study tips

Jul 16 2019

How the top pre-meds start off the semester strong

One of the biggest mistakes many premeds make is not starting the semester off strong. The beginning of the semester represents one of the greatest opportunities to put yourself in line to secure that A in your class! Its very important to start off strong because that will the set the tone for your whole semester. Remember, it is always easier to maintain an A in a class once you already got it than it is to work your way up to one from a lower grade. So by getting off to the right foot from the very beginning you increase your chances of making an A greatly. Not only that but it is also way less stressful knowing you are in a good situation rather than worrying if you will make the grade you want or not. We are going to go over some of the best methods to make sure you start the semester off right!

Before we go any further, make sure to read my article “How the A student starts their next semester“. This gives advice more on how to prepare for your next semester, but some of the content overlaps. However in this article though I really want to emphasize the point of staying ahead and being one step ahead of your teachers. Yes, this method takes more effort than to not do it. But the real secret to making good grades is hard work. Work smart and work hard and you will definitely achieve your goals. So how do I stay ahead of the class?

The main ways to stay ahead of your class are by:

Pre-reading the powerpoint before class
Reading the chapter in your book before your teacher lectures on it
Watching youtube videos on the topic
Doing practice problems

The reason it is so important to do this is because the material is ALWAYS easier to understand the second or third time you see or hear it. You want to already have been exposed to the material your teacher will go over in class before they do. Especially if it is hard material. By having already read the powerpoints, the book chapter, watching videos, and doing practice problems you will be way ahead of everyone else in your class. And then when finally your teacher lectures on the topic, they will only help to clarify anything that confused you. By having already pre-read and prepared for lecture, you will also have a list of questions you can ask your teacher. While the other students are hearing this for the first time and trying to just even understand whats going on, you will be solidifying what you know or clarifying on things that confused you.

This is especially important during the beginning of the semester because you will be introduced usually to a bunch of brand new content. In the beginning of a semester, usually the easiest tests and quizzes are given out. So you want to take advantage of that and grab those easy A’s early on! Getting off to the right start early on will set a good pace for your whole semester. The momentum of how you do in the beginning is often carried throughout the entire semester, so you want to get this right! So make sure you read ahead and are prepared for your next lecture! This will definitely help you achieve the grades you want!

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Apr 12 2019

Studying advice: The rule of four passes

The Rule of four passes

As you all might know I have a lot of articles about studying advice. That’s because I believe there is a science to effective studying and anyone can improve their grades if they learn how to be an effective studier. I am constantly evaluating my methods of studying and realizing what works well and what doesn’t. It is important that we learn to be efficient with our studying methods and utilize methods that have been shown to work. You need to constantly be refining your study methods and making it more efficient for you. During my first year of medical school, I have realized yet another component to this “science of effective studying”. Something I call the rule of four passes.

So what is the rule of four passes? Essentially it takes at least four complete passes through your lecture material/powerpoint from start to finish to be able to retain it for the exam. This means that just looking at a lecture or powerpoint once or twice is usually not enough to learn the material well enough for an exam. This depends a lot also on the density of the material. This is especially true when you are in medical school and you have lecture powerpoints that are 130 slides of dense material. You won’t be able to retain the information by just going through it once or twice. It will take at least four passes through it to really retain it. Also I have found an effective way to do these four passes to get the most out of it. So lets talk about what you should do starting with your first pass through the material to the last one.

First pass:

So by the first pass I mean the first time you are sitting down and going through your lecture material/powerpoint. So essentially the main goal of your first pass is to simply get used to the material and get acquainted with it. It is not about focusing on the details or writing notes. Simply read your lecture material with the focus of just trying to understand what’s going on. Think of it like getting your bearings. You want to understand the big picture and what the lecture is all about. If there are things you don’t understand, look them up and research them. Other than that its just simply about getting used to the material.

Second pass:

The objective of the second pass is two things: Understanding the material more deeply and taking notes on your lecture material. So as you are going through your powerpoint/lecture material for the second time you want to be going slower and aiming for understanding the material more deeply. As you are going through the material you will now be taking notes, underlining and highlighting the important information.

Here are some examples of how I take notes on my slides:

Notice how I am trying to identify the things that are most important. These notes will help me during my third pass to focus on the highest yield information.

Third pass:

The objective of the third pass is to really memorize all of the important facts and information from the lecture you will need for your exam. Now that you have gone through the material twice and become well acquainted with it, you want to really focus on understanding it fully and memorizing what matters. This pass is about understanding the nitty-gritty details. Your notes and highlights from the second pass should be helpful here as it will identify what is important to focus on. Make sure you take it slower this time and really focus on understanding your material and memorizing all key information.

