3rd Year Clerkships – Part 1! (Speciality Choice Reveal)

The cold has decided to come back with a vengeance in the deep south. I can feel my african ancestors groaning (#WakandaForever). I need the heat to return and for spring to finally grace us with its presence!

This morning, I also got my “official” fourth year schedule…(exciting but nerve-wrecking) and I decided since my third is steadily wrapping up that I would describe my third year clerkship experiences and tell you all which one I decided on!

Here’s goes nothing…

'I'm sensing you may still have some boundary issues.'

Psychiatry – This was my very first clerkship of third year and it lasted 4 weeks. Psychiatry is a unique and very much needed medical speciality! I was thrown right in (on day 1 at 7AM) and began seeing patients in the psych ward. My attending Dr. V was the absolute best! He was funny, empathetic and let me do a lot! I worked up everything from acute psychosis to schizophrenia and major depression. I heard heart-breaking stories and learned that environment and stress really do effect the human ability to cope effectively. I learned that mental health is NOT being supported and encouraged enough and that regardless of what field of medicine I practice, it will be my responsibility to take care of the whole person.

Is this the right field of medicine for me? No, and I truly believe that this specialty takes a kind, intelligent but laid back person. I loved the outpatient clinical psych more so than the inpatient psych ward but I didn’t feel that connection to it. I was extremely busy on this service and people are always happy to see psychiatry coming because they are uncomfortable talking about and handling psychiatric needs, however I was always looking for something to do with my hands.
Pediatrics – I spent 8 weeks with the kiddos (3 weeks of hospital peds, 2 weeks of subspecialty peds, and 3 weeks of peds outpatient clinic and newborn nursery) and discovered that baby talk does get old after a while. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved this rotation a lot! So much that I considered making it my speciality choice for several reasons. 1) The kids are sooooo cute! Even the little ones that are fresh, tiny and squirmy are adorable. 2) When kids get sick, its usually a virus and they usually get better. 3) Most kids don’t have 25,000 accompanying diseases that are mostly chronic conditions caused by eating all the wrong foods! (Diabetes anyone?)

Is this the right field of medicine for me? Almost, now all of these things are great, but I ultimately decided not to do Peds because quite honestly I was bored. I was always busy because I happened to do my rotation right at the start of fall when school is back in and kids are spreading all their germs to each other, but I was never content. I always wanted to be doing something…more. Plus, I had a whole week of Peds Inpatient Nights and I very nearly killed someone. I was a grumpy, moody, pissed off mess. Believe me, if you don’t like it at 3AM when you are sleep deprived and shaking from being slightly hypoglycemic, then it isn’t the field for you!
Obstetrics and Gynecology – Another 8 week rotation that I spent in various ways! I spent 2 weeks working with Gynecology Oncology, 1 week working with Maternal Fetal Medicine, 2 weeks of Hospital OBGYN, and 3 weeks with OBGYN generalists. I woke up early (4:30 AM!) and I stayed late (8-9 PM, depending on our last case) but I loved…LOVED every single second of it! I enjoyed the mix of surgery (I finally got to use my hands!) and clinic. I got to deliver lots of babies and do tons of pap smears and annual exams. I got to talk birth control and family planning! I saw excited first time parents, teen pregnancies, drug positive mothers, miscarriages and stillbirths. If you don’t know, I came into medical school thinking I would like OBGYN and I loved learning about the reproductive systems during my second year of medical school but I tried to keep an open mind about everything.

Is this the right field of medicine for me? Absolutely! I enjoy the mix of surgery and clinic. Being a doctor dedicated to women’s health and reproduction is a life long dream, honestly. I look forward to being able to help mentor adolescent girls into adulthood, help women through conception and pregnancy, talk to my older women about hormonal changes in their bodies and perform some pretty awesome surgeries! Honestly, I could say a lot about it but I’ll stop now before this post becomes all about OBGYN.

So there you have it…I’m planning to apply to OBGYN residency this September with hopes of matching into a great residency program. It’s amazing how quickly time as flown by and how soon I’ll be done with medical school. I’m getting old y’all!

