Between extracurricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, and academics, being a pre-med student can be a difficult juggling act. Here are some unique studying tips that the PAMSA Officers and Executive Board Members have to offer to help you better manage your time and improve your study habits!
“Make flashcards to be able to test your knowledge. Putting the flash cards on a wall helps with better retention of the information. Also, building models to help visualize the concepts help.” -Jorge, President
“Try to set deadlines earlier than they actually are. For example, if you have an assignment due Wednesday, make it due in your head on Monday so that way you pressure yourself into finishing it earlier. “ -Shrey, Vice President
“A good study tip is to read over the lecture notes after class which will help you retain the information better. Also, studying in small groups is more effective for me than studying with a large group because it reduces distractions.” -Aayat, Webmaster
“I study best by writing. After I go through my notes, I’ll make a composite exam study sheet on anything I’m having trouble on the night before any exams or quizzes.” -Stephanie, Student Wellness Division
“I found that different study methods work best for different classes. For math-based courses such as General Chemistry I and Precalculus, I realized that I was procrastinating by making notes. Once I streamlined this method, I realized this method was clearly ineffective. Now, I simply go over the presentation and the professor’s notes and start the practice problems straight away. This new method definitely produced better results. For content-heavy classes, such as Biology I and Philosophy, I was wasting a lot of time making hand-written notes. I began to coordinate all of the material needed into my own study guides using my computer, and this allows for better quality notes because it is easy to add diagrams, pictures, or graphs that can help.” -Claudia, Education Division
“For classes that are heavy in lecture, I found out this semester that is it better to print out notes first and then annotate beside them as the professor teaches.” -Ana, Tutoring Division
“Make sure to have room for a break! Take some food breaks, go for a walk, or both! Practice is key, even if you think you know something because professors will find a way to trick you. Make sure to take your time with every test question.” -Sofia, Charity Division
“Make sure to study and practice in small fragments as soon as you learn the material. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed the day before the exam. Also, do not forget to sleep so you do not make any silly mistakes on exam day!” -Sandra, Education Division