I stopped taking notes in medical school | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The author shares their experience of revamping their study approach by skipping classes, using flashcards, and setting clear goals.

Key Insights

• 🎓 Attending lectures in a large classroom setting can be ineffective and distracting, leading to difficulty in keeping up with the material.
• 🎧 Recorded lectures provide the flexibility to study at your own pace and create a focused learning environment.
• 📚 Taking detailed notes may not be an effective study strategy; instead, using flashcards and active recall can lead to better retention of information.
• 🚀 Setting clear goals for self-study is crucial for effective learning and time management.
• 🔍 Using a systematic approach like SQ3R (skim, question, rephrase, recall, repetition) can enhance understanding and retention of material.
• 🧠 Teaching concepts back at a simplified level can be a useful way to gauge one's own understanding of the topic.
• 📝 Flashcards, combined with spaced repetition using platforms like RemNote, promote active recall and efficient review of key concepts. ⌛ Skipping classes and focusing on self-directed learning can lead to improved grades and a better work-life balance.

Transcript

here's the truth school didn't teach me how to study in high school i was forced to go to class i was told to hand write notes and couldn't bring a laptop not that i had one but still then in college suddenly everything moved digitally and learning became self-directed but i didn't realize i had to adapt so i kept studying like i did in high school... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the author stop attending lectures in college?

The author stopped attending lectures because they found them unhelpful and distracting, preferring to watch recorded lectures at their own pace.

Q: What study method did the author use instead of traditional note-taking?

Instead of traditional note-taking, the author used flashcards to study, following a modified version of SQ3R (skim, question, rephrase, recall, repetition).

Q: How did the author improve their grades and achieve work-life balance?

The author improved their grades and achieved work-life balance by setting clear goals, organizing their study schedule, and focusing on self-directed learning.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author stopped attending lectures in college because they found them unhelpful and distracting, opting to watch recorded lectures at their own pace instead.

• Instead of taking traditional notes, the author used flashcards to study, employing a modified version of SQ3R (skim, question, rephrase, recall, repetition).

• Setting clear goals and organizing their study schedule helped the author improve their grades and achieve a better work-life balance.