Effective Study Habits for Medical Students
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What Redditors are SayingEffective Study Habits for Medical Students
TL;DR Utilize active learning techniques like Anki, prioritize sleep and efficient study sessions, and balance academics with self-care.
Active Learning Techniques
Many medical students find success using active learning techniques such as spaced repetition with Anki. This method helps in retaining vast amounts of information by reinforcing memory through repeated exposure 
[1:1], [2:6]. Practice questions from resources like UWorld/NBME are also recommended to test understanding before feeling fully prepared [1:2], [3:3].
Efficient Use of Time
Efficiency is key when studying. Top students often avoid distractions during study sessions, focusing on quality over quantity. For instance, four hours of focused study can be more effective than ten hours with interruptions [3:2]. Techniques like the Pomodoro method, which involves studying in short bursts with breaks, can help maintain focus and prevent burnout [3:12].
Conceptual Understanding Before Details
Understanding concepts first and then filling in details is a crucial strategy in medicine. This approach prevents confusion and ensures that knowledge is clinically useful [3:1], [3:8]. Building frameworks before diving into data acquisition allows for better integration of facts into higher-level structures [3:6].
Balance and Self-Care
Balancing personal life with academic demands is essential to avoid burnout. Taking intentional time off and maintaining hobbies or exercise routines can improve mental health and cognitive function [1:3], [4:3]. Prioritizing sleep and not overextending oneself academically are important for long-term success [1:2], [3:2].
Time Management Strategies
Effective time management involves creating detailed schedules that allocate time for lectures, self-study, practical sessions, and breaks [5]. Breaking down tasks into manageable chunks can make studying less overwhelming and more productive [5:2].
Overall, finding a personalized study routine that incorporates these strategies can help medical students manage their workload and thrive academically.
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Source Threads
POST SUMMARY • [1]Summarize
Question for med students
Posted by mental-exhaustion123 · in r/medschool · 4 months ago
ORIGINAL POSTWhat are some studying tips that always work for you? And what are some ways you personally incorporate self-care or balance school/personal life to avoid stress and burnout? How do you carve out that time for yourself?
Use spaced repetition (anki). Prioritize time for your hobbies and things you love, even if that means less studying.
This. Also UWorld/NBME are excellent. Do the question and review them. And try not to fall behind, even if it means less "new" stuff the next day.
Make it a goal to find balance between your life, school, and goals. Don't be afraid to take time off. I personally feel like if you're studying for >40 hours a week or only sleeping <7 hours a day during didactics, you're doing something terribly wrong. You don't need 10+ publications and everything honors unless you're aiming for an extremely competitive specialty AND location. You can put in 100% maximum effort and get 90-100% of the outcome, or you can put in 75% of the effort and get 75-85% of the outcome. At the end of the day, you'll more than likely graduate and become a doctor.
I studied for like 15-20 hours/week and slept a minimum of 8 hours every day during didactics. Had a research project here, got involved in like 2 clubs that I really liked, and spent most of my day with my family and friends. Passed every exam with a comfortable margin, never pulled an all-nighter, took every weekend and holiday off, passed Step 1 first time, and thoroughly enjoyed my time.
The thing I was taught and now tell others is that medical school isn't necessarily difficult; it's just a lot. If you find a way to manage your time and work smarter, you'll be just fine.
My biggest studying tips are (1) doing practice questions before I feel “ready” to do them and (2) taking breaks every hour! I’ve found that when I don’t, I start to feel super stressed out and bogged down so the information feels a lot more difficult to wrap my head around than it should be. I’ve also found that the periods where I’m maintaining my exercise routine, I have an easier time taking in information and actually retaining it.
I find balance by intentionally taking time off. I take a full day off from studying/everything school related every week, and I treat school like a full time job (instead of treating it like my whole life). So I wake up, exercise, study (with breaks every hour and a one hour break during the noon hour for lunch), then cut off school-related tasks at 8 PM so I have time to myself to eat and relax before bed. Having this type of schedule (and making sure I’m sleeping 8 hours a night) really has helped me avoid burnout!
The one full day off (which I take on Saturdays) has helped me really find time for myself, too. :)
Biggest study tip is to be open minded to what kind of studying will work best for you as a med student. In undergrad I was a hardcore study guide maker/handwritten notes person and did great, I tried it in med school and it did not work at all. Switched to Anki, stopped focusing so heavily on making my own notes, and started seeing a lot of improvement in my exam scores. Biggest mantra I repeated to myself during this process of learning how I like to study is: if something’s not working, change a variable. Not meaning to be fickle, but more so be ready to adapt. Sometimes, I would need to adapt my studying based on the system we were learning. And don’t compare your studying to others. If you’re the sole note taker out of an entire class of Anki-ers, but note taking works for you, then so be it. :)
Next biggest study tip is to take naps/sleep. You may feel pressured to study until your brain explodes, but after a certain point no amount of studying will help and it is no longer efficient use of your time. Give yourself those breaks. In fact, tell yourself that your academic performance will actually improve because you took that nap, did that work out, went for a walk outside, spent time with your family, or took the time to cook your favorite meal at home.
