In no particular order a small list of essential items to help you study well:
- Lots of pens and pencils. I think I have used 20 pencils this past semester. Those cheap Bic mechanical ones that cost like 5 bucks for a box. I love them. I used pencils more than pens.
- Paper. I bought 10 packs of staples paper for $1.00 each. College ruled high quality and best of all, flat! Don’t know if you can remember something for a test? Put your notes away and start writing down everything word for word (or darn close) and compare. I am going to make up a motto: The three S’s: If you can Say it and Scribe it, then you can aSe it! It was a stretch, but it works.
- Is it time to study or is it time to browse YouTube? If it is time to study, then put away the internet (look at me the hypocrite right now), turn the cell phone OFF - sorry socialites - you’ll survive, and study! YouTube is not going anywhere, your text message from Slacker-Stan can wait.
- Eat it! Your mind melts quickly without a break and some glucose running through your veins. I try to eat something at least every two hours. By the looks of my dental belly you may think I eat every two minutes. My goal is to keep my metabolism running so I can concentrate in class or while reading a riveting perio lecture.
- Stay focused
- Don’t procrastinate. Even if you think C=DMD. The stress of waiting to the last minute sucks.
- Study with friends who keep you focused.
- My last piece of advice: Before beginning, clear your mind, take some deep breaths, lean back in your chair and stretch out your arms. Put your hands out to the side so they are in your peripheral vision. Let your arms relax, but keep your eyes focused peripherally so you can see ‘everything’ in the room. The clock, Slacker-Stan at the drinking fountain, Gunner-Gary already studying for next years exams, your notes, the ceiling, the window, etc. Let everything soak in and just RELAX. You are already in dental school. When you are ready, begin studying.
What are your study methods?
8 responses so far ↓
1 James G. // Apr 3, 2008 at 11:23 am
I’m not already in dental school! I’ve got mean GPA and DAT requirements to meet soon!
thanks for the tips though-
2 zfnd // Apr 3, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Sweet Post
Would love to see more specifics…(perhaps after the finals)!
3 Ben (DMDstudent) // Apr 3, 2008 at 1:52 pm
A couple more I forgot to mention, also one that my Grandpa mentioned to me:
- If you can’t say it, you don’t know it. Sit down with friends and hammer each other on the material. Ask obscure questions to make people think about the right answer. Group studying is good for some, but not good for others. I think it would help everyone if they did it right. Learn all the material you can on your own and then go into group study and quiz each other. Trying to learn as a group is difficult because everyone learns differently, but after a grasp of the information is reached - go for it.
- Sometimes I like to fall asleep going over a mechanism in my head or trying to recall a page of notes from memory. It helps me to fall asleep quicker, and sometimes I dream of the material and subconsciously learn it
4 Ian Furst // Apr 3, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Two big ones got me through OMS and 2nd year pharm.
Bed at 8pm wake up at 3am, cup of coffee, good music and study stratight thru to first class — easy to concentrate if you can drag you’re ass out of bed.
Otherwise, sub-sub-sub basement of the library with chocolate and a pop.
Ian.
http://www.waittimes.blogspot.com
5 Ben (DMDstudent) // Apr 3, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Nice. I am more like a bed at 1am and wake at 6am. SO far so good. A little 15 minute catnap sometimes and I am refreshed.
Let me also say that running or exercising is good to keep blood moving through your body. It keeps you alert and refreshed. I would rather exercise for 30 minutes and feel good over studying those 30 minutes and feeling like a polish sausage is trying to pass my aorta.
6 Carl Johnson // Apr 5, 2008 at 11:05 am
Study away from distractions. I always left home and went to a small local university with other students. After awhile the security guards knew us and let us stay in a small conference room all night if we wanted to. There was about 8 of us who knew of the place and it really helped to quiz each other over the material. Often found that while discussing the days material we all benefited by working out gaps in our knowledge. Having to explain out loud the material really solidifes understanding. Still have to put in sweat equity to get a basic grasp of the material. No short cut around that part.
CKJ DDS
7 pinger // Apr 10, 2008 at 9:31 pm
You’re right, I’d prefer to stay here in 3rd yr. 2nd yr, I slept less and studied more. Now, I study less, but am exhausted from clinic.
Ever thought about putting up Google ads for extra income?
8 Ben (DMDstudent) // Apr 12, 2008 at 8:25 pm
GoogleAds..long story there.
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