You've Been Studying Wrong Your Entire Life

[@edream2513soccer]

Ahh can’t believe I watched this a year ago and watching it again (in med school, Air Force HPSP!) and yes I need to start using more of these. Cardio was tough for me and I want neuro to be easier Than cardio was

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

Hey that's awesome! Glad to see you're on your way! Maybe one day our paths will cross in the airforce! Good luck in school!

[@edream2513soccer]

@@StudentPhysicianNetwork haha yes ive seen u post in the air force fb group. yes med school has been ... an experience .. some days are better than others.

[@amandasolem7733]

DJ you’ve seen the light! I would also say that the ‘best’ study method is different for different people, so keep trying new things if what you try is not working. But I agree cramming doesn’t work and organization and preparation are key.

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

Thanks Dr. Solem! I told you I could turn it up when I need to😂

[@matthewheard5996]

Well said, DJ! For those who prefer the flashcard route, there are plenty of pre-made anki decks that cover all the information you will need for Step 1. In addition to reviewing lectures, I recommend looking into the Sketchy series for Pharmacology and Micro. Also, Boards and Beyond is another video series that I found super helpful through my first year of med school!

[@matthewheard5996]

And by pre-made, I mean some one made for themselves and then shared it on Reddit.

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

Great Input Matt! I'm actually starting pharmacy and micro now so I'm looking into sketchy too

[@matthewheard5996]

Good call! What I did was watch the videos and then started reviewing the sketchy anki deck. There is also a site that has all the sketches with thumbnails where you can pull up each tidbit of information here: sharingology.com/sketchymedical/sketchymicro.html

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

Great source! Exactly why i started this channel!

[@pameladiokpara9518]

Oh yeah DJ, speaking straight FACTS!!

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

Do you expect anything Less!?!?!😉

[@edream2513soccer]

this is very helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!! do u think it's possible to vastly change your habits? It's amazing how flagrantly disorganized I was in undergrad (i am currently taking a gap year and interviewing--- currently have one acceptance though! also applying to hpsp) anyways, I really need to change my ways in med school, but I feel like they are pretty set in stone, which is bad. Also do u have any free time in med school? The doctors at my job tell me how it was the worst years of their lives. Even today, a patient asked the doc that I was scribing for what med school she went to and the doc said she went to the sophie davis / suny downstate 7 year med program and how it was the "most miserable four years" (ik that's a little random but I am wondering if it's b/c the studying is just so much that you have no time outside of it)

[@edream2513soccer]

also do u think staying up late and studying is unhealthy? I pulled way too many all nighters/EXTREMELY late nights in undergrad. I feel like I should just make midnight my max in med school. It's not healthy to not sleep, but i couldn't live without them in undergrad. I needed them to get everything done

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

I totally understand your concern! And yes I was very disorganized before as well! Med school will force you to be organized and no it's not easy! The Commissioned officer training was where I started to try to become more organized and the military discipline will definitely help. Remember it takes 27 days to start a habit and 90 days to create a lifestyle. So I'm close to actually turning this into a lifestyle but it hasn't been easy! As for school.... it's horrible lol! I'm not going to sugar coat it. It is almost a double full time job. You even have to study in the weekends. But every other week is an exam week so you usually get that weekend off to relax and catch up on cleaning and enjoy yourself. But dont worry it is manageable!!

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

@@edream2513soccer yes, super unhealthy! You need as much sleep as you can! That's why this study method is great cause if you space it out you will be able to get full nights sleep! Sleep is the most important thing you can do for studying!

[@edream2513soccer]

ahh thanks for answering!!! THAT GIVES ME HOPE (about how u were disorganized before). I know I need to make sleep a priority in med school. I thought it was cool and made it seem as though i was trying super hard if I stayed up late, but it literally had no benefit lol. Do u want to be a PCP? Sorry, in ur white coat vid u said how u really want to work w underserved, and I feel like they normally need PCPs in those areas. Only asking bc the residents/med students at my job (the hosp) told me that if I want to do something like primary care or family medicine that I only need to pass the step exams. (I want to do ER medicine, so they said it's a little harder). Does that effect how hard I should study? all of them also didn't know how the match would work for military though, so it could also be diff from their standards. Yes, it always fascinates me that ppl meet their spouses in med school.. great idea in theory, but ya how do u have time for that?! lol

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

Yep I would say sleep is very important. At the very least you need 6 hours. I've thought about being a PCP because it would give me the opportunity to impact people more, but then I think about all the cool fields and how I may want to do that too lol. I would say that you shouldn't adjust your study method to less strenuous based on the field you want to go into to. PCP is easier, but the goal is to be the best doctor you can be for your patients; that means putting in as much effort as possible so you can treat them with the best possible outcome. You pretty much don't have time for meeting someone! They'd have to be really into you! I've had to stop talking to a coupe girls I've met over the past month and a half because I simply don't have enough time to even send them texts throughout the day. It's rough, but keep the end goal in mind!

[@aribear1846]

Did you have to take the PT test at any point?

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

I did! It's really not that bad! It consists of pushups, situps, and a 1.5 mile run! I'm not for sure what the minimums for each are though!

[@dylanbogle7386]

How was the rest of COT?

[@StudentPhysicianNetwork]

The rest of COT went well! The more time you stay the easier they get on you and the more privileges they give you. Its started to look less stressful and more respectful and easier to get through once you got in the habit of always doing all the rules. Dont forget to subscribe!