Fourth pass:

Essentially the fourth pass is a self-review of the all of the lecture information. Now that you have gone through the material three times you should understand the material very well and have memorized all the key information. Start at the beginning of the lecture material again and go through each slide and quiz yourself as you go through it. You want to quiz yourself on everything you can in the lecture. Make sure you understand all the things you could be tested on. Quizzing yourself as you go through the material will allow you to assess how well you know the material and if there is anything you need to work on.

Thats the four passes! You don’t have to do all four passes all at once. You want to take breaks between each pass through the material. This gives you time to absorb the information and let your brain to take it in. Its fine to even do the passes across multiple days if you want, I would personally recommend that. You can do more than four passes obviously if you want as four is the minimum I believe it takes you to be ready for your exam. If you are to do more passes through the material I would recommend focusing on quizzing yourself on the information and identifying areas to focus on. The rule of four passes really lets you know that you can’t cram for an exam and expect to do well. Doing well on exams and getting high grades has alot to do with multiple repetitions of going through information, similiar to the concept of spaced repetition I talk about in this article. I hope that you all are excited to add another tool to your study toolkit! This is a great concept to understand which will help you do better on all your exams!

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, youtube, and pinterest!

Sep 15 2017

The best flashcard app for pre-med students

The Best Flashcard App for Pre-Med Students

There are many great apps out there for pre-meds. In this article I am going to go over one of the best apps for flash cards and why you should use it. I would consider this app one that every pre-med student should have. Flashcards are one of the best ways to memorize information as they provide a great way to remember a lot of material in a short period of time. For some classes, making flashcards is a necessity. If you haven’t taken a class where you had to make flashcards, you probably will soon. If you have taken a class where had to make flashcards, you know the struggle that comes with making them.

When I was studying for organic chemistry II, I literally made over 100 flashcards by hand and had a stack of cards that was half a foot tall. Not only did it take a long time to make the flashcards by hand, but also storing them was a problem. It was inconvenient to try and use them and review them because of the sheer quantity of cards I had. Thats when having an app that does it for you is very beneficial.

So what flash card app do you recommend?

Flashcard Hero

(Mobile version)

(Desktop version)

I tried several flashcard apps and the one that I found to be the most useful to me was “Flashcard Hero“. There are several apps out there that only do a very rudimentary job. Flashcard Hero has all of the functionality that you want in a flashcard app. With Flashcard Hero you can..

Quickly and easily make new flashcards

Sync your cards between your computer and phone (Requires both desktop and mobile version)

Organize your flashcards into sets

Add photos to your flashcards

Use advanced text formatting options

Make multiple choice questions or fill in the blank questions

Search through your flashcards for specific words

Study your flashcards based on difficulty, how long since you last studied, and the Leitner system

Use your phone as a remote controller to study flashcards on your computer

Audio output of text if desired

Detailed study session summaries

Export decks as PDF files, share online, and print decks

Import decks you already have (.tsv, .csv, from Quizlet.com)

I found that Flashcard Hero has all the functionality you will ever need for any class you are going to take. I personally used Flashcard Hero for studying for the MCAT with great success. I made a deck of over 1000 flashcards that I organized into several sets such as: MCAT math, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology/Biochemistry, Physics, Sociology/Psychology, CARS, and General MCAT tips. With this I was able to study these flashcards on my computer and on my phone. This allowed me to flexibility to study on the go or while at home conveniently. You can download the exact MCAT deck I personally used on the members download page for free.

Being able to make flashcards on your computer is incredibly convenient thanks to being able to copy and paste text and add pictures. This makes it way easier to bulk create flashcards for your classes. And as mentioned before you won’t have to worry about storing your flashcards on you. Combine this with the mobile app and you will be able to view your flashcards anywhere you go. I can honestly say that I owe the 130 I made on the Psychology and Sociology section of the MCAT to the flashcards I made with this app. It also helped me tremendously in memorizing equations and reactions. Part of how I was able to raise my MCAT score by 8 points in one month was because of this app. Let me show you inside the app so you can see for yourself what it can do.

Screenshots I took from the app: (Desktop version)

Screenshot #1:

Here are the different sets that I organized my flashcards into for my MCAT deck.

Screenshot #2:

Here we can see how you can add photos to your flashcards and on the left we can see if the flashcard is marked as easy (Green) or as difficult (Red). Also on the right we can see the advanced text formatting options available.

Screenshot #3:

Here we can see just how easy it is to add a card or topic.

Screenshot #4:

Here we can see the search functionality that allows you to find any word or phrase from your flashcards.

Screenshot #5:

Here we can see how you can study your flashcards based on difficulty.

Screenshot #6:

Here we can see how you can study using the Leitner System.

Screenshot #7:

Here we can see how it looks to study the flashcards. Notice you can also study based on fill in the blank (type) and multiple choice.

