Study tips

Feb 01 2016

One essential tip that will help you ace your science classes

When compared to your general education courses, your science classes almost always require more study time and much more effort in order to get those hard sought A’s. And medical schools look at your science and math GPA separately from your overall GPA, so its incredibly important to score well in these classes. Because the grades you get in your science classes will be weighed more heavily than those general education courses.

This is why its essential that we develop all the best study skills and habits we can and really optimize ourselves into the best students we can. Science classes are tough! But they can be a lot easier if you know how to approach them. A few changes in your mindset can completely revolutionize how you do in these classes. I will give you one of these mindset changes, which if you actually try to apply it will definitely improve the kind of grades you are getting.

That change is how you approach understanding the material. You need to change your focus from understanding what is going on to WHY its going on. This is one of the most paradigm shifting things I learned which really helped me learn hard science topics faster. If you focus on why something is the way it is , instead of just whats happening you understand it on a much deeper level. By knowing the why you will always know the what. But knowing whats happening does not mean you know why it is happening the way it is. And by knowing the why behind whatever it is you are learning, you actually understand it. And when you understand something rather than just memorizing facts, you will actually have a WAY easier time recalling it on the test and getting the right answer.

The why = Understanding the logic and reasoning behind things. (Like understanding why you put a negative sign on mg or not, etc.)

The what = Just knowing the facts but not understanding the reason for them. (Ex. In physics the force of friction always opposes the direction of motion.)

Knowing the reasoning and logic behind what you are learning is critical to tying it all together and easily being able to recall it on a test. And of course for really learning the material!

Let me give you an example of how this is done in practice:

Example: An SN1 reaction from organic chemistry.

For those who aren’t familiar or forgot.
So in a SN1 reaction, we have an organic molecule which typically has an alkyl-halide substituent on it and a nucleotide. This reaction is marked by the substitution of the nucleotide for the alkyl-halide with a carbocation intermediate.

There are two ways to try and remember what will happen. By focusing on the why or the what (Just knowing whats going on; memorizing facts).

If you try to focus on the what, your thought process looks more like this:

– We have an alkyl-halide which is attached to a tertiary carbon
– SN1 is typically done in protic solutions.
– The alkyl halide dissociates
– A carbocation is formed
– The nucleophile attacks the carbocation, creating a new bond
– The end product is the organic molecule with the nucleophile attached to the carbon the alkyl halide was attached to. There is also a negatively charged halide in solution.

^ These are just facts. And quite a few that you have to remember.

Now if you focus on understanding why it happens the way it does, you will have a much better understanding.

We have an organic molecule with an alkyl halide attached to a tertiary carbon. This is most likely an SN1 reaction because I know that an SN1 reaction involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate. Because there is a tertiary carbon, the carbocation will be stabilized making it much more likely to form. Also the tertiary carbon sterically hinders the nucleophile from directly attacking the carbon, which prevents the possibility of an SN2 reaction. The alkyl halide is a good leaving group, because halides are very electronegative atoms so they will be happy to take the electrons out of the bond. This is also why it will have a negative charge upon entering the solution. Once we have a carbocation, it will attract the negatively charged nucleophile to it. Because the nucleophile has a negative charge, it must have lone pair electrons to donate so it will form a bond with the carbon.

Wow that was a lot! But as you see, if you actually just understand why things are going on you will be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together easily. I haven’t taken organic chemistry for almost 2 years now but yet I was able to recall all of those details because when I studied it I focused on understanding why the reaction took place for each step!

Getting good grades is about being the best student you can. And one critical mind shift that should take place for learning , is focusing on the why instead of the what. Just know that there is always a why to any kind of science question you have. Try to understand why things are happening instead of just memorizing whats going on. I promise you will do way better on your tests and you will really learn your material too!

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Nov 22 2015

5 tips to ace your finals

Finals are coming up and that means there are some stressed out pre med’s out there. But don’t worry we got you covered with a simple guide to help you ace those finals!

The dreaded finals are often the source of alot of stress for many pre meds. This is because finals usually are comprehensive and worth roughly half of your class grade. So if you want to make an A you have to kill it on that final! Here are some tips that will guarantee that you boss your final:

1. Start studying several weeks in advance

There are several reasons for this. First, this is super critical to making good grades because our brain retains information best when it is presented several times over a period of time. This is known as spaced repetition. (You always hear me talking about this, because it is SO important. Seriously make sure you study this way) Also by studying several weeks in advance this gives you time to figure out what you need to work on! If you wait till the last week to start studying, you might realize that you don’t know half of the material taught in the beginning of the semester. You will be in a terrible position and be forced to cram (And remember cramming doesn’t work well). If you start studying weeks ahead, you can plan out your study schedule and make sure you aren’t overwhelmed. Do yourself a favor and study with plenty of time ahead of the final. It will save you alot of stress and could potentially save your grade.