Be intentional with the opportunities you take on, such as research, volunteering, leadership, etc. In my experience, there are so many opportunities to get involved, so be deliberate with your time because the academic rigor of med school is no joke. With the limited free time you have, you will have to put aside time for yourself, your relationships, your personal interests, and your professional/academic interests and responsibilities. You don’t want to over commit yourself and burn out. Treat your own time as precious too!
r/GetStudying • [2]Summarize
Tips for Medical school?
Posted by -parkthecar- · in r/GetStudying · 5 years agoHello all,
I am starting medical school in July. I was wondering how I could get myself disciplined in the mean time. What study habits should I pick up? How should I prepare in advance to get ready? Any advice is good advice! Thanks :)
As someone in med school, I would encourage you to just relax and enjoy life for now. You’ll have endless study time in the future and will change things up multiple times. Do some reading, exercise, and get your mind right. Good luck!
Gotchu. I’m just wondering cause I know i’m not the best student and I want to discipline myself study better and to retain material ya know? Just worried i’m not gonna do well :/
Totally fair! It’s a crazy process. You’ll figure it out. I read the book “make it stick” after struggling with studying (still do, always will haha) and felt like it helped
I agree with everyone saying to just relax but if quarantine boredom is getting to you, I would recommend finding quick + healthy recipes that you like and practice making them. Once med school starts, people tend to eat more unhealthy foods due to convenience, so having a few healthy recipes under your belt that you can make quickly would be a good idea
I haven't really used anki for a while so you're better off asking people in the first or second year class at your med school :)
Image occlusion Review heat map True retention Better tags Pop up dictionary AMBOSS addon, requires a subscription but can get 2 week trial using codes If you need any help with Anki feel free to message me I’m a first year medical student who has been using Anki since day 1 as my only resource
Chill and learn to use the anki interface
Ali abdaal’s youtube should help
Will check it out. Thanks!
I’ve followed quite a few from “From Valerie’s Kitchen” .com !
Don't. Just.. don't. You've got a few months to chill. I'd highly recommend just doing that.
True. Running out of things to do at home. Was gonna travel but quarantine. Now i’m just a ball of nerves waiting for it to start haha
r/medicalschool • [3]Summarize
How do top medical students study?
Posted by EmphasisGlittering13 · in r/medicalschool · 3 years agoWhat do you think are the study techniques of top students that set them apart from average students? Not being competitive or anything, i just want to learn from you guys. i really need to get good grades to maintain my medical school scholarship🥺
This is it. My research mentor was a top student from high school all through medical school, never dropping below 4.0 (medical school back then was graded). He said he NEVER pulled all-nighters, prioritized sleep, and actually studied a good amount each day with no distractions. He didn't even listen to music while he studied. He said 4 hours of efficient studying is better than 10 hours of getting distracted and studying slowly. I feel the vast majority of students, even smart ones (and me too), have some form of distraction while studying - because it's painful to keep your brain engaged.
However, his efficient studying allowed him to end studying earlier than most people and work on other things. He could engage in research, practice his jazz piano (he is a jazz pianist), or focus on family. He could finish 5 hours with a small coffee break in between (he is a coffee snob), and then take the rest of the day off to pursue some other activity.
I try to take his tips and practice it, but it's a lot harder in practice than it seems. During MCAT studying is when I hit my peak, and I studied 5-6 hours per day after a full day of work with nothing on, but I did need lofi hiphop in the background as the quiet became too much.
I'd think of your studying in a couple buckets:
- Data - this is where Anki is king just to cram the random facts into your brain so you have the information you have to build upon
- Information - this is putting the data into slightly higher-level structures (think pathoma/sketchy)
- Knowledge - this is your own notes / concept outlines that help you think about how things connect at a higher level and 1st principles relate
- Application - this is qbanks, simulation, and clinical savvy
I'd say in the first year (or 2 depending on curriculum) of medical school you should be pretty focused one 1 & 2, as there's a ton to learn, and a little bit of 3, as it helps to have broader buckets to put all the random facts and videos into. As you move forward, you'll switch more into 3 & 4, while continuing to maintain to add to and maintain relevant parts of 1 & 2. Good luck!
This is a really solid outline of how to maximize efficiency in learning. I personally think that information should be thought of more as ‘framework/fundamentals’ - the nuts and bolts. And, it should come before Data. With the amount of data we need to know, framework is necessary for rote data acquisition
I thought that coming in, but have come to think that they should be done in sequence and order is less important. Like obviously don't grind out all of anki before learning any frameworks, but it's fine to unlock all the cardio cards as you're starting the cardio section in your curriculum. IMO dropping facts into the frameworks or a framework onto the facts is about equally effective, and whatever fits into your schedule/lifestyle should dictate the approach
>how long it takes them to process and learn things
This is true but doesn't mean that you're screwed if you're a slow learner. I found out real quickly that I have to touch the material many more times than my classmates for it to stick. After a semester of trying strategy after strategy, I eventually landed on a system that accounted for that while still letting me get through all the material (well most of the material) before each test.