You can download the exact MCAT flashcard set that I used to study for the MCAT on the member downloads page.

Screenshots I took from the app: (Mobile version)

Screenshot#1

Here is how the sets are organized in a deck.

Screenshot #2:

Here is how the flashcards look inside a set.

Screenshot #3:

Here is how a flashcard looks in the app. Notice the picture added and my text underneath it.

Screenshot #4:

Here we can see how a flashcard looks in study mode. You can click on one of the buttons on the bottom to organize the card based on difficulty. To see the answer you just have to tap the screen or swipe to the right.

Pricing:

Mac:

The app costs $7.99 for the desktop version. There is also a lite version if you want to test it out. Click here to download.

The mobile app alone is $3.99. Click here to download.

Total price: $11.98

Windows:

The app costs $4.99. Click here to download.

Conclusion:

Rating: 9/10

Flashcard Hero has all the functionality you will ever need for an affordable price. Its ability to sync flashcards to your phone makes studying much easier. It’s highly customizable and easy to make flashcards are a great time saver. And the ability to study cards based on difficulty gives it a functionality that is not possible with traditional flashcards. For the cost of one meal, you can have an app that lasts you throughout your pre-med career. I only wish that I found the app sooner.

Flashcard Hero (Desktop app)

Flashcard Hero (Mobile only app)

Sep 14 2017

You need to be doing this for EVERY test

Hello Pre-Meds! I got a simple technique that I began using in my Junior year of college that has helped me tremendously with preparing for exams. I am very happy to share this with you all because it is so simple and easy to implement. Use this technique with my other advice and I am sure your test grades and GPA will soon skyrocket!

We all know that exams are an essential part of being a pre-med. They can make you or break you, and it is often something most pre-med students fear. It is absolutely critical to come into an exam feeling confident. You should already know you are going to make an A on the test before you even step inside. Don’t and I repeat DONT ever go into a test with the mindset that you will wing it and it will all work out. You must have prepared for every aspect of your test prior to sitting down and taking it. Preparation is everything! And there are certain ways you can make sure you are prepared enough for the exam. Thats where creating a good study list comes in handy. Having a good study list and knowing how to use it properly can literally change how you approach every exam from now on. I never take a test without first creating a study list and using it. In this article I am going to show you exactly how to create awesome study lists that will let you enter any exam with confidence!

What is a study list?

A study list is a specific list that you make to help you know what to focus on for an exam. A study list is useful because it both guides your studying to make it efficient and allows you to know when you are ready for your exam. After you have completed your study list you should be confident to go into any exam and ace it! It is an almost fool-proof method of acing your exams.

This is an example study list for a statistics test:

In this study list you can see exactly what you need to focus on for the test. The study list allows you to pinpoint what you need to focus on and then gives you an opportunity to mark it off when you understand it. Once you have mastered everything on your list you know you are fully ready to ace your exam. Preparation is key. And having an exact list of what to focus on will let you know when your preparation is complete. Check off everything on your list and then go into your exam confident!

MAKE SURE TO MASTER EVERY ITEM ON YOUR STUDY LIST BEFORE TAKING THE EXAM. How well you will do on your exam depends on two things: How thorough you make your study list and if you can master each item on it. Make a good study list and complete it before your exam and you will ace it. Period.

How to make a study list:

The first thing I do when making a study list is add the name of the class and the date of the test. This helps me stay oriented to when all my exams are and what subject I’m looking at. When you have multiple exams coming up this is very helpful for keeping track of what to study for.

You can use either a sticky note app, a text document, or hand-written study lists. I have used all three methods and each have their advantages. Just find a convenient method for you that allows you to see it on a regular basis. You want to be reminded as much as possible that you have an exam coming up and what you need to study for it. So make sure your study list is easy to find otherwise it defeats the purpose.

Make sure every item you add to your study list is very specific. You want to make your study list only the things you must know for the exam. The more specific the better. You want to include anything that might appear on the test. The point of the study list is to make sure you are prepared. Don’t leave any gaps in the list. You want to be prepared for anything that might appear. So make sure it is both comprehensive and specific. I will go into two examples of how I make study lists.

Example study list for Chemistry test and how to use it:

So lets imagine we have a Gen Chem exam coming up. The first thing we want to do is write when the test date is so we can keep track. Then we want to make a list of everything we know will be on the exam or might be on the exam. Make sure these are specific topics to learn. After you have done that you should have something that looks like this ..

Notice that all of the topics added to the list are specific and are reasonable to master.

After you have made your list start by going through each topic one by one. Focus on mastering that topic or until you feel certain you will do well on the exam for those questions. Once you have done that for a topic you can mark it off by either striking through it or deleting it off your list. Lets say that you just finished reading your textbook and did some practice problems on oxidation states, balancing redox reactions, and stoichiometry. Once you feel like you got these topics mastered or at least feel you got the hang of them, check them off your list. Your list should look like this now..

