Thread by @VenkBellamkonda

In 2001, I #failed 4 core science classes in #medicalschool. I didn’t go to class, I stayed up late at night reading the topics in every book I could possibly find. I barely passed my other courses. I couldn’t believe NEone passed..
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I had to go before the review and promotions committee and beg for a chance to try again. I don’t for the life of me see why they gave me the chance...

I can say, I tried hard, I just wasn’t smart about it.

In the summer before restarting m1, I came up with a plan..
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I approached each of the top 10% in the class I was now leaving. I asked them how they did it, down to the details on brands of pens, where they sat in class, what they ate, and when they went to bed.

Guess what...they were pretty uniform in their methods.
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- they all went to bed regular time (even on weekends)
- they all went to class more than 95% time
- they all sat in the front third of the class, fairly centrally located.
- they all used the given syllabus, maybe 1 ref book, nothing else
- they all used lots of highlighting
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- they all reviewed the relevant material at least 3 times, sometimes closer to 7-10 times before the test. This may seem crazy, but I can expand on how to do this later. It’s not actually hard if you have a system.
- they resist the urge to spend too much time off the topic
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Next year, I sat front section, went to all classes, woke and slept at regular times. First time reading, I highlighted with yellow, then a darker color then a even darker one etc. I use hash marks in corner of page to also signal a pass of the content. Each pass was faster
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Than the last. Got to where I could see three main words on the page and tell you everything on it. A pass would take about as long as it takes to look at every page in syllabi’s (30 mins). Most times I reviewed content about 10-13 times before tests.

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I began seeing connections in the material between the classes like I’ve never before. I could see the relevance in small details and how they were important. I really fell in love with the science too. Suddenly, I was the one who didn’t miss any questions or maybe just one.

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On shelf exams, i worked hard to find one small resource to carry w me & have 1 main source at home to read. I kept my goal to get at least, 3 passes through the book before the shelf, but hopefully 7-10 if possible. Most of those passes happened in the last week before shelf
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The scores were great, the joy was there, and the knowledge was usable for the patients I was caring for.

I don’t know if this helps anyone, but sometimes it’s easy to think it’s impossible to overcome the tests and the content. Who could possibly pass the stuff.

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You can! If I can you can! Your challenges may be different. Your solutions may be different, but if you can keep focused without letting your mind get distracted, make at least 3 passes but shoot for 7-10, limit urself to few resources as possible, commit to learning...
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Then u’ll have NO regrets & only pride in ur efforts.

Ur not alone. Maybe Ur at the point in your story where you have to make a change and commit fully to being the hero in ur story. We are all behind you!
#MedEd #MedTwitter #MedStudentTwitter #kindmedtwitter

/fin

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