Okay.
Hello. I haven't really posted anything on here before but I need the help, so it's worth a try.

I'm a medical student in my 3rd year and I believe I'm going to fail my first professional examination. I've been doing very badly, not because I have difficulty understanding or because I'm not passionate enough but because I can't seem to get what I'm reading to stick in my head.

I read and come back and reread and still, if you ask me a question on the topic, I won't know anything.

I did badly the last two semesters. My Anatomy is good enough but my Biochemistry and Physiology have gone to hell. I don't know what to do.

I haven't completed any of the first and second semester's work and I'm struggling to find my footing with third semester.

I feel defeated and depressed. I don't want to repeat or withdraw.

What study methods does anyone, any medical student or anyone think I can use to be able to remember what I've read?

Please, help.

Post in this thread bro.
https://www.nairaland.com/1049407/medical-students-aspirants-thread

Thewhizzkid1:
Post in this thread bro. https://www.nairaland.com/1049407/medical-students-aspirants-thread

Okay. Thank you.

How did u manage to gain admission in the first place?

Just relax, all medical students go through that!! Take off anxiety!! Try to use memory palace!! It works for me!! Use acronym, the truth is , there some things you'd have to cram, know the difference and just cram them and pass the exam. You'd know someday in rounds!! Try to also discuss with friends, esp someone that has more stuff. Also most importantly watch videos, YouTube has helped my life more than some lecturers in med school!! Am sure you'd do neuro in third year, just get najeeb videos and you light just want to do neuro surgery because of how simple you'd see it!! All the best bro. You won't fail take that off your kind . the worst is resit and you'd pass it so... Congrats in advance bro

You See this thing called reading, it is a habit not a burden. Until you realize that you read to satisfy your curiosity and to get knowledge you will not be happy. If you watch Dr Najeeb video because you want facts and you want to pass, you might even pass but what is missing is that you will never know this thing at all. Frustration will kpai you ehn.
I have left school for 7 years now and when I answer school work people find it funny.
There is no amount of motivational book you want to read that will make create the habit of reading.
In essence, read to satisfy curiosity not because you just want good grades and learn facts, then reading will be fun.

Getting good grades might be different from real understanding of concepts.
Please don't limit your acquisition of knowledge in medical school to textbooks and TDB. Explore other means!
Watch videos, answers standard past questions (not necessarily limited to ur School's).
And again, Listen well in class. Don't be the "I would crash it overnight" kinda student.
Utilise every moment in medical school!
If Lasts anatomy isn't helping, check Keith Moore, still not helping, check chauraisa. Just make sure you get your facts!
It's not a game of loyalty to a book author, it's a learning important facts!
When it's time for exams and tests, concentrate on the class materials given by Lecturers but utilise the 'free' periods in between tests to read far and wide.
Best wishes bro

Dreyyy:
Okay.
Hello. I haven't really posted anything on here before but I need the help, so it's worth a try.

I'm a medical student in my 3rd year and I believe I'm going to fail my first professional examination. I've been doing very badly, not because I have difficulty understanding or because I'm not passionate enough but because I can't seem to get what I'm reading to stick in my head.



I read and come back and reread and still, if you ask me a question on the topic, I won't know anything.

I did badly the last two semesters. My Anatomy is good enough but my Biochemistry and Physiology have gone to hell. I don't know what to do.

I haven't completed any of the first and second semester's work and I'm struggling to find my footing with third semester.

I feel defeated and depressed. I don't want to repeat or withdraw.

What study methods does anyone, any medical student or anyone think I can use to be able to remember what I've read?

Please, help.

You need holy spirit to teach you, to strengthen you. God is first most. You have to come to the point of total submission to God, ask for his help. He will help you...


Little tips though I believe it is a university thing as medical schools varies in aspect of lecturers approach.

I was just like you surfing the net as if my life depended on it because I wanted to know how to ace this "over hyped MB" (note it's in quote ooo, don't mind my choice of word, if you fail it God forbid, the rest is history in medical school)
I browsed how to read as a medic cos someone like me I no fit sit down for 3 hours read, don't ask me how I have been passing. (But get this, I don't sort and I don't ask or tell in exams). Well it doesn't go well with me as I was caught the first day I tried it, well a story for another day.
I needed to pass so badly that I download YouTube videos on what to do and what not to do.