2. Summary notes

Summary notes are one of the best things I have figured out since I started college. They are basically a collection of only notes that matter, cut out all of that fat. They “summarize” everything you need to know. These notes are condensed and straight to the point. These notes are great for many reasons, they help you to focus on the most important concepts and when you finish them make great review material! It is best to start these notes at the beginning of the semester and work on them throughout the semester so that when you are ready to study for finals you already have them!

3. Go over old tests and quizzes

These are some of your best resources for your final because they were written by the same person who is writing your final! Reviewing your old tests and quizzes tells you what subjects to focus on and how the test is formatted. This is super important information to consider when planning your finals study schedule. Perhaps he/she asked a ton of questions on photosynthesis but only one on plant anatomy. This tells you what your teacher thinks is more important, so you want to make sure you spend more time on that. Also old tests and quizzes tell you what your weaknesses were then, telling you what to focus on now. Plus they make great review material!

4. Fill in your knowledge gaps

Throughout the semester we are presented a lot of material and sometimes we are not able to perfectly understand every concept or do every type of problem. This is the material we were struggling with in the beginning of the semester that we never really got a grasp of. These knowledge gaps will be where we lose a majority of our points on the final. So its important now to go back and relearn whatever you didn’t fully understand before.

5. Practice, practice, practice

There is no better way to guarantee that you make a good grade on your final than by doing practice problems. This is your bread and butter when it comes to studying and preparing for any exam. Just understanding the concepts won’t mean that you can solve a hard physics problem or be able to do a complex organic chemistry reaction mechanism. The only way you will be able to actually do it on the exam is by practicing it a bunch of times. Making sure you can do the actual problems you will see on your exam is where you want to spend most of your time. Just keep doing practice problems until you got that type of problem down. If you are having trouble with a certain type of problem figure out how to do it. Then practice that type of problem until you can do it in your sleep. Repeat this with all of the material that will be on the final until you feel confident in every topic.

Finals can be hard but they can be overcome by breaking them down and methodically going over your weaknesses. Give yourself several weeks to prepare for your final, focus on your weaknesses, use old tests and quizzes, and do practice problems and tests until you feel confident.

I hope you found this advice helpful! Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

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Oct 12 2015

Scientifically proven study tips every premed must know!

Every premed knows making good grades is essential to getting into medical school, so it’s important to know the most efficient ways to utilize your study time! This video by ASAP science gives great insight into some scientifically backed study tips!

– Break study sessions into multiple shorter sessions: We learn better when we are repeatedly shown information over a period of time rather than in one sitting. This is a principle known as spaced repetition. If you want an example on how to utilize this in your own studying check out this article.

– Create a schedule for studying: Having a schedule helps us get into the habit of studying. This will help us be more consistent in our studying as well as be more prepared for it.

– Use flashcards for memory: Flashcards are an incredible tool to use to help you remember lots of information! As a premed you should try and use flashcards for everything from biology terms to organic chemistry reactions! Keep those flashcards for later, they will come in handy when studying for the MCAT.

– Create a specific study goal to focus on: This a great way to make sure you utilize your study time well. A common pitfall alot of students have is not being specific enough on what they want to study. Study things one very specific topic at a time, make sure you understand it and then move on. Try and decide before hand what you want to focus on in studying today. Do that rather than try to study all of chapter 10, 11, and 12.

– Teaching helps you to learn: Study with the intention of teaching the material to someone else. Our brain is better able to organize what we learn when we teach someone else. So always try to teach your friends and family about what you are learning. This is a great way to stay motivated to study but also to really get down the concepts.

– Practice! : This is one of the biggest tips out there. Practice is everything. Practice is the only way you can guarantee to yourself that you understand how to do it and you will be ready on test day. You must practice a problem until you can do it in your sleep. Practice, practice, practice. Do practice problems and tests until you are confident in your ability to get them right. This is a way to guarantee your success.

– Have a great spot for studying: This goes back to creating a schedule for studying. Its about getting yourself accustomed to studying. You want to have a place your are familiar and comfortable with to study. This way when you see the spot , your brain knows that it is study time. It is also helpful to have everything you need at your study spot!

– Don’t listen to music: Music is shown to not help you during studying. Even though you love music, turn it of and give your full attention to your studying.