It's important to only spend time studying in ways that have a high return on time invested. It's different for everyone, but mine turned out being: 1. Stop going to classes, 2. At the start of each block, get through all boards and beyond, sketchy and pathoma videos within two days, 3. Unlock associated Anki cards and religiously do them (yes this may mean 1000 card days at the start of each block), 4. As the block goes on, the number of Anki reviews lessens, use the extra time to begin practice questions, 5. As block exam approaches more time is invested in practice questions. 2 to 3 days before the block exam I would run through school provided PowerPoints, writing anything down not covered in Anki in a separate document to review the night before the exam.
This is soo me!!! OMG I thought I was alone😭 It's really difficult for things to stick in my head( I am still contemplating why I took medicine instead of basic science or Maths)
I also feel like it takes me longer/more passes to understand things, but we have weekly or biweekly exams written in house, so I’m not sure how to change my study habits :/
Not only different people learn differently (obviously), there are some inherent differences between subject matters, too. You can't study internal medicine the same way as anatomy.
The golden rule of learning medicine is, to learn the concepts first, and THEN filling in the details. If you do it in reverse, God forbid, you can't make heads or tails of anything yet will know lots of obscure factoids that will mislead you in the exam, and will be of no useful help clinically.
Approach studying with the right attitude. This is not omg boring bullshit. You really shouldn't have to force yourself to study, if you realize knowledge base will save your patients, and your own ass. You have to know this shit inside out.
The problem with detail-based learning is, if you spend six months studying a single subject day and night, you won't master it. Because each of the subjects is a whole discipline, and the deeper you delve, the more complicated it will become and less useful.
Medicine is a gestalt. A big picture. The jungle. Medicine is about connecting the dots, making educated guesses, not some rote memorization regurgitated back every time asked.
So, know your concepts very well. Details can be hammered into your brain with Anki, but you really shouldn't use Anki for concepts as it will require thousands of cards for a single concepts with all its variations.
Exactly. The goal should he to know the underlying physiology and pathophysiology principles such that you can work things out from first principles. And having a standard approach to different particular presenting problems streamlines your diagnostic process.
This is the best advice one could offer!!! Attitude, mental organization, conceptual framing, and knowing what is high-yield is key.
I think it’s also a chicken or egg first question tbh.
I.e. is it because that whenever they study they have an easy time focusing, so they are able to do it uninterrupted for a period of time, or do they force themselves to study for a period of time so they can focus?
Because I know people and at times myself where I can literally clock myself to maybe 30 minutes to an hour with strict no distraction, but I am only forcing myself to read and the materials still don’t really stick that well and was studying very slowly.
There are unmeasurable factors to studying such as how interested you are in the topic, and how motivated you are about studying and doing well in the next exam, etc. and those are equally important in determining how focused you can/will be when you study.
Pomodoro technique with zero distractions seems to be the standard amongst classmates of mine who do very well (NOT me lmfao).
Efficient use of time is key, I couldn’t agree more.
r/ausjdocs • [4]Summarize
Advice for Med student with ADHD
Posted by AccurateCucumber9342 · in r/ausjdocs · 5 months agoHi Everyone,
I'm a MED3 student who is nearly 10 weeks into my first year of clinical rotations... I was initially very excited coming into the year, as I thought hands on type learning would suit me so much better than preclinical years, in the clinical setting I find I do okay-ish, however, I am very much struggling with coming home and doing my own study...
I come home exhausted from "faking it til I make it" all day, and lack motivation and discipline to study. Often I feel like once I graduate it will be ok, but the thought of all the extra training I'll have to do after graduating is filling me with dread.
However, I know there are many many successful doctors with ADHD and other neurotypes out there, and I was just looking for advice on how you all do it? I feel so stuck right now, like I have so much energy but none of it can be used for productive purposes. I have tried studying with friends, setting timers, making lists etc etc. It feels like I have so much to do and I don't know where to start as I fall further and further behind my peers every day.
I know generally it is silly to become sooo stressed out as a year 3 student, however my whole life I have managed to make it appear like I know what I am doing, but now it is getting to the point where I really actually need to know, or consider whether this is the right career for me..
If anyone has any words of wisdom for what actually worked for them, and continues to work for them as doctors, pleaasasssseeee let me know
TIA <3
As a fellow medico and a psychiatrist who manages ADHD, I would recommend:
get your mental health assessed, including your ?ADHD
if you do have ADHD, cognitive strategies and lifestyle modifications might assist, but relief mostly comes from pharmcotherapy
plenty of doctors have ADHD or ADHD symptoms without having a disorder - don't develop a mental block or fall into a sick role because of it - treat what needs to be treated, and trust in the power of your mind
Ooh as a psych managing ADHD - thoughts on the recent NYT article?
