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[studentdoctorapollo]

Overwhelmed.

We just came back from a too short break. Medical School has not slowed down. We’re in our second phase of our curriculum, which means we also started anatomy. I’ve never felt so behind in my life. No matter what I do, I feel unprepared. I prepare as much as I can for lab, but then I forget all the stuff I learned previously. I know that repetition is the only way to make something stick, but doing two passes of each anatomy lecture, one the night before lab and one the morning of lab takes me hours. I know I’m probably being extremely inefficient, but I am very attached to my study style as it’s served me well during the first foundational courses. Unfortunately, I have four other classes to study for as well. Most of the upperclassmen says to forgo the other classes for anatomy, but I am not going to do that. As I’ve said in earlier posts, having a strong foundation before step 1 dedicated time is very important to me. 

This whole week, I have been spending 12 hour days at school, but I was not at my usual productivity. Next week I’m going to switch it up, and see if it helps to go home earlier and do other activities then get back to studying. I do also want to admit that I haven’t been implementing the steps to decrease burnout. So unfortunately I still feel like I am unable to reach my max potential since I don’t feel like working. Unfortunately instead of taking breaks, I just force myself to get through the material. It doesn’t work, because I didn’t absorb anything during that force through. 

I will figure it out though. I have to believe that. 

[studentdoctorapollo]

The 5 Best Revisions Methods I Want to Start Using

Hi, guys! Whilst planning my next few months to do well on my final exams, I started researching and found a few great study techniques that are a bit underrated. Thus, I compiled a post with information about each one and all the materials you need to put them to use. These are most useful if you’ve already studied the material and are now starting to revise.

A. Feynman Technique

This method was coined by Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman. This system works by writing down everything you remember about the topic you’re currently revising in a blank piece of paper. When you get stuck, go back to your study materials. The gaps in your knowledge should be blatant after you finish. Review and simplify. Keep repeating until you know for certain that there’s nothing left out and you’ve successfully learned the topic. :-)

For this method you will need:

Blank piece of paper

Pen/Pencil

B. Spaced Repetition

This method has been gaining traction for the past few years but it still doesn’t get the recognition it should. It’s fairly simple. It consists of time intervals between study sessions, which allows you store information better in your long-term memory. While there aren’t set times for when to do your next revision session, I’d recommend the one by Piotr Wozniak:

First repetition: 1 day

Second repetition: 7 days

Third repetition: 16 days

Fourth repetition: 35 days

This method can be used both through an analog system and a digital one. 

One of the simplest techniques to implement spaced repetition while using paper flashcards is the Leitner system. First, you decide how many boxes you need for your system. Each of your boxes represents a different study time interval:

Every flashcard starts out in Box 1. When you get a flashcard right, it passes to the next box. If you get a card wrong, it goes back to Box 1 – even if it was on Box 4. This makes sure you are constantly reviewing the materials. Remember to devise a calendar with the dates and boxes you need to revise each day. 

For this method you will need:

Boxes or simply different colored rubbers to differentiate the piles

Flashcards

Pen/Pencil

If however, you prefer a digital method, Anki is the best option for you. It is available online, on both Windows & Mac and there’s also an incredible practical app. It uses the spaced repetition method while taking the trouble of having to hand write hundreds of flashcards and remembering when to study each one.

Simply create an account, then a deck in which you’ll add your flashcards. The app and website allow you to add images and/or sounds to the flashcards. Customize them all you want. Once you’ve finished, save them and check the app every day to revise the flashcards of the day.

For this method you will need:

Anki app (iOS, Android) and/or website

C. Past Papers

I’ve been guilty in the past for not using this method. I got so caught up in my perfectionism that I didn’t even want to try. I learned, though, that getting things wrong is not a sign of failure and that persisting until you get it right is the real strength (and discipline) you ought to have. Do not let your procrastination and/or perfectionism prevent you from learning your weaknesses on a topic and not reach the grade you were hoping for.

Time yourself while taking the test and then correct your answers with a different colored pencil/pen so you can differentiate between correct and wrong answers.

For this method you will need:

Past papers

Pen/Pencil

D. Teach someone

This method is really helpful if you have oral assessments and/or your professor uses the Socratic method in class. You can practice your speech and knowledge all at the same time. Find someone who’s willing to listen to you talk about the topic you’re studying. Even if no one’s willing, you can still explain the matter to an object in the house. Don’t get embarrassed by this! While speaking, you’re organising your thoughts and only when explaining to someone else can you really assess your knowledge.