Just keep on mastering each topic on your study list until you have checked them all off your list.

After checking all the topics off your list you are going to be well prepared to handle your exam! It is really that simple. Make a list of all the topics you need to master. Go through your list one by one until you have checked them all off. Once they are all checked off you know that you are prepared and should feel confident! Here is another example for a biology exam.

Example study list for Biology test:

Once again, start by putting the course name and the test date. Make a list of all the topics you need to learn. And master each one of them.

Until all of the topics are mastered. You get the point by now.

After mastering each topic you are fully ready to ace your exam!

Summarizing points:

A study list allows you to organize your studying to make it more efficient and provides a way to know when you are ready for your exam
Make a study list that covers every topic on your exam
Master each topic on your study list one by one, checking them off the list
Once you have mastered each topic on your study list you are ready to take the exam!

The best way to guarantee that you will ace your exams is by going into the test confident. I cannot emphasize this enough. You should always go into your exam knowing how well you will do. If you don’t go in knowing you will make an A, then you didn’t study enough. A study list is a great way to keep track of your tests and how well prepared you are for them. Always go into an exam already knowing you will make an A. Master every topic on your study list and you are going to do well!

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Aug 08 2017

Make sure you focus on this for the MCAT

The MCAT is one of the most important exams you will ever take as a pre-med. That is why it is so important to use your time wisely when preparing for it and to prepare in the most effective way possible. It is definitely important and necessary to do a comprehensive background knowledge review to do well on the MCAT, but also equally as important to learn how to TAKE the test. What I mean by that is you need to grow an intuitive understanding of how questions are asked on the MCAT, how to approach different types of problems, and the kind of answers that the MCAT is looking for. It is absolutely critical to develop your MCAT specific test taking skills during your studying sessions.

As you study for the MCAT, you will begin noticing patterns in the way the questions are asked and the kind of answers associated with them. Each section of the MCAT is approached slightly differently and I will go over in more detail on how to approach each of the four sections in other articles. But for all of the sections, developing MCAT specific test taking skills will certainly help boost your score. Of course you will need the background knowledge and skills to be able to answer them better, but knowing the kind of answers the MCAT is looking for can help make a big difference in choosing the right one. When you are down to just to two answer choices, having developed an intuitive understanding for what is right can be what gets you the right answer. So how do you develop your MCAT test taking skills?

The main method of improving your MCAT specific test taking skills is by simply doing more practice problems. For this, it is important to use practice problems that most simulate the actual MCAT exam, such as the AAMC practice problems, Princeton review practice tests, and Magoosh MCAT practice problems. Using practice problems from resources such as the ExamKrackers 1001 practice problems is useful. However, I found that ExamKrackers was better at helping me review and practice specifically for the content of the MCAT rather than more so how the exam is structured. There is definitely a place for that kind of review in your study, but make sure you spend a good amount of time using the resources I mentioned above in your studying. By studying practice problems that resemble the actual exam you will develop a sense for what the question is asking and how to most effectively tackle it. So make sure to not limit yourself only to reviewing material. For me, I spent a good month or so reviewing material and the rest of my time doing practice problems. And in many ways practice problems are the best way to review material and learn it.

The second method to utilize for improving your MCAT test taking skill is to focus on reviewing why you missed a problem. When I say that, I mean you need to focus on understanding what mistakes did you make in your approach to answering the problem. Did you not refer back to the passage? Did you rush too quickly to answer the question? Did you not read the question carefully enough and misunderstood it? Did you not know the material? Once you know the answer to these questions, you know what causes you to miss questions. This allows you to learn what areas of test taking you need to focus on. It is very important you learn WHY you are missing questions. I encourage you to make an excel sheet or a list in Microsoft word that has all of these questions in it. Next to each question, start making a tally for each time you missed a question for that reason. So as you do your practice tests and you miss questions, just quickly refer back to that document and mark why you missed the question. After a few weeks of doing this you will have a very easy to interpret set of data that will make you aware of something you didn’t notice before. You may have never known or thought it was a big deal before that you didn’t refer back to the passage enough, but after seeing the data you will realize it needs to be fixed. I personally used this message and it helped me notice some mistakes I was making that I was completely unaware of!

So in summary, it is just as important to focus on developing your MCAT specific test taking skills and an intuitive sense for the answers. This is done through practice problems that resemble the real exam and by reviewing why you missed a problem. Go ahead and make a document where you can tally the reasons you miss questions and you will begin noticing trends. Once you know these trends you can fix them and that will help you improve your score. It is incredibly important to analyze what you missed and why. So keep grinding those practice problems and trying to figure out why you miss questions. You will develop amazing MCAT test taking skills in no time!

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