Study Tips for Medical School & College | How I Study in Medical School

[@krishnanclips]

1. Study smart, not long. Focus on active recall and not just reading your notes or books ( that is just recognition). 2. Use Feynman System of studying and Cornell System of Note-taking. Paste colour labels on side of 200-page notebooks for each subject, such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology so that you can stack all of them together easily; list contents on cover, make one-line key words for each chapter on separate coloured sheet subjectwise. At end of of medical school, for instance, you will have only 20-25 sheets for entire period of study for quick revision. Load them on ANKI too. 3. List all topics the professor will cover in a subject that year in Google Spreadsheet or Excel. Mark them in various colours as you finish them, first review, second review, third review... Before exams, each time you recall the points in the topic--studying your book does not qualify for this-enter date in col 1. The next time you re-read it, mark in col 2. Third time in col 3. Colour code these dates as how well you recalled-easy (green), medium (orange), hard (red) to get instant picture of your weak areas. Concentrate on the difficult ones. Skip the easy ones. 4. Focus on high-yield material and books. (For medicine, four types of books: Reference books for further study, Standard books for daily studies, Review books for exams, and Question Bank or MCQs. Use just one study book and one question bank). Concentrate first on what your professors teach. They have read all the important books and their questions will be from the material they teach. If the prof says "this is important", pay attention! Attend all classes and especially practicals. 5. Use mnemonics, vulgar sentences & images to improve recall. Doctors remembered the vulgar cranial nerve mnemonic even after 30-40 years! 6. Use mental and physical pictures, mind maps, memory palaces, nyaasa technique of memorisation. Ancient Greeks, Romans and Indians memorised large texts this way for centuries. 7. Use cartoons (Picmonic and Sketchy Medicine). The more bizarre the better. 8. Sing medical songs or set to popular tunes, chants, slokas (many medical songs on youtube). Ancient cultures transmitted information orally through chanting. If you want to remember something really well, write down key points and read it 15 times just before going to bed and 15 times within first five minutes of waking up. 9. Google the topic “punch words”, which differ for each subject. These 10-15 punch words for each subject are high-yield and all questions are set on these. Example: You can't complete Harrison's Medicine in your entire life. But in electronic form, if you Google "the drug of choice", it will list 200 of them. Do it with all subjects. Punch words for anatomy are different from punch words for physiology. Make ANKI decks of punch words too. Revise them daily. 10. Use Pomodoro technique to study. Buy small alarm clock, not phone alarm. Study in 25-min blocks, then do anything else for five minutes. Do it again. After two hours, take a 30-min break. Reward yourself. Try to study with a friend or two (not more than four people in the group). Always get 7-9 hours of sleep daily. Try to sleep by 10 pm and wake up at 5 (no wonder military institutions worldwide do that). Immediately study for an hour, then exercise vigorously. There is more ATP in the morning and by the end of the day more adenosine. More ATP = better studies. Sleep and it helps convert it back to ATP. Most medical students stay awake all night, sleep for 4-5 hours, wake up 15 min before class and run there unbathed! 11. Watch videos on subject previous night, review in morning, scan textbook’s chapter heads, subheads and bold-type points, pictures, tables, and, most important, the questions at back of chapter, then attend lecture. At home read text book and Q bank. 12. Spaced repetition. Read, then re-read next day. Use ANKI free software. Many readymade decks are available for each subject but it is better to make your own decks. Put sticky notes (also called Post-It Notes) above your desk for every topic. Scan them for 15 min daily. By the end of the year, you would have seen them hundreds of times,sometimes while doing other tasks. Unlike ANKI, it jumps at you any time you stand there or walk by. 13. Practice-testing yourself is a great technique, research shows. Instead of writing point-wise summary of the lesson, make questions to cover the topic. practice active recall: Do not open your textbook or notebook after listening to a lecture. Instead, make notes by recalling as much as possible. Check the textbook and list in another colour all the points you forgot. Focus on them repeatedly by adding it to Anki. Most students think reading books or class notes is studying. Reading a lesson is only passive recognition. It is useless. Instead, focus on active recall and spaced repetition. Recall the points in the topic. 14.That is why teaching it to someone without using notes is the best form of active recall. Else, stand (don't sit) and lecture to empty room. Use drawings, write points on blackboard/whiteboard and especially gestures improve recall. Keep a whiteboard in your room. Try to dramatise the situation. Can you make a skit of the topic? Like an action potential running down the stairs, ion channels consisting of students opening or closing! 15. Use ANKI app (free) to test yourself DAILY, even while walking to class or while waiting for next patient (you can scan two cards in 10 seconds). Make decks with fill-in-the-blanks cards, add illustrations, cartoons in “extra” col. Make coloured decks of “must know” “desirable to know”. Revise “Must Know” more often, based on school syllabus that professors will give you in detail. Try to practise as many past question papers as possible, even several times. Focus on learning the concepts rather than memorising things. 16. Make most notes with pictures rather than words as more exams are increasingly photo-based. Download pictures in Anki. The more you draw, the more you will rember. Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramon y Cajal drew complex neurons from memory (Google his drawings). 17. If studying five or six topics in one session, don't study one after the other. Do topic 1&2, then test yourself by recalling topic 1. After studying topic 3, test on topic two. Do same with the rest. 18. While studying several subjects at night, jump from one subject to another and come back to any of them at any point rather than doing it sequentially. Example anatomy, physio and biochemistry. Don’t study one by one. Study a little in each and come back to do other chapters in each. 19. At the end of the day, write out plan for tomorrow. 20. Before sleeping, mentally review what did you studied today. 21. Studying daily for one hour over a week is better than studying the whole thing in seven hours in one day. Just before exams, sleep rather than study. If you study without sleeping, you will not remember what you studied. During exams, stop every 30 minutes and take three breaths of 4 sec inhalation, 7-sec hold and 8-sec exhalation. Sure, you could have answered a few questions in those 57 seconds but did you get them right? Doing this exercise will boost oxygen level and make you more alert to tackle the other questions correctly. 22. Focus on quantity of topics recalled than quality. 23. Concentrate on studying and recalling areas you are poor in rather than re-reading stuff you are good at in the "revision period" before exams. Read the red chapters more than the green ones (which you know already). Do 10-year test papers, if possible repeatedly, under test conditions. 24. Spend maximum time in practicals and clinics. Really try to do as much dissection as possible. After a few months, most students are watching their phones and not dissecting. That is your chance. Seize the opportunity. Volunteer as much as possible to dissect. Only those who do become good surgeons. 25. Watch videos of candidates who stood first in various medical exams and learn from them. 26. Spend weekends and holidays and whenever possible helping and meeting people and listening to their stories in cancer wards, old-age homes, schools for children with special needs, work with physically and mentally handicapped people. Be empathetic. Never be arrogant. Everyone is a teacher. Nurses have a lot of experience as they spend more time with patients unlike doctors. Ask them for suggestions. Learn from them. Be extra courteous to nurses. Ask seniors and professors for tips. Ask them about their interesting cases. Talk to a lot of people. Listen to patients without interrupting them or getting impatient. If you listen long enough, you will know the case correctly. Let them talk without interruption. 27. Don't focus on money in life. Don't be greedy and seek commissions or do unethical things even if others are doing it. Prescribe cheaper drugs. Read inspirational articles about doctors who went out of the way to serve people, often getting no money. 28. Really focus on improving your handwriting. Nearly every doctor has terrible handwriting! Many drugs have similar names with only one letter different. 29. Sleep early and for 6-8 hours daily. Exercise vigorously. Do pranayama & meditation. Write a daily journal (list three things you are grateful for). Study Mon-Sat like hell and totally enjoy on Sundays. Go crazy on Sundays and really have a good time. Indulge in your hobbies.