Be on the lookout for Part 2 Clerkships soon!

Anyone else in medicine and deciding on what speciality to practice? Or hoping to enter into medical school? Let me know in the comments below!

Soo…I’m Back like I Never Left!

It has been a while…(I cannot apologize enough)

I went from going on hiatus due to an exam to dropping my blog due to life in general. (Blah) The past couple of years have been crazy, exciting, humbling, rewarding and awe inspiring.

I have been pushed past my perceived limits, past my routines, and I honestly feel that I am a whole new creature, entirely.

Enough of my emotional and life-changing babbling…Commence the Recap!

First Year of Medical School – done! I survived this year, though at times, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to make it. It was hard and perfect all rolled into one. I managed to make great friends and discover how resilient I could really be.
Summer between MS1 and MS2 – Research! I was fortunate enough to get a paid position as a summer medical research intern in the Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Division at my medical school. I did research using human bronchial epithelial cells on the effects of Vitamin A and oxygen on the oxidant/antioxidant balance in these cells. The project was a model for premature infant lungs and produced some rudimentary (I mean real rough…) research on the effects on using supplemental oxygen and vitamin A in the clinical world.
Second Year of Medical School – Step 1 PASSED! MS2 year was sprinkled with the knowledge that I had to take and do well on my first medical board exam. Through the grace of God, hard work and soooooo many tears, I passed and did well enough to be in consideration for moderately competitive specialities (more on this later!). Don’t ask me what happened that year, the rest was a blur!
Third Year of Medical School – Clinical Rotations – Almost Done! I am currently a MS3 doing my clinical rotations in the hospital. My third year schedule is as follows: Scholarly Activity (research), Psychiatry, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Family Medicine, and Neurology. I have absolutely loved my clinical rotations and I have learned so much about myself being in the clinical environment! I am currently on surgery and its been an amazing experience, its crazy to think in three more months, I’ll be done with my clerkships for third year! (I’ll write more on the clerkships in later posts!)
Future Plans – Now that my third year is almost over, my peers and I are gearing up to apply for residency in September of this year! I have decided on my speciality and I will update you all in the near future about all my plans for fourth year!

This ride has been wild…I am so happy to be back blogging and hopefully (prayerfully!) I will be back at it on a regular basis. In the meantime, you can check out what I have been up two on my instagram account: @_bnimd !

Why I’ve Been On Hiatus…

Now, I know its been minute since I have posted.

Believe me, I feel horrible about it.

But, its amazing how easily and quickly medical school switches your priorities.

I love blogging, and I will be continuing this blog, however at this moment, I will be on continued hiatus. Ill be back soon, I have plans to start updating weekly after my next module test which is this Thursday (if you’re not terribly mad at me…pray for me…I need it!).

I really miss the blog world and I have realized that this is a great outlet to relieve my med school frustrations (believe me…there’s a lot of them).

So I just had to pop in and say hello to everyone, really quick!

Even though I’m on hiatus, feel free to email me!

I hope all is well in your lives and I can’t wait to tell you how eventful the last 3 months have been.

Happy Sunday! And cheers for constant studying!

Sorry for the Hiatus…

Hey All!

I know its been a while since I’ve posted, but believe me the past few weeks have been so incredibly hectic!

(cue the loooonnnggg sigh of relief)

So, because I know that you all have been missing me dearly, I will tell you in categories what has been going on with my life.

Here goes everything…

Work Life: My cubicle is no more, I stopped work about two weeks ago, so that I could focus on packing and getting ready to move for medical school. I think the happiest I’ve been was when I wasn’t stuck in those 3 walls calling people. Sigh, I’m thankful that I had an opportunity to work, but I will definitely not miss it.

Social Life: A few days before I was to officially leave AU, Antoinette took me out to eat! We went to a local joint that we all affectionately called Niffers. They have the best burgers and we decided to be really southern and order some corn nuggets for starters. (Don’t knock it till you try it!) Check out the yummy images below:

The honey mustard dipping sauce was EVERYTHING!