Ask me if it helped, I will say the tips didn't but the medical context did.

What I am driving at with all these boring jargon above.

Passing mb lies on how you use your senior colleagues, junior colleague, they will be helpful in reminding you of previous yrs that is if you are a lazy medic like me, your mates cos of group discussion, though I didn't have one cos It doesn't work for me.
The senior colleagues really helped me. I owe them a lot.

Aim high don't be a pass student like me oooo Get distinctions nah so that this our very own drey's anatomy go form familiarity with you nah u grab

- Don't joke with your Continous assessment, they can be a saving grace. Was one of mine cos I fell sick during the exam.

-For physiology, you must understand it. It requires writing upon writing, abeg no go write off point join.

-Know your lecturers and their approach to questions this is the killer beat cos if you know everything but you know write am the way they want they will fail you

-Use past questions, this is the jaw-breaker cos with these you will have like 5% don't feel that mark is small bcoz in mb even 0.5 mark is important.

-Ask questions, interact, read as if your life depend on it and pray as if your life depended on it. That prayer aspect should never be omitted.
You can use other sources YouTube's, aid from others etc

See me forming oga boss for ditching out mb advice as if say I crest my own mb.
Don't mind the joking part oooo mb is a very serious business you have to face.

May God see you through

Dreyyy:
Okay.
Hello. I haven't really posted anything on here before but I need the help, so it's worth a try.

I'm a medical student in my 3rd year and I believe I'm going to fail my first professional examination. I've been doing very badly, not because I have difficulty understanding or because I'm not passionate enough but because I can't seem to get what I'm reading to stick in my head.

I read and come back and reread and still, if you ask me a question on the topic, I won't know anything.

I did badly the last two semesters. My Anatomy is good enough but my Biochemistry and Physiology have gone to hell. I don't know what to do.

I haven't completed any of the first and second semester's work and I'm struggling to find my footing with third semester.

I feel defeated and depressed. I don't want to repeat or withdraw.

What study methods does anyone, any medical student or anyone think I can use to be able to remember what I've read?

Please, help.

How do you read?
Let's start from there
You can send a pm if you want to talk
Pls don't give up. Keep striving

Dreyyy:
Okay.
Hello. I haven't really posted anything on here before but I need the help, so it's worth a try.

I'm a medical student in my 3rd year and I believe I'm going to fail my first professional examination. I've been doing very badly, not because I have difficulty understanding or because I'm not passionate enough but because I can't seem to get what I'm reading to stick in my head.

I read and come back and reread and still, if you ask me a question on the topic, I won't know anything.

I did badly the last two semesters. My Anatomy is good enough but my Biochemistry and Physiology have gone to hell. I don't know what to do.

I haven't completed any of the first and second semester's work and I'm struggling to find my footing with third semester.

I feel defea

What study methods does anyone, any medical student or anyone think I can use to be able to remember what I've read?

Please, help.

first of all stop masturbating

mhizsuzzy:


How do you read?
Let's start from there
You can send a pm if you want to talk
Pls don't give up. Keep striving

I can't usually sit for long. Highest, 1 hour 30 minutes. I can't concentrate for long. I've tried skimming through before reading, I've tried taking notes as I'm reading (but when I come back to read them, I suddenly can't).
I've even tried flashcards to use and remember but there are now so many of them, I get too lazy naw.

I believe you've heard about Kaplan or Patoma medical videos.Go watch videos on every topic you read in your book.Form a discussion group.You can hardly forget what you discuss with others.Also,keep your ears to the ground so you'll know about materials e.g past questions that are circulating.It's not just about reading.You also have to be informed.

Dreyyy:



I can't usually sit for long. Highest, 1 hour 30 minutes. I can't concentrate for long. I've tried skimming through before reading, I've tried taking notes as I'm reading (but when I come back to read them, I suddenly can't).
I've even tried flashcards to use and remember but there are now so many of them, I get too lazy naw.

From my limited knowledge, reading is essentially an habit you'd have to cultivate. It has to be constant, continuous and probably repetitive based on how fast and long you can keep the stuff you read in your head.

Meanwhile, you're over exerting yourself by reading for 1 hour 30 minutes straight up. Your brain gets bored too, you know. The maximum time the brain can stay concentrated is 45mins - 1 hour. Take 15 minutes break and continue after wards..

