needs to find their own style. But as someone who thinks they might like to teach in the future, I know I would prefer a full classroom so I try to go with that mindset.

My professors don't seem to mind when people don't show up (except for one). I think they understand different learning strokes for different folks. Although I agree it would suck to show up for a lecture to a half-empty room.

 

[theseeker4]

I feel like not going to class is another thing that is more common on SDN than it is in real life. I go to all of my classes and I would say that about 90% of my classmates do too. Usually, I think the lecturers are great, but I go even when I hate the lecturer. Why? Because it's human decency to sit in a class that somebody took the time to prepare and give. It's uncomfortable to lecture to a mostly empty room and I would feel bad if that happened to any of my lecturers.

If you are so pressed for time that you need to watch lectures at faster than 1x speed, then you are doing M1 wrong.

Or, it is a much more efficient use of my time, such that I then have the ability to do more things that I want to do, instead of losing hours of study time per day by attending lectures needlessly. What is really uncomfortable is listening to someone speak at normal speed when you can listen to and take notes from their lectures when they are played at double speed.

 

[p30doc]

class is a gateway drug to inefficiency. just say no.

 

[Alvarez13]

class is a gateway drug to inefficiency. just say no.

I like the cut of your jib.

 

[Hamiltonian]

Also, I have less of a tendency to zone out when I have to focus for 25-30 mins when I watch it at >1x.

Ditto this. Watching it at breakneck speed actually helps me pay attention to it.

 

[hiyaman]

I don't even get up early. I probably don't wake up until 9ish, work out most of mid morning, eat lunch and then don't look at anything school related until afternoon/evening if at all. I say enjoy it while it lasts, there won't be anymore of this sweet life third year. I actually didn't know who my professors were for any of the classes last semester until I sw them at the tests.

lol i basically do the same thing as you. I also really like not having to prepare and pack a lunch the day before.

 

[eeyoreish]

I dunno why people go to class, but even more so I don't know why people listen to the podcasts--thats like going to class but without the social benefit.

At least for me, just reading the powerpoints is way faster. They are very complete and you can get a high A as long as you know them cold.

I'd say roughly 50% of people don't attend class and we don't have recorded lectures.

Honestly it blows my mind that people are willing to spend ~8 hours a day going to class when you can easily learn the same amount in ~2 hours reading the powerpoints.

 

[hiyaman]

I dunno why people go to class, but even more so I don't know why people listen to the podcasts--thats like going to class but without the social benefit.

At least for me, just reading the powerpoints is way faster. They are very complete and you can get a high A as long as you know them cold.

I'd say roughly 50% of people don't attend class and we don't have recorded lectures.

Honestly it blows my mind that people are willing to spend ~8 hours a day going to class when you can easily learn the same amount in ~2 hours reading the powerpoints.

lol I didn't listen to audio this time around. I don't think it really matters either, might be helpful though to see what a professor emphasizes and what they don't, etc.

 

[evilbooyaa]

I dunno why people go to class, but even more so I don't know why people listen to the podcasts--thats like going to class but without the social benefit.

At least for me, just reading the powerpoints is way faster. They are very complete and you can get a high A as long as you know them cold.

I'd say roughly 50% of people don't attend class and we don't have recorded lectures.

Honestly it blows my mind that people are willing to spend ~8 hours a day going to class when you can easily learn the same amount in ~2 hours reading the powerpoints.

The reason I watch the posted videos is because you can see what the lecturer focuses on, along with anything that he/she hasn't explicitly put on the slide.

If I watch the podcast and see the lecturer blatantly skipping over slides (like the ones he forgot to remove from previous years) I know I don't need to know whatever is on them. Ditto for the slides that the lecturer doesn't reach because he/she gets too caught up on ONE slide.

Sometimes lecturers will be nice and say, "you guys should REALLY know this slide" which is all but a giveaway that a test question will come from the concept on that slide.

I read the powerpoint when I was stressed for time, but I felt like I had missed out on information for that class (so I did it for BS classes that would've been major time sinks otherwise)

Therefore, I wouldn't recommend people start off by just reading the powerpoint. You lose where/when the lecturer focuses on a certain group of slide, plus whatever slides they pre-printed and don't actually think is important to cover within their hour block.

 

[epsilonprodigy]

really[/I] learn? If so, then your time in class is wasted yet again. Why do double duty? Why not get a coherent story at your own pace at home by reading or watching videos?