I got a burger called the Gus Bus! (Ten gold stars if you know who this burger is named after!)

After my farewell dinner, we went back to Antoinette’s place to chill for a few minutes. Plus I got to see my nephew, Lotto!

My nephew is the cutest thing ever! He gets his good looks from me 😉

After Lotto’s walk we left the house and went over to a friend’s place. He so kindly donated me some moving boxes and we ended up talking about post-grad life for about two hours. Antoinette even got some doodle time in…Don’t ask me what the doodles are about because I would have to lie and act like I know what they are. And, you see, I just can’t do that.

Moving Life: After days of packing and throwing stuff away, I had officially tore my apartment apart and I was ready to make the big move. I decided to move a week before Orientation, so that I could have time to unpack and get used to driving around my new environment. Here’s the packing damage:

Believe me, it was a lot worse in person. My oh so fabulous boyfriend, Justin, helped me move. We rented a U-haul truck and then proceeded to drive to Auburn to pack up my old apartment, while towing my car behind us. When we finally reached our destination that afternoon, we were both beyond tired, but him even more so, because he drove over 200 miles that day alone.I definitely couldn’t have done this without him, and I realized on this trip that he really is a blessing. He knows how to calm me down when things don’t go as I have planned and remind me how blessed I am to even be accepted to medical school. So here’s a little sap moment for my best friend, biggest supporter, and the best boyfriend ever!

Med Life: Now for the real news…I start medical school in one day! You heard me, ONE DAY! When Monday, July 27th comes I will be up bright and early to trudge through the horrible interstate traffic so that I can attend Orientation. It really hasn’t hit me quite yet, and I don’t think it will until I am standing in that lecture room with 184 other students. I honestly can’t believe that I have made it this far. I am so thankful!!! I’m looking forward to the challenges and fun times ahead. I think my class is going to be filled with incredibly talented and intelligent individuals and I am so proud to be apart of that collective group. I will definitely keep you all updated on my orientation, so be on the lookout for more blog posts!

Finally, I don’t know whether any of you are wondering where I moved too, or what medical school I am going to and I really want to release the surprise in the next blog post once I get my official ID.

If you figure out which city just let me know in the comments below!

P.S. I really missed the blog world. How are you all doing? Is life going okay? Anything special happening? I really like communicating, so feel free to let me know!

Book Review: Med School Confidential

Hello All!

The long awaited book review is here! In writing reviews, I just want you all to know that I did in fact read this book front to back and all my thoughts are simply my opinions regarding this book.

Now…forward and onward.

Title: Med School Confidential (A Complete Guide to the Medical School Experience)

Author: Robert H. Miller and Daniel M. Bissell, M.D.

My thoughts:

1. This book is a complete and well written account of the entire medical school process, including: pre-medical information, applying, acceptance and rejection to medical school, as well as how to succeed in medical school courses, studying tips, applying and matching into residency, and how to balance life as a physician with family obligations and relationships.

2. It really is written for students. This book is not hard to understand. They do not include any frivolous information. It gets right to the point of the matter and helps you think about how you are going to handle the medical process. It has several anecdotes from medical school applicants, students, and doctors explaining how they made decisions during their medical career.

3. Everyone interested in medicine should have or read this book! I know that is a strong statement, but it is so true. I purchased this book my freshman year of undergrad because I wanted some help on the journey to becoming a physician. I have no one in my close family that is a physician and I needed a mentor or a guide to help me sort out my feelings and thoughts. This book did that. It also taught me the truth about the medical school process and what that entailed. This isn’t Grey’s Anatomy or House, or any other reality tv show about doctors. This book is the simple truth and the truth will definitely set you free.

4. Use this book like a textbook for the medical school process. It is broken down in chapters that correspond with your current stage in the process, so simply read that chapter and maybe the one ahead of it to make sure you are on the right track as you go along.