[@jilsese4253]

I'm so glad I found this channel! I'm an 11th grader in senior high school in the PH and I also plan to pursue medicine in the future and become a pediatrician. Thank you so much for your videos! They're very helpful and inspiring!

[@bilqeeshussaini6157]

Jil Sese omg yes I want to become a surgeon

[@DNJ9o9o]

You guys are probably going to change your goals anyways

[@SoheilusBlue]

Did you make it?? :D

[@justjoelee]

Great study tips! Really enjoying these typed of videos :)

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+JoeLeeFitness Thanks Joe! :)

[@coldbrew1334]

Thank you for this great video, obviously this is one the best study tip video I've ever seen in KZbin. I recently found your channel and immediately I became huge fan of yours watching every single videos u uploaded :> Currently I'm preparing for PEET which is korean version of PCAT and I found that watching you working and studying really motivates me a lot. You are such an inspring person for me Jamie. I just wanted to tell you

[@ilikemushrooms2391]

The "saying the lesson out loud" technique does really work. I use that too and it's really effective!

[@asinanan4]

I love that your vids are so specific to Med school because I feel like it's really hard to find those. So thanks for putting out these high quality amazing videos 😁

[@copicopi8877]

can u make a vid about how to study anatomy?

[@linzhuo3099]

+nel cic Yes please!!