This. We just got through our first block, and it took me a couple of weeks to abandon the idea that " good students go to class." regardless of how well I pay attention, the information doesn't register until I sit down to digest it on my own. I could have saved myself a lot of sleep if I'd figured this out sooner! I find that doing a lot of the material on my own leaves time to actually make connections that are relevant to me, which makes it stick much, much more easily. I still feel a little guilty at times, but the proof is in the pudding... I just honored my histo exam, the class I have skipped the most 🙂

 

[bassvp]

I'm actually finding that I focus a lot better when watching the lectures at 2x speed (1.75x for the faster talkers). It's kind of a challenge keeping up, but keeps my mind engaged a lot better.

 

[kgpremed11]

I don't even get up early. I probably don't wake up until 9ish, work out most of mid morning, eat lunch and then don't look at anything school related until afternoon/evening if at all. I say enjoy it while it lasts, there won't be anymore of this sweet life third year. I actually didn't know who my professors were for any of the classes last semester until I sw them at the tests.

God, what school do you attend? Most of the schools I'm looking at have some sort of lecture attendance policy.

 

[todds]

Here's the thing:

If you have issues of doing your work diligently, and you procrastinate, then its probably a good idea that you go to class. Class is regularly scheduled and it will give a you a set time to get up and get your butt to an environment where perhaps after class you will study. And you will feel better after spending a lunch break with your friends.

Having said that, its extremely inefficient. You pretty much have to sit down with the material yourself after a certain while and read from different sources to UNDERSTAND, not memorize.

What I propose, what I wished I had done more, is set up a standard time to get up in the morning and just go to school - but don't go to class. Go to the library (I would skip even streaming lectures if your tests are from your notes) and just study. Take a lunch break when your classmates do from attending lectures, have some social time, and then go back to the library again and study. This way you will regularly schedule your life which is important and still feel like you're part of the school

If all you do is stay home, you feel very lonely and will find it difficult to set up a schedule in your life, and will feel distant from your school.

 

[startswithb]

Here's the thing:

If you have issues of doing your work diligently, and you procrastinate, then its probably a good idea that you go to class. Class is regularly scheduled and it will give a you a set time to get up and get your butt to an environment where perhaps after class you will study. And you will feel better after spending a lunch break with your friends.

Having said that, its extremely inefficient. You pretty much have to sit down with the material yourself after a certain while and read from different sources to UNDERSTAND, not memorize.

What I propose, what I wished I had done more, is set up a standard time to get up in the morning and just go to school - but don't go to class. Go to the library (I would skip even streaming lectures if your tests are from your notes) and just study. Take a lunch break when your classmates do from attending lectures, have some social time, and then go back to the library again and study. This way you will regularly schedule your life which is important and still feel like you're part of the school

If all you do is stay home, you feel very lonely and will find it difficult to set up a schedule in your life, and will feel distant from your school.

I do exactly this. 👍

 

[TheMightySmiter]

God, what school do you attend? Most of the schools I'm looking at have some sort of lecture attendance policy.

Very few schools have mandatory lecture attendance; I'd expand your search.

 

[Barcu]

Some of you guys have 8 hours? Yikes. I would skip in those cases.

We usually have 3 hours a day from 9-12. I usually go because it gets me up and on campus. Sure, it may not be the most efficient, but I have a real hard time concentrating with audio for some reason (and skipping lectures completely could lead to missing some easy test question giveaways). It's not incredibly difficult to squeeze in studying and some free time in addition to class, but again, I guess we don't have much class compared to other schools.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Some of you guys have 8 hours? Yikes. I would skip in those cases.

We usually have 3 hours a day from 9-12. I usually go because it gets me up and on campus. Sure, it may not be the most efficient, but I have a real hard time concentrating with audio for some reason (and skipping lectures completely could lead to missing some easy test question giveaways). It's not incredibly difficult to squeeze in studying and some free time in addition to class, but again, I guess we don't have much class compared to other schools.

You guys are lucky. We had 8/9 to at least 3 with an hour break for lunch almost every day unless we had small group activities planned.

 

[DarkmanX]

What I propose, what I wished I had done more, is set up a standard time to get up in the morning and just go to school - but don't go to class. Go to the library (I would skip even streaming lectures if your tests are from your notes) and just study. Take a lunch break when your classmates do from attending lectures, have some social time, and then go back to the library again and study. This way you will regularly schedule your life which is important and still feel like you're part of the school

Wow that is a great idea.