Gaining acceptance to anย MD programย is a huge accomplishment. While itโs certainly a celebration-worthy event, medical school students need to quickly transition to prepare for the rigors of medical school. That not only means hitting the books in the classroom, but also preparing yourself forโฏclinical rotations, licensing exams, andโฏmatching for residency.
We took a look at what some practicing physicians had to say about how to study in medical school.
10 Doctor-prescribed tips for studying in medical school
Although these are not the only ways, the list below provides some of the most efficient ways to study in medical school that helps you best retain material.
1. Review material regularly
The need to study regularly is one piece of advice just about every doctor recommends. Dr. Inna Husain, laryngologist and assistant residency program director for simulation education at Rush University Medical Center. She recommends developing diligent study habits and a daily study practice as soon as possible.
โI quickly learned that daily review was necessary to keep up with the volume of information.โ
โI quickly learned that daily review was necessary to keep up with the volume of information,โ Dr. Husain says. Trying to play catch-up or cramming at the last minute simply wonโt cut it.
2. Write it down
While reading all of your assigned text is essential, you probably shouldnโt expect to remember all of it. For Dr. Malini Reddy, an internist atโฏReddy Medical Group, writing things down was a must and helped with retention.
โI did a lot of note taking as well,โ she reflects. Her other insight was that it was helpful to jot down anything that stood out and create flashcards while studying.
3. Test yourself
Regularly testing yourself is essential to prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examinationย (USMLE) Step 1, sometimes referred to as โthe boards.โ You can quiz yourself from your own notes or as part of a group, but you should also contemplate question banks. Dr. Husain says question banks help you get used to the USMLE format. Consider that there are multiple ways to test yourself with the same list of questions.
โWhen I was studying, especially for boards, I would go ahead and see what the answer was before I went on to the next question,โ Dr. Reddy says. โIt just helped it stick a little bit more for me.โ
4. Create an effective learning environment
Identifying a good learning environment is a key component of figuring out how to study in medical schoolโperhaps just as important as the study methods themselves.
โI found private study cubicles in the library the most helpful since ambient noise was reduced and distractions were minimized,โ Dr. Husain offers.
Dr. Reddy did a mix of reviewing material at home and in the library. While both worked, she liked how efficiently she could study in the latter location.
โI think the libraryโs a good place to go so youโre not distracted by the TV or whatever,โ she offers.
5. Improve memorization with mnemonics
Elementary students rely on the acronym mnemonic โRoy G. Bivโ to remember the order of colors in a rainbow, and that same strategy can work just as well in medical school. In fact, someย medical residency programs use a mnemonic approachย to help trainees retain critical knowledge.
Both Drs. Husain and Reddy relied on mnemonics for recalling information. โEspecially when youโre trying to remember all the nerves and things like that, itโs really a good way to keep them straight,โ Dr. Reddy offers.
6. Use visuals
If youโre a visual learner, take advantage of opportunities to use imagery by creating sketches that make it easier to digest complex medical material. It also helps reinforce what you see and read during your courses.
โDiagrams were helpful for organ systems, such as renal, or reviewing drug metabolism,โ Dr. Husain says. โCreating the diagram also reinforced the information.โ
7. Incorporate auditory methods
Some individuals find theyโre able to recall information better if they hear it.โฏFor example,ย Goljan Audioโฏis a popular lecture series Dr. Reddy and many others recommend. It contains more than thirty lectures.
โI would listen to those if I was working out or if I was in the car,โ she says. โItโs a different way to get the information.โ Itโs also one of the most efficient ways to study in medical school.
8. Consider forming a study group
While reviewing material with others doesnโt work for everyone, study groups are a great option for those who do learn well when collaborating with fellow students. Dr. Husain says study groups can be particularly helpful for reviewing clinical scenarios and answering practice quiz questions.
She has several recommendations for forming a group of your own:
- Keep study groups to a maximum of four students
- Find students who have similar goals
- Share the work equally
- Avoid studying with your regular social group to minimize distractions
You may even be able to user your school to form a group. Some institutions, likeย St. Georgeโs Universityย (SGU), buildย collaborative review sessionsย right into the program along with otherย support services.
9. Ask for help
Because thereโs so much material to get through in medical school, itโs essential to be proactive about seeking help when you need it.
โYou can quickly fall behind,โ Dr. Husain warns, โso it is better to ask for help earlier rather than later in the semester.โ She adds you can seek assistance from instructors as well as classmates.
10. Take care of yourself
While good study habits are important, make sure to incorporate regularly timed breaks to allow yourself some time to recharge.
โPencil in some free time or gym time as well so you have something to look forward to,โ Dr. Husain advises.
Create your strategy for successful studying in medical school
Now that you have a better idea of how to study in medical school, you can feel confident about gearing up for the USMLE series later on in your education.
To find more insights on the process of getting through medical school and beyond, read our series Journey to Become an MD.
This article has been updated from January 2021 to include current facts and figures.