Reading intermittently is one of the best things.

I'm not sure I'm in the best position to advice anyone on how to read as I'm a slacker myself.

I hope you get it together before things go South. Cheers bro.

Dreyyy:



I can't usually sit for long. Highest, 1 hour 30 minutes. I can't concentrate for long. I've tried skimming through before reading, I've tried taking notes as I'm reading (but when I come back to read them, I suddenly can't).
I've even tried flashcards to use and remember but there are now so many of them, I get too lazy naw.

I guess we have some similarities
Candid talk
Flashcards for me I think it does not work well in Nigerian medical school
Flashcards takes time to construct and work load is too much
2) Reading for short period try doing short reading
Like 30 mins, walk around and read another 30 mins
When you are tired go and take a nap and continue again.
Don't touch your phone doing this period of break.
3) Don't take note while you read
Get a sheet of paper keep it close to your book
When you read understand try and recreate it in the paper. Don't copy all and paste. It must not be neat. When you are done, discard the paper.
The next day get another sheet of paper and try to write off heart all you read.
It must not be neat. Read another topic with the following way.
The 3rd day, get another sheet. It has to be neat
Write off heart what you can remember of the topic. Then go back to the textbook and try and add what you forgot.
Keep that book cos it is what you may go through for revision.
See the gist of the matter ( you will remember the things that has memory attached to it. The 3rd one you will remember there was a time you failed or missed out some things. Those ones stick better)
The ones you could remember the 3rd day has entered your long term memory.

4) Try using the morning
Wake up on time eg 5am, morning devotion 5am-6am and study for 6am-8am
Prepare for lecture.
I don't know the course you find hard. I found Biochemistry harder so I would read BCH if I were taking it that morning.
Then I will take anatomy at night cos I like it and physiology is reading more I prefer it in the afternoon. I can even by inside keke dey read physiology is like novel.
Consistency is key.
Hope it helps. God will guide you oooo

It happens to me.before the exam,if you ask me a question, i wont be able to answer it.but when am in the exam hall,theres this magic that happens and things you read years,you can remember them easily.my advice for you is to continue reading.i assure you,during the exam you will remember everything.

jansonn:
Just relax, all medical students go through that!! Take off anxiety!! Try to use memory palace!! It works for me!! Use acronym, the truth is , there some things you'd have to cram, know the difference and just cram them and pass the exam. You'd know someday in rounds!! Try to also discuss with friends, esp someone that has more stuff. Also most importantly watch videos, YouTube has helped my life more than some lecturers in med school!! Am sure you'd do neuro in third year, just get najeeb videos and you light just want to do neuro surgery because of how simple you'd see it!! All the best bro. You won't fail take that off your kind . the worst is resit and you'd pass it so... Congrats in advance bro

Thank you

Medsimon01:
Explore other means!
Watch videos, answers standard past questions (not necessarily limited to ur School's).
And again, Listen well in class.

Thank you for the advice.

mhizsuzzy:



Passing mb lies on how you use your senior colleagues, junior colleague, they will be helpful in reminding you of previous yrs.

Aim high.

- Don't joke with your Continous assessment.

-Know your lecturers and their approach to questions.

-Use past questions.

-Ask questions, interact, read as if your life depend on it and pray as if your life depended on it. That prayer aspect should never be omitted.
You can use other sources YouTube's, aid from others etc



May God see you through

Amen o. Thank you

Zoe99:
I believe you've heard about Kaplan or Patoma medical videos.Go watch videos on every topic you read in your book.Form a discussion group.You can hardly forget what you discuss with others.Also,keep your ears to the ground so you'll know about materials e.g past questions that are circulating.It's not just about reading.You also have to be informed.

I'll indulge in YouTube videos and discussion. I hope they help the information stick. Thanks.

TeflonBlixx:



You're over exerting yourself by reading for 1 hour 30 minutes straight up. Your brain gets bored too, you know. The maximum time the brain can stay concentrated is 45mins - 1 hour. Take 15 minutes break and continue afterwards..
Reading intermittently is one of the best things.