For this method you will need:

Your voice

Someone/Something who loves you very much

E. Proper sleep & exercise

Yes, I know, these aren’t revisions methods. But as helpful as the previous systems were, they won’t work if you aren’t sane in body and spirit. It’s incredibly important that you rest. Teenagers (13 to 17 years old) ought to sleep from 8 to 10 hours every day, while young adults (18 to 25) only need 7 to 9. You should also get fresh air and exercise. This helps with mental alertness, concentration, an efficient memory and a positive mood. Stay hydrated throughout the day. & please, don’t skip meals! 

For this method you will need:

Proper sleep (x, x, x, x, x)

Exercise (x, x, x)

Healthy diet (x, x, x, x)

[studentdoctorapollo]

Update.

It has been a while. 

I don’t know where to start on what has been going on. First I want to put in writing that I will start doing weekly updates. I have been dealing with feelings of burnout, stress, and being upset that I cannot do everything that I want because of the first two problems. I think writing my feelings down weekly will help me somewhat deal with my emotions in a healthy way. I’m hoping that if I write down that I will keep up with these updates weekly, it will hold me accountable. 

Ok now that has been said, I want to discuss what’s been happening in my school life/career goals. School has been okay. We just finished our first basic science foundational courses. We took courses like biochem, histology, micro, etc. We had four exams with each of these subjects included in these exams at the same time. At first I scored below average by five or so points, by the second I was scoring slightly above, at the end I was scoring significantly above. I was really happy that my labors were bearing fruit. However I do feel that I was burning out aiming for 90s on my exams. More on that later.

We have now moved on to a different block, where we still haven’t started systems yet, but we’re taking more medical foundational courses like anatomy, physiology, and pathology. We do systems at the end of our first year, though I personally wish we started earlier as I know more schools across the nation start system based courses around this time. However, I digress. 

We have taken one exam in this second foundational block, and I am pretty stressed about receiving my score. I am not sure I performed as well as I wanted. This brings me to talk about burnout. I need to preface this by stating that when I came to medical school I wanted to change how I approached it compared to undergrad. In undergrad I did not spend enough time understanding the foundations well so when it came time to do the MCAT, it was like l was learning the material for the first time ever. When I started med school, I resolved to understand the material as I am learning it so when it came to big exams like Step I, I wouldn’t have to cram 2 years of schooling into 6 weeks of dedicated. I also came in knowing that preclinical grades are somewhat predictive of Step I scores. I believe that it’s not that people who score well in preclinical years were automatically guaranteed 250+ on Step I, but these students who scored well in preclinical were well equipped to study for the boards during dedicated time due to their discipline and baseline knowledge. 

That brings me to discuss how I started burning out. I was aiming for 90+ on exams, because I feel (and still do) that getting 90s means that I understood the material well. I tried to make medical school a job, but for me to perform at the level I wanted, I needed to put more than 8 hours a day. Perhaps I was not managing my study time well. Often during studying my mind would wander for 10 minutes on and off and all of a sudden an hour passed, and I hadn’t reviewed any notes. I started trying to force myself to keep studying, but my mind would struggle to concentrate. It is then when I finally acknowledged that I was feeling burnout. This started around the third exam I took in medical school. 

A few weeks before that exam, I was able to participate in a conference of a specialty I am very interested in. I will hold off on mentioning the specialty for anonymity reasons. I tried to get ahead the week before so that I could go to this conference without feeling stressed. I tried putting in 12+ hour days. Suffice to say this didn’t work. I just got tired, more irritable, and I got less work done than usual before I headed out to conference (I think I’ll save my experience at the conference for another post). I enjoyed the conference, but I couldn’t shake off the feelings of being unaccomplished the whole time I was there. I was also upset that I couldn’t stop feeling that way.

Fast forward to the weeks leading up to the exam, and I was still feeling that way. I ended up performing better than I expected (significantly above the average), and I feel like I really have a good handle of the material, but it came at the expense of my happiness. I still haven’t felt like I’ve been able to study at an optimal level since. 

Now to bring it back to the most recent exam I had, I felt like my burnout had affected me in studying for this exam. I was not really feeling the exam. I went into that exam thinking that I didn’t understand the material at a level beyond  the superficial “pass an exam” layer. Now I feel like perhaps I didn’t pass the portion of the exam for one course, maybe multiple. Studying for this exam, I reviewed the material maybe 4-5 times (I usually aim for 5+ passes) and exhausted the practice materials that my school offered, and even went outside for practice questions. However I felt like I was getting questions right due to buzz words and not because I understood the material. So walking into the exam, I felt like I didn’t even know what I didn’t understand if that makes sense. We don’t get our results until after the course directors deliberate over the results and throw out questions that either didn’t make sense, or a significantly high proportion of the class didn’t get right. As a result, I’m very nervous and stressed about this result. 

