Medical School

Study strategies and the inside scoop from medical school

• Studying Disasters – Study Methods I Avoid At All Costs
  I remember my first notebook from 1st grade. It was a glorious, black, lined piece of stationery. It settled perfectly next to my pencil case inside my classy Jansport backpack. If only I knew how useless that notebook was. If only I knew that there were study strategies that took … Read more
• How to Properly Utilize Practice Questions
  Most people are using practice questions all wrong, which is a big problem because practice questions are the most effective study strategy you can use. This form of active recall has the best evidence in academic journals and is the most commonly used study technique of top students. Practice questions … Read more
• The Magic of Exercise
  People who exercise live longer. But what if you don’t want to live longer? (skit with two people here). Ok, well, people who exercise also have better sleep. Ok, but what if I don’t care about sleep? Ok, well, people who exercise also have better memory and cognition, reduced anxiety, … Read more
• 7 Things Everyone Using Anki Should Know
  Check out my 2 hour + class on Anki for FREE on Skillshare Anki is the best way to memorize anything. But are you using it right? The forget function, learning intervals, card customization, missed questions, add-ons–do you use these things with your Anki cards? You probably should. In this … Read more
• How to Become a Morning Person in One Week
  Accomplish more, be successful, attack the day – these are the promises of what’s in store for you if you become a morning person. I am not sure the promises necessarily hold. However, I have found waking up earlier has made me more productive, healthy, and happy because I have the … Read more
• 3 Healthy Meal-Prep Meals that Take Less Than 30 Minutes for Busy College Students
  College is an especially busy time, but I learned early on that cooking not only saves me money, but also allows me to make healthier and tastier meals. Here are three meals I make on a regular basis (I make 2/3 of these every single week) that reheat amazingly well. … Read more
• My 9 Favorite Early Morning Habits
  So you want to wake up earlier, get more done, and be a morning person. That’s great; when you wake up earlier, you can accomplish tasks, side projects, fitness goals, or dreams because you have that extra time. Here are my favorite things to do early in the morning. 1. … Read more
• I Tried Waking up at 5:00 AM for 30 days and Here Is What I Learned
  I want to accomplish more, I want to do more, and I want to be successful. Does this mean I have to wake up early? And how early is early? I don’t even like worms. But, Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 am, Jack Dorsey wakes up at 5:30 am, … Read more
• 13 Unexpected Things that Ruin Productivity
  I don’t drink coffee until 90 minutes after I wake up, I never sacrifice sleep, food, or exercise for extra work time, and I always position my computer screen at a certain height. Why do I do these weird things? I found 13 things in peer-reviewed articles and from anecdotal … Read more
• Why Most People Are using Active Recall All Wrong (how to make sure you are efficient and effective)
  Most people aren’t using active recall correctly. And this is a big problem because active recall is the best study technique there is. Period. Proper utilization of active recall changed me from a mid-B student to an A-student, and this improvement happened during medical school. If I had learned about … Read more
• 10 Things I Do Everyday to Improve Focus
  Oh, I need to wake up, oh there are 27 emails in the inbox, oh I need to return this voicemail, oh I need to set up breakfast, oh I need to clean this up, oh I need to go to work, oh I need to run this errand, oh … Read more
• Why You Can’t Focus
  I can’t think. I can’t pay attention. I can’t do it anymore. I just don’t want to. I don’t want to look at another page, another email. I don’t want to type another word. Where is my motivation? Why can’t I do this? Does this sound familiar? Sometimes, it feels … Read more
• The Danger of the Feynman Technique (why most people are using it wrong)
  The Feynman (pronounced “Fine-man”) technique has changed my life. Reviewing all the study methods I’ve ever used, this technique easily secures a place as one of my top five study methods. The basics of the technique are that you try to explain a complicated topic in simplified terms, allowing you … Read more
• The Danger of the Pomodoro Method – Why Most People are Using it Wrong
  The Pomodoro method has revolutionized the way I study. However, after three years of religious use, I have learned there is a better way to do it. When I first started using the Pomodoro method, I would often lose focus, get burnt out, or not study right. In this post, … Read more
• The 8 Best Things to do During Study Breaks
  So, are there ways to maximize study breaks? Are there things to do during a study break that improve studying? That improve mindset? That improve wellbeing? Well, I did the research, and the answer is yes to all. In this post, I’ll give you eight things to do during your … Read more
• How to Score Higher On Test Day | Evidence-Based Tips
  How do I do the best I possibly can on exam day beyond studying? Are there certain things I should do with my body the day or week before? Should I eat or not eat certain things on exam day? How much should I sleep? Should I drink coffee? How … Read more
• 31 Medical Mnemonics Every Medical Student Should Know
  Here are my favorite and highest yield 31 medical mnemonics you should know in medical school. In medical school, people say weird things. In medical school, people say funny things. I GET PP SMASHED, PLAY TABLE TENNIS INSIDE PLAY TENNIS OUTSIDE, SOAP, SOAP, SOAP. Why do we say these silly … Read more
• How I stay focused studying long hours in medical school
  How do you stay focused for long periods of time? Are there certain evidence-based methods that work better than others? What works best and what have I learned in college, post-grad, and now medical school about focusing? In this post, I’ll tell you how I’ve maintained my focus and, therefore, … Read more
• How to get out of a rut fast
  The couch is escapable. I promise. In this post, I will show you not only how to extricate yourself from the couch but to do more of the things that make you happy and less of the things that make you unhappy. The rut is beatable. Let’s beat it. Step … Read more
• What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Medical School
  This week, at my school, the new medical students start. I have spoken to a few of the incoming first years, and the questions seem to be the same, is it hard? is it fun? How should I study? Here are seven things I wish I knew before starting medical … Read more
• How I manage my time as a medical student and YouTuber – Nine Tips to Manage Time Better
