My new day job

Since leaving A&M HSC this past June I've been happily employed here at BCM.  My official title is "study-er."  As a med student the constant balance of what to study and how much is a daunting task - but it can be achieved.   While researching and talking to medical students at schools I was interested in, I often asked how they studied.  There were a plethora of methods in which each student studied, but most importantly I learned that time is everything.  You can't wait till the night, day, or week before the exam.  There is just too much information.  Everyone of them unanimously agreed that a constant study schedule, from week 1, is the best route to take.

A year ago I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a 5 week internship at UT Houston medical school were we took washed down medical classes, cadaver dissections, and volunteered around the community.  It was great opportunity that I won't forget, but one part that I particularly remember was a time when a employee of student affairs (don't recall the name) talked to us about 'How to study.'  Turns out he was the guy you had to see if you weren't passing your classes or if you were just having a hard time figuring out a good routine/schedule.   He outlined what I believe was a bulletproof method to organize not just your time, but your study habits.

Rule 1:

Make a set amount of time each day that you study.

Rule 2:

Everyday whenever you leave class, organize the whole lecture in a study-able manner.  That being hand written, flash cards, typing, outlining etc.  Saving the powerpoint lecture to review later doesn't count.  You need your notes to be sufficient enough so that when you need to study a previous lecture, you don't ever need to reopen any powerpoint slides.

Rule 3:

When you're done preparing your notes, look over the next days lectures/labs and prepare for them.  This can be looking up words you don't know, jotting down questions, or just skimming over the lecture.

Rule 4:

Study.  Start from the lecture 1 and actively engage yourself in the material.  Force yourself to recall the important points before just reading everything.  When you're done with the lecture 1 go to 2, then 3, and so on.  When your time is up (for example .  . lecture 9) make a note of where you are and close your notes.  The following day after you prepare that day's notes and look over the following days lectures start back at lecture 9 and continue on.  If you finished reviewing/studying all your prepared notes, start over again and repeat until your time is up.  

I've implemented this so far and I feel it's been great.  Normally it takes me about 2-3 hours to prepare my notes then I finish off studying for about another 2-3 hours.  I'm not perfect at it, but it at least gives me some structure with how to approach the mass of information.  What I really like about this method is that everyday you are 'caught up.' There is nothing crappier than going to lectures that dovetail to previous lecture and having absolutely no idea what it's about.  Weekend studying also allows a lot of time to just study, without having to go back and try and understand each lecture.

I hope this is of use but if you need, feel free to shoot me any questions.

WOD: run 400m followed by 25 burpees.  6 rounds for time.
time: 24:58