As a doc with adult-age-diagnosed and medicated ADHD (now ~decade since starting meds) I think meds have made very little long term difference to my symptomatology (which was part of the thrust of the NYT article) but now I worry about my long term cardiac risk and if I try to stop them I now gain weight. Wish I’d never started!
My 2cent:
Lots of focus on lack of academic achievement improvement with ADHD treatment, however evidence is strong about behavioural management, emotional regulation and work productivity. Most studies are done in younger adults as retrospective diagnosis in much older individuals is a relatively new phenomena. I suspect psychological interventions - e.g. coaching (which is already far less evidence and effect size than stimulants) is even less effective for this demographic as most already developed compensatory skills.
Heart risk often exaggerated in news articles. Safety signal suggest treatment is a mortality benefit due to reducing other risks (e.g. car accidents), IF you have ADHD. Like everything else in medicine, risk is balanced - e.g. hypertensive medication and falls risk.
Those taking stimulants for study / work performance benefit likely aren't deriving more benefit than coffee if they don't have ADHD. There's no evidence it actually improves grades and achievements.
Long-term evidence for majority of treatments in medicine is limited, often with high NNT and mean reversion effect. For example, while we know antipsychotics treat positive symptoms of schizophrenia, it actually has limited benefit on quality of life or mortality when you drag the timeline out.
Stimulant effects are symptom management and very obvious both onset and offset. If you notice it doesn't do anything then why take it? You wouldn't just continue ibuprofen if you experience no reduction in pain.
Using prescription stimulants for weight loss probably isn't the best way to go about it? Probably worth considering proper weight management options instead.
I vaguely remember it, that was an interesting article. I really liked it.
It reminded me of how I felt ADHD is much like schizophrenia in many ways - no natural boundaries, a myriad of presentations, unknown causes, elusive biomarkers and unclear pathophysiology, probably dozens of subtypes that will one day be reclassified into different disorders yet again.
What grounds me in this confusion are a few things: Many people are seeking diagnosis and for adult patients, it's up to me and other psychiatrists to guide them through the process carefully to avoid harm. Also, I have seen treatment make a huge amount of subjective difference in people's lives - how they perceive themselves and the fruits of their endeavours, etc.
At the end of the day, we are trying to alleviate distress rather than actually curing any disorder most of the time. With ADHD, our primitive treatment really only allows for daily symptomatic management to a moderate degree for most people.
I'm sorry to hear you don't feel better. I'll ask about this with my patients one day, perhaps years down the track, see if they could share a longer term reflection with me.
I do hope our understanding about ADHD becomes more sophisticated and 'true' over time. But as we all know, psychiatry moves incredibly slowly. But maybe there is no hurry, the human mind is not exactly a new thing either.
Pretty much this. The first step is to get assessed and treated to give yourself the best chance. But that doesn’t mean medication will solve everything. If you’ve been in hospital or clinic the entire day and expect to be able to power through with study for hours when you get home you’re probably going to be disappointed.
What I tend to see a lot is after being medicated those with ADHD are likely to find it easier to implement and stick with non-medication strategies for reducing distractions, time management, organisation etc.
On the negative side there are a lot of medicos who are not supportive of any kind of mental illness so unfortunately you may find that you won’t get a lot of support from others within the profession - this is the feedback I get from a lot of my medical student/doctor patients; stigma levels are still high which is in stark contrast to those working in other fields.
I simply didn’t study. Hope this helps! x
… just kidding but sort of serious.
I leaned into clinical experience > book study for my learning - did lots of long cases and used those to remember concepts/physiology. I sat in the front row of F2F lectures to trick my brain into thinking the lecturer was talking to me specifically. I had lots of study groups and study buddy time so that studying felt like socialising. When I HAD to do book study I’d move from spot to spot around campus every 2-3 hours to give myself a little break.
Sorry to hear it’s a rough road for you - it’s fucking frustrating having ADHD, but being kind to yourself actually matters. If you feel a lot of shame or self-reproach for all the things you haven’t done, it only makes it harder to get started. Strong plug for therapy/mental healthcare. Good luck xx
Same. I’ve made it to half way through specialty training and I feel like I just simply didn’t study until now. Of course that’s not exactly true, but making it this far has felt like an ad hoc clusterfuck of flying by the seat of my pants and somehow scraping through. I honestly have no idea how I’ve made it this far.
Along the way I have gradually figured out some things that haven’t worked and some things that have.
Things that haven’t worked:
- big lectures/didactic teaching. I can’t listen.