5. What works for me, may not work for you. This book was of vital use to me. It helped me understand and navigate the medical school “system”, however maybe you have a physician mentor already, or perhaps you have a parent or a sibling who is a physician and thus you don’t need to really use this as a guide. That’s fine! Everyone is different. Pick the method that fits you best.

Note: This book explains the American medical school process and does not explain in any particular detail the international medical school process.

So, there you go!

Did you read this book? What books do you recommend for helping to explain the medical school process? Or did you have a physician relative or friend to help you out? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

The Bad Mood Blues: How to Overcome!

So my 4th of July wasn’t the greatest in the world. I mostly lounged around the house, ate some really good chili cheese dogs and a couple of brownies that were amazing if I do say so myself.

I also found my old copy of Med School Confidential and refreshed my memory concerning the different phases of medical school and how to be successful during them, I’ll be doing a full review of the book this week, so be on the lookout!

Also, this week, I have been in a crummy mood.

Naturally, I’m resistant to unexpected change. I like having a plan or at least a checklist and working to complete each of those tasks methodically. Now, I know life doesn’t work like that. I also know that medicine doesn’t work like that and so I have to develop better coping mechanisms. I pray often and that does help me recenter myself and focus on the big picture, but when I need to overcome a bad mood funk, I think my best way has been to vent to my friends, or boyfriend (he’s the greatest for putting up with me and my moods…). However recently I found this article on Psychology Today about ways to get out of a bad mood, and I honestly found myself agreeing with many of the tips.

Here’s a snippet of one of my man bad mood causes:

Getting caught up in small annoyances. As we go about our busy lives, small annoyances—incorrect charges on a phone bill, cable service on the fritz, the car stalling—can become exaggerated and ruin our mood. To restore it, get perspective and remind yourself of the big picture. Use the one year question: Is this something you will remember in a year? If not, it’s not worth getting annoyed about. To balance your mood further, do a quick gratitude exercise: Make a list of 5 things you’re grateful for that really matter—your kids are healthy, you have a good job, you have friends who care, etc.

You see that snippet. Those few sentences sums up the way I feel about small annoyances perfectly. I absolutely loathe them, however I know that they are apart of life, regardless of how I feel. So, I decided to do the gratitude exercise and focus on the bigger picture. Here we go:

I’m grateful for God sending his son Jesus to save me. So entirely grateful.
I’m grateful for the fact that I get to wake up today and write this post. That my nervous system is working correctly, that my muscles are in coordination with my mind and that I can breathe on my own. Some people, so many people…cannot.
I’m grateful for having a great group of friends! Ones that have seen me at my lowest and yet still choose to stand by me. I am so grateful for their encouragement, constant support, unwavering and unapologetic truth, and that they never once thought I wouldn’t achieve my goals. Not once.
I am grateful for my family. Regardless of the fact that they can annoy me or a multitude of other things. They are my family. The ones I eat with at 7 in the morning on the kitchen counter talking about random things, the ones I fight with, the ones that have put up with me in all my stages of life and moodiness, and for loving me through it all. Especially, my mother. I know that often times I’m selfish and focused on my needs, but I truly am grateful to have a person who sacrificed so much for me to become someone.
I am grateful for having known Rev. Lewis Buskey. To me and my siblings he will always be known as D. He was and still is my heart. He was so amazing and I am so fortunate to have known him when he was still on this earth. To have been a recipient of his unconditional love, and care and prayer was and still remains an honor. He was the man, I compared all other men too and I’m blessed to have a grandfather that was that great.

So there you have it!

My grateful list. Rereading it now, honestly does bring a smile to my face. It truly makes me happy to have focused on the big picture. I know it doesn’t solve all my small annoyances, but it gives me hope and peace enough to know that it will all be fine.

How do you get out of a bad mood? Is anyone else as truly crazy as I am about annoyances? If you are, let me know I’m not in this fight alone and perhaps I’ll bake you brownies (that’s right…I’m bribing you).

Medical School Orientation Info + First Course Books!

So, I definitely wasn’t planning on writing a post today, but I honestly couldn’t help myself when I saw the emails my school sent me about MS1 Orientation!