  My free time per week dwindles the older I get. That’s why it’s important, vital, that I maximize my use of what little free time I have. I have started a YouTube channel and a website during medical school without sacrificing grades, fitness, or sleep with these nine strategies. Here … Read more
• The 8 Most Important Study Techniques I use in Medical School
  For the past two years, I have studied more than I have in my entire life. At least one-third of every day has been studying. I study at least 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. That equates to about 5000 hours, which is over 200 full days, of … Read more
• Daily Habits for Reducing Stress and Improving Performance
  Occasionally I get stressed, I think we all do, if you don’t you are some sort of superhuman. And, usually, this stress is ok. A tough test, an important argument; stress usually helps us perform better. Sometimes, however, it can become too much; the stress can build to the point … Read more
• Anki Settings: A Complete Guide and Recommended Settings For Medical School
  I have slaved over perfecting my Anki settings. I spend about 3-5 hours on Anki every day. I started doing Anki religiously in November of 2019, which is about 2,300 hours on Anki. That’s crazy. I know it’s crazy though. So If I am this crazy, and spending this much … Read more
• Why I’m able to Study 70+ Hours a Week and Not Burn Out (how to stay efficient)
  I don’t pull all-nighters. I don’t miss the gym for any reason, even if the most important final of my life is tomorrow. I study at the same exact seat, on my one table, every day. In this post, I’ll give you four evidence-based tips on how to get the … Read more
• How I take 0 Notes in Medical School
  Summarizing, highlighting, and rereading are poor studying strategies. Active recall, spaced repetition, and practice testing are evidence-based and effective studying strategies. You can check out the evidence in my posts here and here. At the beginning of medical school, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and needed to … Read more
• How to Learn Anatomy in Medical School with Anki
  What anatomy do I need to know for my school’s exams? What anatomy do I need to know for Step 1? In this post, I’ll take you through two Anki decks that have helped me understand anatomy in medical school, perform well on anatomy practicals, and prepare for Step 1. … Read more
• The Best iPhone Apps for Students to Maximize Productivity
  The iPhone is amazing, almost too amazing… I often get distracted and spend too much time on the wrong applications. There are certain applications that help me study more efficiently and lead a generally more productive life. These iPhone apps can help you focus, eliminate distractions, and become more efficient … Read more
• Must-Have Anki Addons for Medical School and How To Use Them
  If you are new to Anki for Medical School check out this guide first for installing and setting it up. The right addons can optimize your studying, everyone wants that right? Here are my must-have anki addons for medical school and how to use them. First of all, if you … Read more
• How to Customize Your Anki Background
  Doesn’t this look nice? In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly how to make your background to any image you desire. 1. Download First of all, if you don’t know how to download addons for Anki it is fairly straightforward go to tools -> addons, and this screen will pop … Read more
• How to use Anki like a Pro
  Anki is an amazing tool, but like any tool, it can be used incorrectly. If you use Anki incorrectly, you will waste time and not retain the information (two very bad outcomes). These tips are more advanced than my previous guides but help you maximize your efficiency with Anki. 1. … Read more
• 19 Ways to Interview Better for Medical School – Tips from a Student Interviewer
  The interview is arguably the most important aspect of your medical school application. In one survey of medical schools, over 60% of surveyed schools reported the admissions interview as the most important criterion in the selection process. Desai and Katta Cumulative science and Math GPA was rated third, while MCAT … Read more
• MCAT Study Strategies that Improved My Score 10 Points
  When I first took the MCAT I scored a 508, not awful, but not amazing. I knew that if I wanted to get accepted to the medical school of my dreams I needed a better score. I changed my study strategy drastically, these changes took my score from a 508 … Read more
• How I Scored in the 97th Percentile on the MCAT
  The MCAT signifies to medical school admissions boards that you are ready for the academic rigor of medical school. The MCAT, tied with GPA, is the most important metric for your medical school application. I knew I had to do well if I wanted to get into my top choice … Read more
• Top 5 Medical School Resources that Helped Me Study Better
  There are five resources that have changed the game for me in medical school. They provide explanations, memorization techniques, and structure to my studying. I use these resources daily to supplement the lecture material. The order is purposeful, all resources are good, but #1 is better than #2, and so … Read more
• The Best Daily Workflow for Medical School – What Works
  I went from being a bad medical student to being a good medical student after fixing my daily workflow. My daily workflow in medical school is how I study, what I study, and in what order I study. Active recall and practice testing work. Highlighting, rereading, and underlining, don’t work. … Read more
• How to use AnKing with Lectures – Medical School
  So you know you need to use the AnKing deck, but how do you use it alongside lectures? How do you know which cards to unsuspend? Do you have to manually search for every card? No. Here is how to use AnKing with lectures in medical school. Step 1: Identify … Read more
• How I Study for Exams in Medical School – 9 Day Plan
  Exams in Medical School are a new ballgame. You are drinking out of the firehouse. Information is given at a rate faster than anyone can expect to understand and internalize it. The key is to focus on the necessary information and use your time efficiently. I needed a way to … Read more
• Why Spaced Repetition is Necessary for Medical School and How to Use it
  If you are here for the Anki Guide skip to Here. What content do you remember from your last exam? How about the author of the last book you read? What did you eat for lunch on Thursday two weeks ago? Can’t remember? Me neither. Our brain is constantly barraged … Read more
• How to Study More in Less Time – 3 Mistakes Most Students Make
  Evidence shows summarizing, highlighting, and rereading are poor techniques when it comes to retaining information. Active Recall and Practice Testing have been shown to be significantly better in regards to improving content retention. I remember sitting down and looking at my anatomy textbook for my first exam in October. The … Read more