- skipping lectures and telling myself I’ll do the work in my own time… turns out I actually won’t, until the week before the exam which is then miserable and stressful and not overly conducive to success
- study groups with neurotypical friends - while I recognize the importance, they also tend to obliterate any shred of self esteem I have
- coming home from work/uni - I ‘have a little rest’ and then get paralyzed on the couch until the wee hours of the morning
Things that have worked:
- being medicated
- leaving home to study - cycle between a range of libraries, cafes, sometimes friends houses, any environment that makes me feel like ‘I’m here to study’. Noise canceling headphones essential.
- if I have study/assignments to do, not going home from work until I’ve don’t what I need to do that day. This either means staying at work to study after work, or going straight to the library from work. Avoid the couch paralysis at all costs. This often requires forward planning in terms of packing study supplies/meals, or getting takeaway. Either way I feel like I leave home with enough stuff packed for a weekend away. But if I set a goal or a time limit ‘i.e. study for two hours/til 7/write 500 words’ that I have to achieve before I get to go home and relax, it avoids the couch paralysis self loathing spiral.
- anki cards - any short nuggets of information that I can consume and test myself on repeatedly is what works best for me. Big long waffle lecture unfortunately no good. Anki cards with dot points and pictures - very good.
That sounds like me (with no diagnosis).
I did much better in the primary than I did in medical school.
Oh and as a doctor it’s easier - you see the concepts/facts in practice every day and it feels genuinely engaging/relevant.
>I simply didn’t study. Hope this helps! x
150 IQ approach.
Hello. ED reg with ADHD.
I don't come home if I need to study.
If I need to get work done, I'll either do it at the library or the hospital, any hour of the day or any length of the time.
I lose all motivation as soon as I walk through my front door.
It worked for me in med school and through primaries. Here's hoping it'll be effective for fellowship.
You got this.
A budding EM physician then..
r/Perfectcustompapers1 • [5]Summarize
Strategies to help medical students cope with their academic challenges
Posted by doglover2254 · in r/Perfectcustompapers1 · 6 months ago
Medical school is a demanding journey, and academic challenges are inevitable. However, with the right strategies, medical students can effectively cope and thrive. Here are some key approaches:
1. Cultivate Effective Time Management:
- Detailed Scheduling: Create a structured timetable allocating specific slots for lectures, self-study (broken down by subject), practical sessions, revision, and crucially, breaks and personal time. Adhere to this schedule as much as possible.
- Prioritization: Identify challenging subjects or upcoming high-stakes assessments and allocate study time accordingly. Balance this with consistent engagement across all disciplines to prevent falling behind.
- Break Down Tasks: Divide large topics and assignments into smaller, manageable segments to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed and facilitate focused learning.
- Utilize Short, Focused Study Bursts: Employ techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (e.g., 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break) to optimize concentration and prevent burnout during long study sessions.
2. Embrace Active Learning Techniques:
- Engaged Lecture Participation: Attend lectures attentively, take concise and organized notes focusing on key concepts, and actively ask clarifying questions.
- Interactive Study Methods: Go beyond passive reading by summarizing information in your own words, creating visual aids like mind maps and flowcharts, and actively working through practice questions and case studies.
- Regular Self-Testing: Implement active recall by frequently testing yourself on learned material without referring to notes. Utilize flashcards and practice quizzes to identify knowledge gaps early.
- Collaborative Learning: Form study groups with motivated peers for discussions, peer teaching, and collaborative problem-solving. Ensure these sessions remain focused and productive.
3. Develop Strong Note-Taking and Organization Skills:
- Systematic Note-Taking: Adopt a consistent method for taking notes, whether digital or handwritten, and organize them logically by subject and topic for easy retrieval.
- Regular Review and Summarization: After lectures and readings, review and summarize your notes, highlighting key information and condensing main concepts to aid retention and efficient revision.
- Organized Filing Systems: Maintain a well-structured system for both digital and physical study materials to avoid wasting time searching for resources.
4. Prioritize Self-Care and Well-being:
- Adequate Rest: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly, recognizing its crucial role in memory consolidation, cognitive function, and overall well-being.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Maintain a balanced and nutritious diet, engage in regular physical activity, and practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques to manage stress effectively.
- Seek Social Support: Cultivate strong relationships with peers, family, and mentors. Don't hesitate to reach out for emotional support when facing difficulties.
5. Seek Help and Utilize Available Resources:
- Engage with Faculty: Don't hesitate to approach lecturers and tutors for clarification on challenging concepts or academic guidance. Utilize office hours and other available support.
- University Support Services: Explore and utilize university counseling services, academic advisors, and peer mentoring programs designed to support students' academic and mental well-being.
- Online Resources: Leverage reputable online medical education platforms, databases, and forums for supplementary learning materials and support communities.
Coping with academic challenges in medical school is an ongoing process that requires self-awareness, proactive strategies, and a willingness to seek support.
By implementing these approaches, medical students can navigate the demanding curriculum, mitigate stress, and ultimately succeed in their academic pursuits while maintaining their overall well-being
Breaking down tasks is the best thing i've seen here that matches what i needed
Hurrah!