So now it’s the holiday break, and I am trying to figure out a way to prevent burnout or at the very least combat burnout during the next few weeks before the semester ends. Here are my concrete steps:

1. Start my days early 

2. End my days at 8 hours (so 7-4, with hour lunch break included)

3. If I feel like that’s too little time, add 30 mins extra to my days as needed.

4. Start my volunteering project (a post on that later, but my school requires volunteering and I am really excited to do mine, i think it’s a good way to give back)

5. Exercise (I do this already, so continue)

6. Plan fun things to do during my weekends that are not pre-exams with non-med school friends (I actually went to a party pre-exam weekend, and it actually didn’t put me behind like I thought it would. I didn’t discuss school, which actually made me forget about my stress for just a moment).

7. Take the hour lunch break with med school friends (currently take the lunch break alone in my library cubicle at school and not for an hour)

So that is what I’ll try to do for school work. Now for career building, I need to start finding research projects. I am super stressed because the specialty I am interested in is competitive. At the conference, the doctors stressed the importance of starting research now since we’re first year med students and have the time to build our CVs. I just sent some emails to people to see if I can get projects in. I want to talk to the doctor I’m shadowing next week about potential projects. Even though I want to start research, I’m nervous that I can’t handle it. I am already struggling juggling school and life, trying to add research seems like a recipe for disaster. However, I will try it and see how it goes. 

I think I’ll end the update here. I’m stressed and just ate my feelings as I was writing this post. I think this week is a good time for me to catch up on TV watching (which I don’t have time for in school), friends (which I have plans for), and adjusting my sleep schedule for school (going to bed early and rising early). Hopefully all goes well.

Apologies for any grammatical mistakes! I just wanted to write and post this immediately.

[studentdoctorapollo]

Long Time

I have been inactive for a while. I’m hoping to be more active in posting next week during my break. I have many updates that I will share later. Currently crying while preparing for exams.

[studentdoctorapollo]

Groups.

When I first started med school, I was very worried about making friends and fitting in and all that jazz. Now that a month has passed, I wanted to share that I have a solid group of friends in school. I’m also really lucky that I live very close to all my non-medicine friends as well. It’s been really nice so far. While school keeps piling, my friendships keep me very sane. My next goals are keeping up with an exercise schedule and getting 8 hours of sleep while also keeping up with my study routine.

[studentdoctorapollo]

Updates.

One exam down, multiple to go. First exam did not go as well as I’d hoped. I passed by a wide margin, but was slightly below average still (mean/median were both very high). I’m hoping to do better on this next exam. Upon looking at my exam answers, I changed all the answers I got wrong from correct to incorrect. This is something I had issues with while studying for the MCAT. I once again have to train my mind to stop mindlessly changing my answer choices. 

Tonight should be interesting. Some events are occurring. I thought I would be an adult and not get involved in the drama and gossip of school, but I guess I was wrong. Interested to see what happens tonight. 

[studentdoctorapollo]

Medical School Resources Master Post as presented by Medschoolmanic

Hello fellow medblrs, premedblrs, and anyone else who just enjoys reading the hell that medical school students go through. When we are in medical school, I feel like we are constantly bombarded with multiple resources. Which ones are best? How do I know which ones will work for me? While not every learning method works for everyone, I did decide to compile a list of resources along with my thoughts on each one. Each resource is linked as well!

Keep reading

[studentdoctorapollo]

Thoughts so Far.

We’ve only had a few days of lecture, and I am already realizing the way I study is going to be super inefficient in the coming days. I was of the opinion that one shouldn’t reinvent the wheel. What I mean by this is that I found my groove in undergrad, and I did not see the need to change my study style in medical school. However, I’m not sure the way I’m studying is sustainable. I’ll have to report back after the first exam in a few weeks.

[studentdoctorapollo]

Tired. Lonely?

It has only been a few days, and I already am not getting my full 8 hours. This is mostly my fault though since instead of bed, I call either my mom or my non-med friends every night. I’ve been enjoying this week so far. No real classes yet, so it should be a less stressful way of meeting people. However as an introvert, I’m still not connecting with people the way I want to. If I think back to undergrad, it gives me some solace that I didn’t meet my people until a month in. Even though I know this, I’m still stressing out about making friends. I’ve just got to take it one day at a time. 