[@JuuC]

Please, please, please. I'm not a Med student but a Vet student

[@mennehgambia1962]

kim chi GO WORKOUT IN THE GYM, you'll learn fkin fast

[@cier8609]

the first 'study tips' that actually was quite beneficial to me. thank you!

[@annlys7728]

Thanks for making this video! my medicine exams are getting closer and closer and so i will definately use these!

[@brie7859]

Audio lectures while doing dishes is a new one for me, I'll try it out thank you Mcat video? More info about what to expect on it and what to do for it

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+Sabrienne Alice Olanio Working on the MCAT video, stayed tuned :)

[@TheaBabyGirl19]

This was very informative and I love that it was concise. Thank you for including study resources. I'm currently doing my bachelor's degree in pre-med bio and I definitely want to go to med school after. It's videos like yours that really give me some guidance and I don't know if you're gonna see this but thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos.

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+Thea Alleyne thank you! hope the tips are helpful :) good luck with your bachelor's degree & the med school process-- hard work but totally worth it!

[@aDashofMonique]

I will definitely implement these super helpful study tips! As a first year med student, I still feel like I don't quite know how to study yet. I'm optimistic that your advice will be of benefit! :) Thanks for sharing!

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+aDashofMo Hopefully you find them useful! PS. love your channel!

[@amandanguyen9233]

I think my favorite was to take a 30 break and to browse on fb or whatever. Too many times am I distracted and by the end of it all I practically retained nothing. So thank you for that

[@ms.sandrasteachingjourney]

Reading out loud really is so helpful!!

[@marie-charlotteparent972]

My new super trick is to actually study class by class and then put all my notes aside and film me "kind of teaching" all the class, after that i review it (not right after) to see if i forgot some information, if not, usually for a 4h class of neuroscience i present it in around half an hour and then i rewatch it when i have spare time :)

[@pj9994]

I love your videos! I don't even study medicine but I just love coming to your channel for motivation. Currently doing exams and loving your videos! Thank you!

[@jeta6499]

Thanks a bunch ! Im going to be a future medical student in Austria and I am just preparing myself for it. Im so glad I found these videos you're really really helpful, every medical student or future one should be subscribed to u keep up the good work :) !

[@TheStrivetoFit]

thanks so much

[@sparklestm5414]

Another tip is that to make chunks of keywords and which can help us to make a better answer....

[@vivienetiu7935]

you are truly inspiring so glad i found your channel

[@nadadent]

thank u u r always motivating me whenever i feel so down n bad i just watch ur videos to get energy u r an amazing person and i will follow your tips to succeed thank u superwoman

[@ksudydo2821]

This is so awesome, its helpful not only with medicine but other classes, thanks you sm for your tips!

[@woopimiku4673]

I was soooo frustrated !!!thanks ..and reading comments its feels better most of them are struggling ;)

[@shriagupta09]

Hey I really appreciate your videos but they're all focused on Medical school and I am not a med student. This video was especially helpful because of its "general" nature. Can you please make more videos like this? Not predominantly Medical School related but just kind of half and half? It would be super helpful. Videos such as, "How to take notes" "How to stay focused" "How to memorise facts rather than concepts" etc. I'd like to learn from your take on these topics.

[@Melissa-zb1xm]

but her channel is focused on medical school? haha

[@alicecui654]

Hi Jamie, I just stumbled upon your channel, and I am so glad I did! Thanks for all the tips and advice for this aspiring medical student and doctor! :)

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+Alice Cui Hi Alice! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! Hope the study tips are helpful!

[@rachelcynthia2264]

These tips are very helpful. Amazing video!!

[@good.life1]

God bless you! You're doing a good job.

[@suraiyameem2181]

this is really helpful ! Great video !! hey u got a new subscriber :)

[@snehavajanthri4164]

hey.. nice video.. can you suggest audio lecture sites for med school subjects..

[@johnlima2069]

You are so beatififul Steve!!

[@elliviademoe]

So incredibly helpful!!

[@mariumrehman8549]

amazing study tips these actually helped

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+marium rehman glad you found it useful! :)

[@DennisNeuberGymKidDennis]

Very solid video:)

[@shadhjallbo]

This was a very nice video, I really like them, thank you!

[@faizanullah5646]

Only problem is when you wanna study in a public place like uni library or cubicles you cant say it out loud but yes saying things out loud and saying it to your self helps tremendously.

[@docizzy7917]

Hi first of all love love your videos please keep them coming. Second I need your advice on how to handle large volume of material that need to be covered in a short time. How do you do it? Do you try to memorize everything or do your try to identify whats important also do you summarize your lectures and make flash cards? Thanks

[@andrewwatson7044]

What kind of camera do you use? The quality is great!