Wow, thanks for this, will also check it out
Do check it out
Grateful for this, let me check with you guys asap since i need help on serious areas and i hope to get help rather sooner
Alright
r/premed • [6]Summarize
Want to learn how to study effectively
Posted by WhatTheSiigma · in r/premed · 3 months agoHey everyone, so I’m not sure if this is the best place to post this so just let me know and I’ll delete it.
I want to know some of your personal study strategies that have worked in undergrad and if you’re in med school the strategies you are currently using. I finished ochem 1/2 with only a B, and I tried really hard. Like tears on my pillow because I really wanted an A hard (cringe I know lol). This is making me sort of worried how if I can only get a B in an undergrad course how am I supposed to last in med school?
I really want to be a good physician. I want to make sure I know as much as possible and remember as much so I can apply it in practice and do well on the standardized exams.
Sorry again if this is neurotic, I will delete if needed! Thanks guys.
Ngl there’s a ton of amazing physicians out there that got a c in ochem or failed and had to retake. Ur gonna be fine.
For me personally I go to class take notes on my iPad whether that be on the teaching slides or on a blank doc. I then review it for like 10min after class and before the next class period. For exams I start reviewing some each day like a week out if it’s possible. Sometimes i do Quizlet/anki or have chat come up with some practice questions although it does give wrong info in classes like phys
What works for someone else isn’t necessarily going to work for you. Just gotta try some stuff and see what sticks. A B in ochem isn’t that bad and isn’t going to dictate how good of a doctor you can potentially be.
You’re awesome thanks for responding and helping me out! I just need to chill out lol!!
Getting a B in orgo II is good haha don’t stress yourself too much. I have lots of C+s on my transcript and am freaking out but realized there will always be options and it’ll all work itself out.
I feel like I didn’t learn how to properly study/ take a class until I started studying for my MCAT. I learned that it takes a while to figure out what works best for you, and that will be different from everyone else. I found this works best for me:
- look over any relavent matierals before the lecture
- take brief notes on it in a doc
- write transcript of the lecture in the same doc
- go through power point and transcript and write hand written notes in a notebook
- tab questions as you go
- ask chat to explain each slide/ concept like ur in 5th grade
- ask chat to make a practice exam at the end based off of class notes/ slides only
- use external resourcees for confused topics
- review notes !
This might not be the best strategy for you and again I’d take with a grain of salt since I have Cs on my transcript but i did this my last semester and found it to be very helpful!
Thank you so much! This is so unnecessary of me to ask lol but do you use good notes or any specific note taking software?
No worries at all, not unnecessary. I used good notes throughout most of undergrad except my last semester when I started studying for my MCAT. I decided to switch it up and go back to pencil and notebook.I personally liked it so much more using highlighters, different color pens and having everything in one spot in front of me was really nice. I know this is all possible on the iPad but idk I think throughout med school I’ll continue to use physical notebooks and maybe just good notes for anatomy/image content.
I got straight Bs through chem, Gen and ochem, and I am doing fine in med school. You need to relax a bit.
For what it’s worth, I haven’t seen Ochem once in med school. A B is a perfectly good grade. Celebrate that.
It’s a B. You can’t be good at every subject
Definitely true. It was a tough pill to swallow as my pride said otherwise lol! But you’re absolutely right
The key isn’t perfection, it’s building a system that helps you retain and apply information consistently over time.
One strategy that works really well for high-volume subjects like in med school is active recall + spaced repetition. Instead of re-reading or re-watching lectures, focus on forcing your brain to retrieve what you’ve learned repeatedly. That’s what actually improves long-term memory and test performance.
If you’re looking for a tool to help with that, check out BrainSpeed.ai
r/MedSchoolCanada • [7]Summarize
Optimizing Studying/Lifestyle
Posted by Connect-Quality3306 · in r/MedSchoolCanada · 4 months agoWhat are some study tips & tricks, resources, or habits you have adopted that have helped you succeed in med school? In other words, what are some things you wish you knew going into first year that would’ve helped you be better prepared? I’d appreciate any input, thank you :)
Just finishing preclerkship right now.
The biggest tip is to treat business hours (8-5pm) as your dedicated work time. This is when you watch lectures, review notes, do mandatory sessions, make and review flashcards, assignments etc...
If you do that every day, then your evenings will generally be free. It is entirely possible to live a balanced life in the pre clerkship years. On that note, get into the habit of exercising and eating well. Invest in yourself.
r/ausmedstudents • [8]Summarize
High achieving med students - what are your study secrets?
Posted by awokefromsleep · in r/ausmedstudents · 5 months agoFor day to day learning - how you watch the lectures, do you prime, what do you do after, Anki, spaced repetition , mind maps. How you ensure you understand concepts then lock it in. Do you read books? Do you focus on strengths/weaknesses? Do you use question banks? If so, which ones?