Thank you. I've heard of this technique. Read for 45 minutes and rest for 15. I just felt like if I tried it I wouldn't get much done because I can be quite slow. As I'm trying to understand everything I read, I slack. But I'll try this and be consistent with it. Thank you.

mhizsuzzy:


Candid talk

You've probably helped me the most. I'm going to try every single thing you wrote here, I promise you.
And one of my mistakes is probably not being consistent but from today, consistency is a keyword for me. Thank you very much.

dumahi:


The first step is to remove the negative beliefs.

This is the truth. I know the negativity is not helping but sometimes I can't help it. The depression takes over. My inner critic lets loose.
I'll try harder to stay positive. Thank you.

Maybe you can read in between lines of your note book 500times. It will enter the cerebrum.

Dreyyy:



You've probably helped me the most. I'm going to try every single thing you wrote here, I promise you.
And one of my mistakes is probably not being consistent but from today, consistency is a keyword for me. Thank you very much.

We thank God for his insight. Don't forget to mention me if you meet any difficulty or if you have any question. (I believe you won't)

Pls in the consistency, spaced revision of the 3rd material you have made is important.
Like 1,2,3 then 1 week later, 1 month later and adding 2 weeks if there is still time but by the 4 trial you have already mastered the material.
You have to limit other activities for the same of ur MBBS (don't stop going to church and fellowship that was mistake some made)
All the best

Dreyyy:



Thank you. I've heard of this technique. Read for 45 minutes and rest for 15. I just felt like if I tried it I wouldn't get much done because I can be quite slow. As I'm trying to understand everything I read, I slack. But I'll try this and be consistent with it. Thank you.

The intention of that 45mins is not to live in 45 mins
It is a form of training the mind and body to focus for 45mins with consistency you will increase to 1 hr, 2 hrs and rest.
Studying is addictive. It is a way of making it a habit. These are the way addiction start. Small small everyday and then you can't stay with out it.
But once you reduce or stop to kick start it becomes difficult cos you go back to square one

I'm a medical student in my third year too,I had this problem at the beginning of my second year cause first year courses are still basic sciences..From my own perspective i think one can be intelligent when it comes to arithmetic(this kind of guys perform excellently well in maths, physics,chemistry, further mathematics) and should be a perfect fit for engineering and one can be good in theorectical subjects like biology from the onset at sec school...The problem arises when a guy having arithmetic intelligence opt for medicine, my own case was my passion���, first year phy101, chm101 was boom, second year i start to realize anatomy,bch ,physio isnt anything abt arithmetic only few bch and physio sha...

My first in course wasnt okay at all, was just aversge, then i realize my weakness, i had to switch to that theorectical form of inteligence, reading much, retaining memories..my steps were;
i. I had faith in not failing, set high standards,if you've read this book 'think and grow rich' just apply all the principals on your academics instead of wealth
ii.Constant reading and revision, this would help a lot,before i do lose confidence when i read once and forget all have read, but then i laughed and i actually like d it, revisit what youve read and you would realize it would become much more easier to read and you would retain better
iii.Interest in the course, what youre reading and love for your sub courses...I would say this is the most important factor..HAVE NO ESCAPE PLAN, ITS EITHER YOU PASS OR PASS
iv.Lectures..clinical cases, stories,MNEMONICS by lecturers are important too, you can actually answer a question or remember a topic at times just by remembering those.
v.Mnemonics..download apps, texts on mnemonics they help a lot
vi. Solve questions..This would really help a lot, when you read a topic make sure you go through mcqs, loads of essays, USMLEs.

mhizsuzzy:

The intention of that 45mins is not to live in 45 mins
It is a form of training the mind and body to focus for 45mins with consistency you will increase to 1 hr, 2 hrs and rest.

Thank you so much for your help. God bless.

lexy2478:
Mnemonics

Thank you for all your advice. The mnemonics is a problem because I have issues with even remembering the mnemonics themselves, you get?

Dreyyy:



Thank you for all your advice. The mnemonics is a problem because I have issues with even remembering the mnemonics themselves, you get?

The issue can be you thinking you have an issue, yeah not all prefer mnemonics, but videos can be good for you, dr najeeb ,ak lectures,nerd ninja science are dope..Your entertainments too should revolve around medical science, novels, magazines,articles,seminars and videos you watch should be medical���.Your practicals are very important too,especially anatomy ..work on your thoughts too dont underestimate the power of your mind.