Get the BIG PICTURE - for efficient study

Interventional Neuroradiology UCLA, MD USC Keck 1987. 1y

How do top medical students study?

Looking back on medical school, I see that there was a common theme among the high performing students, and to a large degree it was based on our greed. Not greed of money, but greed of our personal time. Most of the high performing students were interested in getting the best grade for the least amount of effort. Yes, it does not sound flattering, but it actually is a positive attribute. You see, when you are intent on learning the most in the least amount of time, you really focus on the big picture first. You know that if you understand the big picture, you can fill in the details more easily right before a test.

For example, if you are studying the cardiovascular system, the best students would always understand the big picture first, how cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, blood pressure, blood flow, and venous return are related and affect each other. At least, if we really understood this, we would probably pass. Just add in a bunch of less relevant details, and you could ace the section.

Students that struggled often reversed the process. They would try to memorize a bunch of details, but did not have the big picture as a framework to hold those details. So many times, I would be studying with someone right before the test, and after explaining a "big picture" concept to them, they would have the epiphany. But having the epiphany early gives you a framework that helps to hold the details.

So my advice to you, as an aspiring physician, is to be greedy with your time. The first few days of any new subject, be relentless in asking questions until you understand the big picture. Once you have done that, you will not fail. And if you want to ace the subject, just use the rest of your time filling in all the minutia that will earn you a top grade. And realize that the big picture is what makes you a good physician, because that is probably the only thing you will remember.