For exams - how far out do you start to grind? What do you make sure you’ve got covered i.e answering the learning outcomes with enough accuracy without referring to lectures etc.
I’ve tried most of these but still struggling to find my study groove.
Thanks in the advance. MD1 🥹
MD2 with consistent reasonable results to date:
"how you watch the lectures"
I watch the recordings on 1.5-2x speed when it suits me best.
"do you prime"
I tend to skim read the pre-work we have online the weekend before, and watch YouTube videos on the topic.
"what do you do after"
Mostly nothing, just move on to the next thing.
"Anki"
I am not an Anki person, though I see its value. I only use it to flash information into my eyes the week or so before an exam.
"spaced repetition"
I will revise summary slides for each content block, including first year content, before exams. Or when topics I learned in the past come up clinically, or related things come up in other systems.
"mind maps"
I tried this in the first few weeks because it sounded like a good way to consolidate things. But I found that it takes too much time and does not add sufficient value.
"How you ensure you understand concepts then lock it in"
Looking at content from various sources, at some point, I will encounter information and already know it.
"Do you read books?"
Not textbooks. I used to read the recommended chapters in the beginning, but found I can reliably get the same information presented more intuitively out of YouTube videos from high quality sources in a shorter amount of time.
"Do you focus on strengths/weaknesses?"
No. But I might de-emphasise things I don't have much interest in or that seem low yield, with the assumption that it is unrealistic to know 100% about 100%.
"Do you use question banks? If so, which ones?"
Passmedicine, it is free and tends to have clinically relevant content. I use the 'Knowledge tutor' function more than the questions because it is faster.
"For exams - how far out do you start to grind?"
Around 2 weeks prior. I feel that it is enough based on consistent engagement beforehand, to commit some additional exam-y bits to memory.
"What do you make sure you’ve got covered i.e answering the learning outcomes with enough accuracy without referring to lectures etc."
I make sure I covered the information that gets repeated across what our faculty teaches, various videos on the topic, Passmedicine questions, etc. I do not refer back to the learning outcomes.
Things not covered above that I would like to emphasise:
- Taking at least a day per week off study completely without any guilt about it has been effective. It is a tip from a friend I implemented after just sort of scattering study here and there, and having a dedicated free day has been great. Highly recommend considering this.
- Emphasise physical exercise, nutrition, and sleep. It makes for more effective study. Might seem like there is not enough time for it, but spending time doing other beneficial things will just increase energy levels, make the time spent on med more efficient, and overall the outcomes will be better than some unhealthy and unhappy grind spiral.
- Don't focus too much on what works for others beyond a bit of inspiration to try things that sound good. We all truly seem to work differently from all the conversations I had to date. I would instead focus on what comes easiest to you, as that is likely more sustainable. The trial and error period in the beginning is very common and no reason to be discouraged.
All the best!
Are you in the US? How similar was USMLE content to your course? How did you score?
r/medicalschool • [9]Summarize
What are your study/day/life routines?
Posted by Standard_Raspberry · in r/medicalschool · 3 years agoI feel like I lose a lot of time doing nothing or being unproductive and I'm trying to fix that so I can be more efficient with work. What are your general day/study routines? When do you work out, meal prep, get through anki cards? Lectures are mandatory so I feel like I'm in class a lot but not necessarily studying for step or actively learning. And then I spend so much time trying to get through material that I don't spend as much time with my friends or even just being a healthy person as I would like.
Waking up and working out before classes or rotations has really helped me.
I try to wake up at 5:00-6:00 and go to the gym. I’m usually there until 6:30-7:30. Obviously the earlier you get there the more time you free up for things like laundry, making lunch, getting some anki reviews in etc.
My mood is also a bit better and I feel less anxious.
Pro tip: pack a gym back before you go to bed, so that you just need to grab your bag and go. Your gym bag includes pre workout, a change of clothes, gym bottle. Don’t put post work out in your bag, just drink it when you come home… otherwise your bottles get lost. Buying an alarm clock lets you turn your phone off at night, that helps with getting to bed.
This is great, going to use this as a guide
Follow up: how and when do you get your anki reviews done? I am facing 500+ reviews a day even before I add new cards and I am really struggling
As a fourth year, I legit just oversleep watch anime play video games. Occasionally I’m doing interviews. If I’m on a rotation, I stay for an hour then just leave. Life’s great 👍
Man enjoy it before residency comes around to kick ass
Don’t remind me 😭
Cries in M1
I'm in a pbl track and also have a wife and kid so my situation is a bit different. I wake up, go to whatever I have to do at my school for 2 or so hours, get home, do my anki cards that are due that day. if it didn't take me too long I'll do some readings. then kid wakes up and I play with her for a few hours and then when it's time for her to go to bed, my wife will put her to sleep after I give her a bath, then I read/B&B/pathoma/sketchy and maybe do some extra custom decks on anki for things I'm feeling weak on. rinse and repeat. I'll study for 3-4 hours every day. on the low end as far as medical students go but I have a system and I've yet to fail any classes so it works for me with my limited available time.
r/premedcanada • [10]Summarize
Discipline Advice & Talk Some Sense Into Me
Posted by No-Barnacle5113 · in r/premedcanada · 2 months agoNeed tips/advice: My GPA is fine, the issue is discipline. I don't have any discipline and I can see this hurting me in the future. No matter how hard I try to just study a little bit each day and keep up with lectures, I WILL get distracted and fall back.