– Remove distractions: Same thing as with music, your phone is also a big distraction. You will ruin the flow of your studying if you keep getting text messages or notifications. You are better off just turning it off or putting it somewhere it won’t distract you.

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Sep 27 2015

How to have more motivation to study

Studying is often the most dreaded part of any pre med’s life. Whether you hate it or love it, studying is the MOST important part of making good grades. Without spending enough time studying you are practically guaranteeing yourself to not make the grade you want. We all know that studying is important, but why is it that 64% of students now today study less than 15 hours a week? The biggest problem is motivation.

If you don’t have motivation then you will not study as much and the time that you do spend studying will be far less efficient. I have several articles on tips to help you improve your studying, but that really won’t help you unless you first are motivated to actually study. If you don’t spend enough time studying, no shortcuts will save you. So if we are able to find the motivation to study, that could literally revolutionize our grades on exams and ultimately your gpa.

Here are a few methods to help you get more study time in:

– Make a study group

– Pick a specific time of day to study

– Learn to love what you are learning

– Use your desire to make an A to motivate you

Make a study group: This is often an incredible motivator to study that is really underrated. Quite simply, if you are studying with other people it is a lot more fun! Also studying with your classmates and friends is one of the BEST ways to make sure you understand the material. Often in study groups, each person has an area they are good at and bad at. So people in the group can cover each other’s weaknesses while at the same time helping each other out in the areas they are strong in. Just make a few friends in class and ask them if they all want to meet up and study. Its that simple!
Pick a specific time of day to study: People are creatures of habit. So it goes without saying that an extremely powerful tool to help you study more is to simply get in the habit of studying at a specific time of day. Studies show that people spend more time studying between 10am-12pm. What time of day you pick is up to you, but the key is to pick a time of day that you know you will be in the mood to study and commit to it! It is optimal to have atleast two study sessions per day, each that are about 30-45 minutes long. (Check out the article on spaced repetition, to find out why).

Learn to love what you are learning: If you love what you are learning, then you don’t need ANY other tips! You will already have all the motivation you need to study and more! Put quite simply, this is the single most important factor in my opinion when it comes to finding time to study. If you love what you are learning and are fascinated by it, I am 90% sure you will make an A in that class. Period. It is that powerful. Check out this article which teaches you exactly how I learned to love all of my hardest classes and how I started getting A’s because of it!
Use your desire to make an A to motivate you: Now this might sound like an obvious one, but this is honestly one of the EASIEST methods to motivate your self to to study. If you are really serious about becoming a doctor, then I am sure making A’s to you is one of the most important things to you in your life. In that case, channel that energy into studying! Tell yourself that the more time I put into my studying the better grade I will get! I am going to study super hard, because I want that A! Even while you are studying, keep reminding yourself of this. “Once I get the concept down, I am going to do even better on that exam!”. What I am saying here is, try to channel all of that energy you have about getting into medical school, improving your gpa, making good grades into your motivation to study. Because studying is the key to all of those things!

Getting those good grades is about being a good student. Here at premed community, we will teach you how to be that student which makes good grades and really gains alot from their studies. Remember, being a good student is a skill. A skill which must be practiced like any other to get good at it. Its not about being a genius, its about understanding the fundamentals of good studying and work ethic. Tell us in the comments below what are the ways YOU motivate yourself to study?

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Sep 14 2015

A weird secret that allowed me to get an A in all of my hardest classes

We all know that as premeds we will have to take some of the hardest science courses that our university has to offer, and on top of that we’re expected to make an A in those courses. For alot of people this is not an easy task to undertake, most premeds struggle with doing well on exams and making the grades they want to. But what separates those who excel in class from those who don’t actually would surprise most premeds. Its not any sort of shortcut, or secret method to remember everything. It is something much bigger than that.

You will always hear me reemphasizing the same message, “Its not about shortcuts. Its about actually becoming the real deal.” Building a foundation and mastering the basics of being a good student is 1000 times better than knowing the best way to cram or how to make the perfect cheat sheet. Its not all about fancy ways to take notes or memorization techniques (once you have the foundation down then these sort of things can definitely add to your abilities as a student). Its really about being an actually good student, not someone who is always trying to cram for exams and survive during the semester. Remember, you want to be a doctor. Now is the time to develop good study habits and learn how to learn. Being a good student is just like being good at anything else! The same way if you want to be good at Karate, you will need to first learn the proper techniques and develop a good base. From there it is practice and discipline. Just knowing how to throw a fancy tornado kick doesn’t mean you will do well in a fight, you need to have mastered the basics first. If you learn the basics of being a good student and practice them with diligence, you will be a black belt level premed in no time! This particular tip I am sharing with you today is one of the foundational skills that every good student must have.

