How to Study during M1 Year

As you begin your medical school journey, it is important to remember how far you have already come and that you are meant to be here. You are extremely intelligent and possess the capabilities to be successful in medical school. Most of the concepts presented in your courses will not be very difficult, but the sheer volume can be challenging. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO GET BEHIND. Unlike college, you will not have lulls throughout the semester to allow you time to catch up. Plan ahead, stay on top of your coursework, and, most importantly, ask for help if you need it.

There is not a magical way to study, and many of you will have to adapt your study habits from course to course. Be flexible and willing to try new techniques to determine which method will be the most beneficial to you. Upperclassmen are always available and happy to give you information and advice about courses and study methods, but remember, everyone is different.

Below are some of the most common approaches to studying as well as data compiled from the Classes of 2023 and 2024. You may not use them all, but these are some methods to consider. The principles and general outlook of a current student Quillen Medical Student is the best resource to utilize for advice for life as a medical student. The current students feel as if the faculty and staff of administration, academic affairs, and admissions office would agree. 

• Notes

  Understanding the notes is the key to success in the first two years of medical school. We are fortunate at Quillen to have notes provided by the faculty, and this is where nearly every test question will come from. Keep in mind, every portion of the notes is fair game, including figures, graphs, and tables. Know them well, and you will do well. Many students download the notes onto their laptop or iPad from the D2L site for each class. Each student is also allotted $25 per semester for printing from the computer lab, much like what many experience in their undergraduate education. 

• Study Groups

  The TRAILS curriculum emphasizes group learning as a way to gain new insights from your classmates, and extending this collaboration outside of class time is a productive way of studying. Especially during Gross Anatomy, group studying is highly recommended. Going into the anatomy lab or asking questions to each other from the provided notes has proven beneficial for many students. There are also many places for individual and group study on campus, including Stanton-Gerber Hall, Bishop Hall, the Medical Library, or the Student Study Center.

• Anki

  A majority of students use Anki as a resource to study. Anki is a free flash card app available for download that allows you to review material on a daily basis. The app allows you to click whether the question was easy, good, or if you should be shown the card again. Anki uses algorithms for spaced repetition, which helps promote learning retention over time. Creating your own cards are helpful, but most students use pre-created decks (ask a current study for which decks are best to download). Anki can be a very valuable resource and is widely used by students who have benefited from traditional flashcards in the past. 

  • Click HERE to download Anki
  • Click HERE for a tutorial of how to use Anki
  • Click HERE for a tutorial of setting up an Anki Remote (you can buy on Amazon; saves study time by helping you finish your cards faster)
    
    
• Other Common Suggestions

  • Read or look over notes before class
  • Make your own study guides or condensed notes
  • Make handwritten or online note cards or use pre-made flashcards (Quizlet, Anki)
  • Use colored pens or pencils to highlight important details
  • Write and draw things out using white boards
  • Use short review books like Pathoma or First Aid (which emphasize the “must know” and high-yield material mainly for Step Exams and end of course NBME's)
  • Use online resources for practice questions (Med School Bootcamp, Sketchy, UWorld, etc.)
  • Review daily quizzes and refer back to notes before weekly checkpoint exams/finals

Class of 2024 Data

*Class of 2024 did NOT use TRAILS Curriculum (Implementing July 2022).*

*Students starting Quillen COM in the Class of 2026 and on will use TRAILS Curriculum*

*Class size increased to 79 for Class of 2025*

Class of 2023 Data

*Class of 2023 did NOT use TRAILS Curriculum (Implementing July 2022).*

*Students starting Quillen COM in the Class of 2026 and on will use TRAILS Curriculum*

*Class size increased to 79 for Class of 2025*

The bottom line and the most common advice you will hear is this: DON’T LET YOURSELF GET BEHIND. Try to be organized, manage your time wisely, and keep up with the material as it is presented. Although the amount of material will seem overwhelming at times, remember to take it all one page, one lecture, and one day at a time. You will be surprised by how much you can and will learn! Again, we cannot stress this enough, current medical students are the most up to the date experts on how to excel in medical school.