Just noticed a study habit I have
I like to talk out loud to study, and I’ll pretend I’m explaining a concept to someone (generally, my Iron Man figurine or a white wall)
I noticed that when I’m doing this, I have hand gestures like Rumpelstiltskin, facial expressions like Dean Winchester, and a healthy dose of profanity and movie/tv references.
NO REGRETS.
One of the many songs on the cardiology study playlist. I love that old-school, heavy rock guitar sound!
(Source: Spotify)
When my classmates took notes on pathology slides, I drew them out. My friends would then ask me, ‘what’s that a picture of?’ and I’d say ‘stratified squamous epithelium’. ‘Can you tell me about it?’ I’d always reply, “No, I spent so much time drawing the slides out I didn’t have time to write anything down.’ And somehow, I ended up a pathologist.”
— Dr. S, who doesn’t know that this sounds EXACTLY LIKE ME when I learn histology and pathology too.
noworriesandyetsome asked: Hey! Saw your study guide post :) Could you recommend any prof podcasts? Love the blog btw!
Hey iamawesomesobetterwatchit!
The prof podcast that all med students go to is Goljan, which you can bootleg from any upperclassmen. ;) Otherwise, I have some tech-savvy profs who podcast, but they’re school use only and password protected. Hope that was helpful, thanks for the question!
Love,
md-admissions
Addendum to Study Strategies Post
So I just remembered a few more things I do! Clearly, med students do a LOT of studying.
- study guides: First Aid, High-Yield Neuroanatomy (only one of the many study guides starting with ‘High-Yield’), other guides give you nuggets of wisdom without having to dig through giant textbooks
- Podcasts: If I’ve been staring at the computer for too long or I’m very tired but still have things to learn, I turn to podcasts. I have a collection of Goljan, recordings made by classmates, official podcasts made my tech-savvy profs, and things I find on the internet.
- Writing and diagramming all over blackboards and whiteboards. Then, erasing the diagram and doing it all over again.
- Talking to Darth Vader. I’m a comic book dork. I like to cement my learning by talking things out. There’s not always a friend around to talk at in the early morning or late night. So sometimes, I’ll talk to the Darth Vader poster in my room. It works for me ;)
Man, this question now has me curious:
What are some of your study strategies, everybody?
Admission #78: Immunology
L: Are CD8 T cells and NK cells the same thing
M: No...
M: You honestly should be embarrassed
L: I'm still going to get this wrong on the exam, watch.
-L, wants to be a radiologist anyways; M, very supportive
Admission #77: Gunnerhea
Condition: GUNNERHEA
Description: biopsychosocial infectious disease occuring in students of the medicine.
Etiology: USMLEs, boards, shelf exams, presence of a famous, well-to-do lecturer or physician, finals that are scheduled closely in time; cumulative finals have shown a sharp spike in gunnerhea incidence. Can also exist in a chronic state, etiology unknown. Studies suggest psychosocial, emotional, and genetic predispositions lead some to be more susceptible to gunnerhea than others.
Transmission: Verbal and physical transmission. Staying in libraries or in close proximities with infected individuals.
Signs and Symptoms: Twitching, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, mood-changes, weight lose or gain, pressured speech, poor social skills, paranoia. In severe and/or acute forms, can lead to uncontrolled aggression, frontal cortex compromise of executive functions (planning, social acumen, judgement, orientation to place, date, and time), panic attacks, and general anxiety disorder.
Diagnostic Tests: Question Test: Ask patient a medically-related question of narrow range (ex. So how can you tell if someone’s macrocytic anemia is due to B12 or folate deficiency?). If answer exceed 5 minutes in duration and topic begins to diverge, it is a positive Question Test. Another, more subjective test that can be used by the seasoned physicians: Assessment of Social Stability (ASS) Whole-Person Evaluation. This requires a detailed social history and mental status exam.
Example of a positive ASS-Whole: “A guy cut me off in traffic today and started cussing me out. I pulled the nine-iron out of my trunk to show him who’s boss. You know who won THAT fight.”
Example of a borderline ASS-Whole: “How did you know that answer? I didn’t know that answer. Oh my God, I hate my life. Stop being so happy.”
Example of a negative ASS-Whole: “I’m kinda tired but I’d love to grab coffee and go over some pharm with you. Two heads are better than one!”
Treatment: avoid contact with individuals with gunnerhea; isolation is recommended for these individuals. Usually self-limiting once the stressors are resolved (ie, finals are over or the physician leaves).
(That nine-iron story? That was my friend…whom I am more than a little afraid of now. Morale: don’t lose yourself to scores, tests, or pressure. Be healthy in mind, body, and spirit!)
I’m just going to write about tuberculosis because honestly if they skip it to test on leprosy then I will stage a protest.”
— another study guide from a classmate. HIGH YIELD YO.
Bacillis anthracis: found in sheep’s wool and terrorists’ homes”
— study guide made by a classmate.
Just checked back in to tumblr during my dinner break
And to all the lovely folks who are wishing me luck:
But in all seriousness, thank you so much! :)