So what is this weird secret that has allowed me to get an A in all of my hardest classes?

It is learning to love whatever you are learning.

This happens to be one of the most important things I attribute to making all A’s semester after semester. This is a strong advantage I hold over many of my fellow classmates. Is that I absolutely love to learn everything! This one shift, is enough to completely change not only your grades but how enjoyable your life as a premed is . Back when I was in high school, I was definitely not an all A student. I was making some A’s but mostly B and C’s. Now I am making the top grade in all of my classes. Even made a 100 on my calculus final and a 105 on my biology final.

Here is some proof:

My 105 on my biology final.

Made straight A’s while taking 17 credit hours, working, and shadowing.

So What happened since high school?

Back when I was in high school, I wasn’t particularly motivated to get A’s. So classes that I didn’t find interesting, I didn’t ever feel like studying for and when I did study for them I never enjoyed it. Because of that I got low C’s and low B’s on my exams. There was one class that I did VERY well in, and that was Japanese. I actually made a 103 as my final grade in our most advanced Japanese course. And that was because I really loved learning Japanese! All my other grades paled in comparison to how I did in Japanese.

The difference between now as I am in college and when I was in high school, is that I love ALL my classes that I am taking. And I am not exaggerating at all when I say that this has to be one of the top three reasons I have a 3.95 GPA.

Let me explain why being able to love whatever it is you are learning is an EXTREME advantage..

1. When you really enjoy something, you are willing to devote more time to it.

2. You actually learn more per session.

3. It is more enjoyable!

Number one: When you really enjoy something, you are willing to devote more time to it.

We know this from our own lives. When we really like something, we are willing to spend several hours doing it. Whether that is soccer, practicing guitar, playing video games, or learning about something you really find interesting. When we love something, we are willing to spend as much time as we need on it to perfect it (and often we will spend extra time on it!). Being able to devote hours of time to studying will almost GUARANTEE you to learn that material. Make sure to utilize the principle of spaced repetition and not burn yourself out! One of the biggest problems people face when it comes to studying is actually being willing to spend enough time on it to the point you are sure you understand it. When you love whatever it is that you are learning, finding time to study becomes much easier!

Number two: You actually learn more per session.

Another great benefit of loving what you learn is that you actually get more from your studying sessions! When we enjoy something and feel good we actually retain the information better. This is because you engage your studying with a positive and open mind you are better able to absorb the information. When you try to study, thinking about how much you hate the material. Your mind is wasting its energy focusing on how boring this is instead of actively engaging the material. So enjoying what you learn actually helps you to gain more from your study session!

Number three: It is more enjoyable!

Don’t think that this is the least important reason to love what you learn! Actually I might say that this is the most important reason to practice this! Being able to enjoy your studying makes being a premed so much more fun! When you enjoy learning about all of these cool subjects, you are really appreciative for being a premed. This helps to keep you motivated on the long but awesome journey to medical school! We do NOT have to suffer in order to get into medical school, we can get there enjoying every step of the way!

Okay, I agree that loving what you learn would definitely help me to do better on my exams and help boost that GPA. But there is no way that I will actually find something like Organic chemistry or Biology to be fun.

Let me show you exactly how I have learned to love even the most difficult courses!

Three general things that make me excited about learning ANYTHING:

– I can attach this new knowledge to my big picture (world view)

– See how the material is practical to me and how I can apply it to my life (or how its practical to understand as a physician)

– Realize that these courses are actually making me smarter

The key to finding love for our most dreaded courses is to appreciate what they can do for us. Something that makes me excited about learning anything is that I know it will help me to understand and appreciate the world around me even more! That right there is priceless! Also being able to see how what you are learning is practical to you being a physician is great motivation! And lastly the realization that as you take these hard courses, you are teaching your brain to think more logically and be better at solving problems. You are literally becoming smarter because of these courses! As you can see there is alot of things to love about taking those hard science courses!

Let me give you an example of how I get excited for learning organic chemistry

A few things that motivate me:

– Understanding organic chemistry helps me to better understand and appreciate all of the organic molecules we come across every day. (World view)

– Helps me to better understand the biochemical reactions in the body (Practical for a physician)

– I can learn how to synthesize medicines from simple molecules (Something fascinating about it)

The key is to become fascinated with what you learn. Find something that interests you about it! Something that makes you happy to learn it! Its seriously worth the time to find something that makes you love every subject you are taking. You will enjoy it more all semester and make better grades!

Comment below the ways you enjoy different classes!

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