How to Streamline Your Studying

Medical school is challenging enough in the breadth and complexity of the topics. To make things worse, we must navigate the expanding arena of medical school resources. My first two years were tough. Coming from a background in EMS and public health, I struggled to adjust to medical school and find effective study techniques, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. As I drowned in content, I mindlessly studied for quantity over quality. My struggle culminated in my failure of STEP 1. Failing STEP 1 was a low point, but it motivated me to seek help and devise a structured approach. 

After that first failure, I found OnlineMedEd and developed a structure that streamlined my studying. This new approach led to success in STEP 1 (retake), shelf exams, STEP 2, and helped secure my top residency choice in internal medicine. I wanted to share my key takeaways in case anyone else feels as overwhelmed as I did. 

Make a schedule

Get detailed with it. Map out your studying into blocks throughout the day. During USMLE dedicated, this was my day:

• Early Mornings:  Content (OnlineMedEd Videos)
  
  
• Late Mornings: Topic-specific question bank (UWorld)
  
  
• Early Afternoon: General Question Bank (UWorld)
  
  
• Late Afternoon: Flashcards (ANKI) 

My clerkship schedule was not as intense, but I continued the idea of comprehension, practice, and retention.


Choose your resources

Experiment with various resources until you find what suits your learning style. Consider:

• • Content: Opt for resources providing concise, relevant overviews. OME excelled in this aspect.
    
    
  • Question Bank: You need a central point to evaluate your understanding. Utilize platforms offering analytics and feedback, such as UWorld or AMBOSS, or OME's question bank.
    
    
  • Reinforcement Tools: Employ recall tools like ANKI for effective information recall. ANKI took some getting used to, but once a friend showed me how to sort my cards by OME video and sync the resource with an app on my phone, there was no going back.

Trust the process and make your breaks count

For those of you in medical school or about to start, medical school demands immense dedication but don’t neglect your well-being. Recognize signs of burnout and take breaks seriously. Treat studying like a job – clock in, clock out, and unwind guilt-free. A balanced approach ensures long-term success without compromising mental health. 

 Pick up a book, watch a show, or meet up with some friends, and don’t you dare feel guilty about it. Future-you watching those OME videos in the morning will thank you.