[studentdoctorapollo]

Me VS Fanfictions

me: Nah I don’t like romance novels they’re so predictable and sappy!

me: (reads fanfiction of OTP falling in love in 347 different ways)

[studentdoctorapollo]

Relief

So we get a limited amount of family members allowed to come to our White Coat Ceremony. I was one short, but thankfully a classmate was able to come through! Now everyone can come. I’m so happy!

[studentdoctorapollo]

Yes! No. 1 especially for me! I plan on (or at least try) learning the material the first time really well so it’s not like brand new information come time to study for boards, which unfortunately was not the case for me while studying for the MCAT. 

Things I Plan on Doing Differently in Medical School

As I gear up for medical school in a couple weeks, I’ve been considering my strengths and weaknesses and my previous experiences in undergrad and graduate school, as a way to figure out how to be successful in medical school.  Here is a list of things I plan on achieving during the next four years. 

1. Get a strong foundation of knowledge from my classes.

Probably the most important point on this list. Once Step 1 study time comes around, I don’t want to be flailing about trying to relearn basic material covered in classes when I could spend more time focusing on the more subtle or “advanced” stuff during the dedicated study time.

Many people might think it’s too early to worry about Step 1, and it is, and I’m not (I promise), but this is extremely important to me because it was what caused me the most stress when studying for the MCAT. I didn’t work hard enough in my undergraduate prerequisite classes, which meant that, when it came time to study for the MCAT, I basically had to review everything all over again. I feel like I could have done a lot better if I had just put in the work during the classes themselves. I will not make this mistake again.

I also have to keep in mind that my school is P/F, so I don’t have rankings as an incentive to do well in class. This can be a blessing and a curse, as I can focus on board studying once MS2 comes around, but I’m going to have to really motivate myself to study extensively and not just do the bare minimum to pass.  

2. Keep a consistent workout schedule.

Okay, so I hate working out. Like, I hate it. It’s so boring and I am just so lazy that anything that requires unnecessary exertion is just not gonna happen. But during my final year of graduate school, I took a yoga class, and fell in love. I was basically at the yoga studio 6-7 days of the week, and sometimes twice a day. It made that last semester of graduate school much less stressful than it could have been. Now, I know that I probably won’t be able to practice yoga everyday, but I will ensure that I go to the studio at least three times a week, for my mental and physical health.

3. Find an extracurricular activity (besides research) and stick with it.

One of the problems with my medical school application was that I had very little clinical experience. I had a ton of research, but I was lacking in the one thing that would be most relevant to my future career. 

Because this medical school also happens to be where I got my Master’s degree from, I already have a lab I’m doing research in, so that’s not a problem. But I’d really like to have something else outside of school and research that I could do, whether that’s shadowing in an ER or practice a couple times a month or so, working in a student clinic, or anything else clinically-relevant. I love seeing patients and working with doctors and other health professionals, so I think something like this would not only help me in the future, but would also be a great break from studying, and a good reminder of why I’m putting myself through this.

4. Eat healthier (or at least don’t eat out as often).

Remember how I mentioned that I’m really lazy? Well that also goes for my eating habits. I hate to cook. I’m impatient, I suck at it, and I hate cleaning up after myself. This results in me eating out a lot. But I’m just going to have to deal with it and starting cooking more often. I’m not going to force myself to eat super healthy all the time, but I really need to work on not eating out, especially fast food. This will also help me to save money because eating out is hella expensive. 

[studentdoctorapollo]

Also incoming M1. Does consensus say not to buy an ophthalmoscope? 

Our school sent us a list of equipment we will need like a stethoscope, reflex hammer, sphygmomanometer, etc. Tell me why my school thinks medical students need a Littmann Cardiology III ???? I think I’ll be just fine with a Classic III.

[studentdoctorapollo]

[studentdoctorapollo]

Me right now trying to pack my stuff that I need to move in less than 4 hours.

[studentdoctorapollo]

Panic.

I have just received a slew of emails detailing what needs to happen before I step foot on campus. I have been having mixed feelings of excitement and being afraid. Now I just feel afraid...

[studentdoctorapollo]

First Post

I wanted to start this blog after being inspired by all the medblrs I’ve been reading as well as youtube vlogs. Since I want to be anonymous, I figured tumblr would be best. I start med school in August. I shall see what hilarity ensues.