So here’s the low down:

Our MS1 orientation begins on July 27th and it officially ends on July 31st. It is designed, of course, to introduce new students to the medical school and our class (s/o to the class of 2019!).

Of course their are going to be lots of presentations about how to stay healthy and sane during school, how to budget our borrowed money, and how the curriculum and school operates.

Side Note: I don’t think I’ve been this excited since I found out I was accepted to medical school!

Now, I know what you’re thinking…she’s excited about school…and studying…and more studying. But, finally having some type of idea of how my first week will go really makes me happy (I’m a planner by nature)!

Also we got some updates about our first official class: Patient, Doctor and Society.

This class is a 2 week course designed to teach us about medical ethics, professionalism, and the history of our future occupation. I think I will really enjoy this class, since I completely fell in love with Bioethics in undergrad, and I love my fair share of debates and discussions.

Do you think I’m a weirdo? Or do you like discussions and debating too?

Plus, we will get to visit the wards during this class, and so I will have some patient interaction early on!

One of the most important parts of this class is that we will be reading two books and writing reflection essays on the various topics and points the literature brings to light.

The first book is called, Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance. I’m getting my copy off of amazon for a few dollars and some change.

Here’s an overview, courtesy of the oh so amazing Amazon.com, for your enjoyment:

The struggle to perform well is universal: each of us faces fatigue, limited resources, and imperfect abilities in whatever we do. But nowhere is this drive to do better more important than in medicine, where lives may be on the line with any decision.

Atul Gawande, the New York Times bestselling author of Complications, examines, in riveting accounts of medical failure and triumph, how success is achieved in this complex and risk-filled profession. At once unflinching and compassionate, Better is an exhilarating journey, narrated by “arguably the best nonfiction doctor-writer around” (Salon.com).

The second book is called, My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story. Check out the details below:

Nestled in the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee, the town of Johnson City had always seemed exempt from the anxieties of modern American life. But when the local hospital treated its first AIDS patient, a crisis that had once seemed an “urban problem” had arrived in the town to stay.

Working in Johnson City was Abraham Verghese, a young Indian doctor specializing in infectious diseases. Dr. Verghese became by necessity the local AIDS expert, soon besieged by a shocking number of male and female patients whose stories came to occupy his mind, and even take over his life. Verghese brought a singular perspective to Johnson City: as a doctor unique in his abilities; as an outsider who could talk to people suspicious of local practitioners; above all, as a writer of grace and compassion who saw that what was happening in this conservative community was both a medical and a spiritual emergency.

Out of his experience comes a startling but ultimately uplifting portrait of the American heartland as it confronts—and surmounts—its deepest prejudices and fears.

I know you all are chopping at the bit to dive into these deliciously interesting reads…or you’re just hoping I shut up about the books, either way I appreciate you are hanging around to read about my crazy love of all things med school. If you are in need of another read that really is one of my favorite non-fiction books, check out the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks! It’s sure to teach you a thing or two, about history, human rights, and science. I think all the best books do.

Let me know what books you will be reading this summer? And if you read these books, maybe we can have a pow wow over email or comments about them!

Crepes and Thrifting

Happy July 1st everyone!

I woke up knowing that this month, in about 2 weeks, I will be moving from my college town and beginning my journey as an MS1! I am both excited and overwhelmed. I still have to start organizing, packing and cleaning to get ready for the move and so my plan after the holiday includes doing all of those things.

Anyway on to more interesting news…

Today, my best friend Antoinette and I visited a restaurant that we had never tried before. It’s a little cafe that specializes in making savory and sweet crepes. The interesting thing about this place is that it is located right up the street from where I live and I never even noticed until a few months ago. It’s called Crepe Myrtle Cafe, and it also doubles as a local farmer’s market. They sell all types of flowers and plants, as well as fresh organic produce.

Ignore my finger, it just wanted to say hello…

I loved the feel of the place and I enjoyed the clever signage pertaining to crepes. Plus the desserts all looked amazing!