[@caitlinmichelle7227]

Where did you get the pink typewriter?? It's so pretty!

[@handerson2203]

study resource video!

[@bloomprinceton]

can u do a how to stay motivated video :3

[@leggingphambers7054]

I’m 12 I’m already getting ready

[@jiwonnabe]

did you find thinkmcat's audio lectures helpful? how are they compared to examkrakers osmosis?

[@mynatalietsui]

hey! any good tips for remembering drug names?

[@preetichoudhary3097]

Hie! Can you please tell from where you are doing your medicine studies

[@celinadias886]

I'm in school and. Failing two subjects. And trying really hard. Thanks

[@ozioma]

Omg you were in the ad before the video

[@positivevibes7425]

I record my own voice while learning new stuff.. And then listen to it the next day while driving for med school. :D

[@amandabekka6636]

Do you know where to find any audio lectures for the DAT or any similar subjects?

[@vishalmuralidharan4515]

Hey could you just temme which books did you read for pre clinical subjects ?

[@sanamlily240]

really helpful...thank you :)

[@tunnu4092]

I am in college and I'm a pre med student can you tell me how you make your schedule

[@kimberlybarrameda6191]

can you Please help me? I'm very nervous about the NMAT this coming Oct. I just want to ask about how you prepare for the exam. Thank you!!! :)

[@ahadjz]

Thank you!💕

[@martindavis1277]

Do you take the MCAT in one go, or do you take different sections on different days?

[@EmilyJohnson-ii3by]

Martin Davis the actual exam is a 7 hour exam and you take all 4 sections

[@hasanfalah5650]

great tips

[@SuperHtownswag]

this is an amazing KZbin channel, she should be charging us for this information

[@TheMarie322]

What med school do you go to?

[@egzoni958]

hi I'am a student of medicine but I'm stil in highschool I don't know if you've heard of it because i live in Europe and its a bit different here and some of this I new thanks for the tips cause medschool videos in youtube are really rare

[@damn9538]

+Egzon Behrami (iamegzon)"I' m a student of medicine but I'm still in highschool" I'm in Europe but, just to know, what country are you in? Then, what's this? A kind of project or what man?

[@egzoni958]

we call it high school but its not really a high school its complicated we have the system of bologna here so when i finish my studies here im a medicine techician and if I want to be a doctor I have to do six years more of study.Was I clear enough? DAMN

[@damn9538]

E chi l' avrebbe mai detto di trovare un bolognese su una pagina americana? Comunque si ho capito hai frequentato un odontotencino o ottico o scuola simile ( dipende da regione a regione) che ti da il titolo di tecnico.

[@nooralyassin9122]

Where do you usually get the application questions from? I've been looking for sources of questions but I can't seem to find any.. :/

[@TheStrivetoFit]

I used Kaplan questions, practice questions given out by professors, and some review books...Depending on what you're studying the sources of application questions will vary but if you're a med student board review resources are good places to start!

[@HealthPulsePro-cm2yh]

thanks:) for the tips

[@bijhonar]

nice video i have a question i noticed that you live alone i am a nursing student and i live alone as well i also have a cat i like to stay longer in school and study but i feel that is not fair to my cat to be alone for along time ( i normally leave him alone for about 6-8 hours aday) how do you deal with this since you have a cat as well ? and how many hours is ok do you think to leave the cat alone?

[@TheStrivetoFit]

+JON H I usually leave my cat alone at home for 6-8 hour/day as well, sometimes less, sometimes more. I think she's used to it and I make sure to give her plenty of attention when I do come home. I never leave her alone overnight or for trips though-- it's helpful to have a good cat sitter you can trust!

[@bijhonar]

ya i do the same thank you for replying i just feel bad sometimes because i have to stay in school for 10 hours to study ( more productive at school) and wanted to know how you deal with it since you (student/live alone/have a cat) like myself. btw very cute cat she is :>

[@poojaabhani471]

how, not to think about anything else while reading!?!?

[@solomunchkin]

Thank you!! ^^

[@ashrazterrian8851]

things i do to study 1.plan everything schedule everything 2.just leave it in place😏😏

[@thongjibaoungh5679]

helpful

[@ismatghafoorzai8893]

That's effective

[@ericrang207]

I love you ... your a goddess of intelligence 😍

[@Fashionablykat]

Hmm, is that a sore on your lip. I never noticed it before, rewatching for motivation and of course I get distracted...

[@texasgermancowgirl]

Who else is here because of finals? Lol

[@hasnainabbas1553]

😘😘😘😘

[@numnum8357]

Great tips

[@mimistrohmeyer735]

What med school do you go to?