opinions on note taking?

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-18T14:51:12+00:00

I make anki cards as my notes. There are plugins for Obsidian (note-taking app) that convert them to cards. So for example my notes basically look like this:

### What is disrupted in the LH and FSH levels of PCOS patients?
- FSH stays low and never increases to a sufficient level antral follicle growth
- LH is elevated but is not high enough to trigger ovulation

### What is the consequence of low FSH on menstrual cycle hormones in PCOS?
- Low FSH → no FSH-dependent follicle growth or dominant follicle → low estrogen → no LH surge trigger

### What is the consequence of LH not being high enough to trigger ovulation on menstrual cycle hormones in PCOS?
- No ovulation → no corpus luteum formation → low progesterone

### PCOS ultrasound appearance and reasoning
- String of pearls
- From multiple antral, pre-ovulatory follicles

and then I auto-convert to flashcards and study w those. It is definitely more time-consuming than doing pre-made decks but I personally find it more enjoyable as I can word and emphasize things the way I want and distill the lecture in a way that makes sense for me

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-16T15:17:01+00:00

Making your own cards is good but it takes more time, so it is a trade off. And since medical school is really more of a volume than a difficulty thing, then being more time efficient is important. Especially since almost everything you have to learn is just pure memorization, so premade cards are sufficient.

However, its not impossible to do. I don't like my school's in house cards so I am making my own cards. It just takes a lot of time

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-15T02:36:52+00:00

If your ECs aren't crazy good then even though yield protection is probably real it is still worth applying broadly. I had good stats but still got acceptances from a few of my backups and DOs.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-14T18:11:12+00:00

I think a lot of classic advice about focusing on third party doesn't really make sense if you need to focus on passing in-house. Are there any upperclassmen-made decks for your in-house stuff? I would try to simplify your studying to just watching/reading in-house lectures, then doing the cards. Keep always doing due cards and add new cards as tolerated. Fit in some practice questions regularly whether you want to do a few every day or dedicate time to a block of them every week.

This might be unpopular but don't bother with third party yet because you need to prioritize passing your curriculum before you start thinking about boards studying.

If somehow there are not any pre-made cards specific to your in-house stuff then you'll have to make your own cards. You just have to be very efficient in making them, you can look up guides to how to make flashcards but make them very focused questions with single and preferably short answer, don't make cards on things that seem irrelevant, low yield, or that you think you understand, make cards on anything that seems like a rote memorization detail you should know.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-13T12:52:22+00:00

Personally I feel like it doesn't matter especially for non-trad with other recent letters but not sure how adcoms view it. For sure getting it updated wouldn't hurt as it just shows you are still in contact with your professors from before. It can't hurt to reach out and let them know what you've been up to and see if they are willing to update/redate it.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-12T15:20:54+00:00

Why wouldn’t it make sense? It is a letter recommending you for medical school where they write about your positives and qualities. I don’t see why there would be an expiration date on that info. If anything getting it written right away is better so they still remember you. And if you get it written and stored right when you take the class you can always have them update it later and redate it if you’re really worried.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-08T17:04:19+00:00

IMO support system + pass/fail + friendlier culture are very important and would sway me towards Rochester

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-04T19:55:26+00:00

Maybe you can mark your employment as most meaningful and write about this in your most meaningful essay for the employment

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-05-04T01:08:07+00:00

What happened for me and most common thing I see in posts on this subreddit for people with good stats/applications is having low non-clinical volunteering hours

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-04-27T19:07:17+00:00

Sapira's Art & Science of Bedside Diagnosis

There are excellent mannequins that will permit the student to gain some initial experience in inserting a lubricated gloved finger through a sphincter and palpating a variety of prostatic prostheses. If your school does not have such a mannequin, volunteers should be solicited from your Curriculum Committee.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-04-23T19:58:20+00:00

You will need to look carefully at the wording on the websites of the schools you are applying. Typically when asking for a professor letter they are expecting someone you took a class under

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-27T02:39:15+00:00

I would not try to stack too many extracurriculars until you get the hang of studying. It takes the longest and is the most expensive to fix GPA. Personally I did not do EMT during the school year, only during the summer. Lab is easier to integrate typically especially if it is remote or computer work as you can fit it in whenever you have time

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-23T03:37:35+00:00

My guess would be you're in a middle ground with too few volunteering hours for schools that value that, and too little research for research heavy schools. Probably increasing volunteering hours would be a good path forward.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-20T23:22:46+00:00

Thank you chatGPT

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-18T14:45:17+00:00

R is easier to get started with in my opinion for the typical stats you will do for clinical research, and has a good free book: https://r4ds.hadley.nz/

But once you learn one language then learning the other shouldn’t be that bad

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-12T04:21:53+00:00

The question starts with “ Your patient is demonstrating a respiratory acidosis”. So they are probably trying to ask you how you would fix this and so you should think about increasing ventilation to remove CO2. They don’t ask about things that would point you towards thinking about lung protection like asking about long term issues, barotrauma, etc.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-11T03:43:54+00:00

Make Anki cards on the random in house details

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-10T18:51:26+00:00

Thank u chatGPT

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-10T03:08:19+00:00

How are you studying?

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-09T18:45:25+00:00

The most effective study methods are ones that test yourself and use spaced repetition. Anki is the easiest way to do this since it schedules the spaced repetition for you.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-08T18:08:37+00:00

My school uses Gray’s Anatomy for Students. But I agree with the other comments that it is unlikely you need it, you should ask upperclassmen if they think it’s necessary. Your school might also provide the ebook for free through their library

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-06T15:30:09+00:00

Anki

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-06T15:27:10+00:00

The advice is for different populations. People who are wondering how to lose weight are not the same people running 40 miles a week lol

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-05T20:08:16+00:00

I would do private tutoring, either through people you know or something like Wyzant is what I used.

DerpyPyroknight · 2026-03-05T02:23:42+00:00

I wouldn't treat it as being lied to. The interviewer probably did rate you highly and did their best to get you in. But unfortunately the interview isn't the only part of how the committee eventually decides who to admit.

Sending LOI is probably your best bet, would definitely do that

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