My sweet tooth was begging for a fix, but I resisted…barely

We looked over the menu and we each decided to try a savory crepe since it was lunch time. I decided on the Philly Steak crepe, and Antoinette got the Fajita crepe. Yummy!

Both crepes turned out to be delicious and we vowed that next time, when we come back, we will try the dessert crepes (they have one with nutella in it…need I say more?!).

Right before we were about to leave we saw a chicken randomly walking around the store area and we decided to snap a picture of her.

Once our bellies were full and happy, we embarked on a journey only known to the few and the brave: THRIFT SHOPPING.

I was looking for a couple of picture frames to use for some really cool DIY artwork that I could display in my new apartment, but of course I ended up finding something else entirely. I bought some really cute black and white striped bowls and some gold rimmed plates for less than $4.00 total.

I couldn’t help it, they just spoke to me.

Antoinette got some really cute boot socks for the upcoming fall and winter season and then we found another store to hunt through. This store was a little bit too huge and we only browsed for about 20 minutes before calling it a quits.

This thrift store was so big that it had its own lands, complete with thousands of chairs, sofas, books, desks, and mattresses. Even though we left early, I did manage to find a couple of frames for my projects and I’m really excited to show you all the finished results when I’m done (if they don’t look like trash, that is…).

All in all it was a great day! I’m off now to put in a few hours at my job and then I’m settling in with Grey’s Anatomy and ice cream tonight.

How did you spend your July 1st? Do you like thrifting? Or crepes? Let me know!

Nom Noms, Peace and Med School Updates

This morning I went to the medical clinic AGAIN…to get my second TB test for my medical clearance. It was a very nice day out and the wind was blowing so my walk was really enjoyable.

The past few days, I have been moody and its, regretfully, been reflected in my attitude with other people. With that being said, I have realized that talking about my feelings, although I hate having discussions centered around my emotions, is necessary in order for me to feel at peace. After finally calming down from my overemotional state, I prayed and immediately felt better. Prayer, for me is vital to having a healthy soul. When I pray I feel that it is a direct link to God and it makes my soul feel lighter to know that I have a personal savior named Jesus, that loves me enough to listen to my problems, forgive me for my sins, and intercede on my behalf.

Can any of you relate?

On another note I have been cooking up a storm lately, and I wanted to share a few of my nom noms with you all.

My lunch for today is really one of my healthiest meals this week. It’s blackened chicken (no salt added) with roasted red peppers, red beans and rice, and romaine lettuce topped with a very light lemon vinaigrette. It literally took me 15 minutes to make and mostly involved chopping things up.

Last Thursday, I invited my best friend over for dinner after work and we pigged out on chicken Cajun pasta.

There might have been gelato involved. But, it was all gone before any pictures could be taken, so…~~not~~ sorry.

Overall, despite my moodiness, things have been good food wise!

On the medical school side of things, I have slowly but surely been completing HIPAA training, and printing off my lovely certificates showing that I am now a master of all things privacy and patient.

I am starting to slowly become more anxious as my matriculation date becomes closer. I’m currently shopping for my new apartment furniture while trying to stay on budget.

Speaking of budget…

If you didn’t know, medical school is expensive! Like not undergraduate expensive, but I mean buying a house or 20 used cars expensive. My school sent out budget worksheets and PowerPoint presentations just to inform us about how we should be living super cheap on our allotted monthly budget. I knew medical school was going to be a sacrifice, financially, mentally, and socially, but the realness is starting to hit me smack dab in the face.

I shall overcome though, and since I’m used to living on a tight budget I know I will be fine.

Despite all my steady realizations, I am also coming to know how extremely blessed I am to have made it this far. I have realized that not everyone gets the honor and privilege of learning the art of medicine. I am so proud and grateful to be one of those lucky few. Not a day goes by, that I don’t thank God for allowing me to fulfill his calling on my life, and for never leaving me on this journey by myself.

I hope you all are having a fantastic day! Let me know what nom noms you have been munching on? And how are your moods these days?