I even end up skipping most lectures, then watching the lecture videos at 2x speed. I make a study schedule and I'll stick to it for like half a day and then I'm off track again. I'm almost always cramming all the testable material like a couple days before the exam. It has been working but this is not sustainable for the MCAT or in the future. I need to fix it now but I keep failing at it. I feel so horrible because I want to really go to class and enjoy the university experience of sitting in lectures and such but I just end up watching the lectures on 2x speed later and doing ECs on the side instead. But I feel so horrible cuz I wanna go to class, make friends, talk to people and enjoy my uni life.
I see people having such nicely organized study schedules. They have built-in catch up days and time blocks. I've tried those things but idk I can never get myself to like "study a little bit each day" and find myself cramming weeks of content in 1-2 days. It works for the exam but I don't actually retain any of it.. but I want to improve. Right now I'm getting away with it but there will come a point where I won't and I want to start bracing for it now. Tips on going about this?
Try to figure out what's holding you back and go from there. See if your school has a learning strategist you can talk to. At UofT, they offer free appointments with learning strategists, for example.
Adderall
I was in a situation similar to this, and it wasn’t really a “discipline” issue and thinking of it as so made my issues worse. I think my tips are
- Accept that you are not someone who gravitates towards having a “nicely organized study schedule”— this was one of my woes as well. Give yourself a wider range of time to complete things rather than planning for it to happen at a specific moment. Example; I use a physical planner (tried notion and it hurt my brain lol) and identify what tasks need to be completed within the next few weeks, months ,etc… and instead of writing down “complete x amount of x during this time period” I will simply write down in my planner “work on x today.” I end up getting a lot more done than if I had given myself highly specific times to do things. This isn’t really advice for what you should do, more so how you should think about tasks.
- Develop neutral emotions to studying. View it as something that “just has to be done” like breathing or sleeping. It was really hard for me to study when I had built it up as a monumental task in my head and felt physically stressed about it. I’m not really sure how I did this tbh, it might have just come with aging and getting more used to the process of going through school.
- You might also be in a cycle of “doing the mental work” of studying, without actually studying, and then avoiding your hobbies. I was in this the fall semester of last year. It was really stupid and I would sit around feeling stressed about school and telling myself “You need to go study now” without actually studying. But I couldn’t do my hobbies and decompress because I “had to do schoolwork.” If you are in this situation, it was always helpful to take half a day off regardless of consequences, and do something I enjoyed.
- Other unrelated thing that helped me was taking beverages I really liked (van houtte dulce de leches coffee and presidents choice sparkling cream sods is the rotation rn) and only allowing myself to have them while I’m studying. Now I look forward to starting studying (the hardest part) because I know I’ll get to have my coffee and sparkling cream soda lol. You do not need discipline, you just need to work with your brain. I am a “type B” person and accepting this rather than trying to change it has been very beneficial to my grades and mental health. Good luck, university will get easier the more you practice doing it :D
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effective study habits for medical students
Key Considerations for Effective Study Habits:
Active Learning: Engage with the material actively by summarizing information in your own words, teaching concepts to peers, or using flashcards for self-testing.
Spaced Repetition: Use spaced repetition techniques to enhance retention. Tools like Anki can help you review material at increasing intervals, reinforcing memory.
Time Management: Create a study schedule that allocates specific times for studying different subjects. Break study sessions into manageable chunks (e.g., 25-50 minutes) followed by short breaks (5-10 minutes).
Study Environment: Find a quiet, organized space free from distractions. Ensure good lighting and comfortable seating to enhance focus.
Utilize Resources: Make use of various resources such as textbooks, online lectures, and study groups. Different formats can help reinforce learning.
Practice Questions: Regularly practice with past exams or question banks. This helps familiarize you with the exam format and identifies areas needing improvement.
Healthy Lifestyle: Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and exercise. A healthy body supports a healthy mind, improving concentration and cognitive function.
Recommendations:
Pomodoro Technique: Consider using the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused study followed by a 5-minute break) to maintain concentration and prevent burnout.
Group Study: Form study groups to discuss complex topics. Teaching and discussing with peers can deepen understanding and retention.
Mind Mapping: Use mind maps to visually organize information. This can help in connecting concepts and enhancing recall.
By implementing these strategies, you'll be better equipped to manage the rigorous demands of medical school and retain the vast amount of information required.
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