Studying Made Tolerable

It stormed in AU a couple of nights ago, and I was drenched as I was walking to my apartment. I would have been angry if not for the fact that I get the best sleep in the entire world during thunderstorms. I know I’m not the only one. All that rumbling and the steady fall of rain always lulls me to sleep. However, right when I was about to fall asleep, I started thinking of studying and three words popped into my mind.

Now you might be thinking I’m crazy, but believe me when I say that I knowingly accept that possibility. You can read all about my levels of craziness in my first blog post.

More to the point though, I am hoping that these tips on studying will help anyone really who is currently in the need of some motivation or refinement in their learning styles.

Studying Made Tolerable: The Three Step Approach

Time Management – This step is essential to any student’s arsenal. Time management is all about scheduling and balance. As a freshmen in undergrad, I did not understand how beneficial it was to manage my time and plan out my days. However, I was enlightened during my sophomore year when I purchased a planner. It was a basic black moleskin planner that I was able to record important test dates and weekly to-do lists in. It saved my life! I was working as a supplemental instruction leader (more about that in a later post) while I was taking 15 hours and volunteering. So having a daily schedule was so necessary.
1. Tips for time management include:
  1. Buy a planner or make a daily to-do list complete with times next to the assigned tasks for the day.
  2. Be realistic! Don’t plan to spend all of Saturday studying when you know that you need to run errands, visit family/friends or relax.
  3. Balance is EVERYTHING! Again, see point 2. In order to live a healthy and happy life you must take some time to take care of yourself. Remember to schedule time in for exercise, church, hanging out with friends, family, and significant others, CLEANING!, and general relaxation.
  4. Check out the planner I’m buying for medical school!
Efficiency – Studying can be a draining process. It can also be drawn out and often times fruitless if its not done in an efficient manner. The point being, studying for 4 hours and actually retaining information is wayyyy better than studying for 6 hours and not knowing the required material at all. In order for me to be efficient when I study I have to be engaged in the material. I’m not a person that can read a chapter and immediately soak up all the information. I need to work with it for a while. I need to ask myself questions, watch a couple of YouTube videos explaining the topic, or write out my notes on a whiteboard.
1. Here are some ways to make your studying time more efficient:
  1. Make a study schedule. If you plan on studying for 5 hours in a given weekday, write what you will be studying for every study hour of that total 5 hour period.
  2. Take Breaks! For every hour you plan on studying take a 10 minute break. During that 10 minutes, get on Facebook, check your email, do a quick 5 minute ab workout, start a load of laundry, or just stare at the wall. But make sure you get the most break for your buck!
    The Master Plan!
  3. Eliminate Distractions. Okay now ya’ll, I know this can seem impossible but you really need to use your time wisely. So during those 50 minutes of actual study time, DO NOT GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!! Do yourself a favor and just stay away from it during that time. We waste so much time on those sites that it’s amazing we get anything accomplished in this world (believe me, I know how addicting they are!). If you are a Mac user, like me, download and use the Self Control App which makes it impossible to get on certain sites for certain period of times.
  4. Find your Study Style! This is extremely important! If you are a visual learner you won’t benefit much from auditory review. On the other hand if you are an auditory learner, then listening to lecture recordings will be helpful. I would label myself as a combination learner, simply because I learn best when I “teach” or explain things to other people (or frequently to my pillow or wall). My strategy has always been; if I can teach it to someone else in a way they will understand and then be able to answer their questions concerning the material, then I know it!
Consistency – In order to retain a large amount of information in the level of detail that you need to know it, you must constantly review said material. It can seem annoying or not very helpful, but this skill is imperative. The more you work with the material the better cemented it will be in your mind. Take 30 minutes to an hour everyday to review what you learned the previous night and before you know it, you will have learned all the required material!!!

So there’s my strategy for studying! I’m hoping to tweak this plan in the next few months as I adjust to the work load in medical school.

Let me know what some your best study tips are in the comments below! If you are already in medical school or grad school, what tips are most effective for you?

And more importantly (sort of) how’s the weather in your neck of the woods?