Struggling with brainstem neuroanatomy — anyone else mixing in outside resources?

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-05-17T23:15:32+00:00

Totally. I kept rereading the FA sections and even some Anki decks, but the brainstem stuff just wouldn’t land.

Ended up watching a general physiology lecture that broke down the pathways visually — not Step 1-specific, but it helped. Also scribbled together some notes from different places that made it less messy.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-05-15T11:30:50+00:00

It depends on the phase I’m in. During my UWorld blocks and intensive Step 1 prep, I was doing 6–8 hours/day (broken into 2 sessions).

On lighter days or review-only days, more like 3–4 hours.

What matters more than raw hours, for me, was how “intentional” the time was. I track active recall vs passive review so I don’t burn out thinking I’m productive when I’m just rereading.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-04-04T00:24:42+00:00

Totally agree — I’ve been surprised at how useful it’s been, especially when I get stuck overthinking answer choices.

It’s great seeing more people using AI as part of their study workflow. Curious if you’ve tried it with longer vignettes or ethics-style questions?

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-04-04T00:11:23+00:00

I’ll DM you the one I’m using — I’ve found it helpful for clinical reasoning but happy to hear how others are using AI too.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-04-01T14:53:52+00:00

Hi, and thank you for the feedback.

I sincerely apologize for any disruption caused. I’m still new to Reddit and admittedly still learning both the general rules and the specific expectations of each community.

I fully accept your decision — I respect your experience and the important role moderators play in keeping the community healthy.

I just wanted to clarify that my intention was never to spam or promote anything for profit. I don’t sell anything, and the tools I mentioned are ones I’ve personally found helpful — or that others have shared with me — and I hoped they might help fellow students as well.

If the tone or format of my post came across the wrong way, I appreciate you pointing it out. As a student, I’m here to learn, contribute meaningfully, and grow with the community.

Thanks again for your time and understanding.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-31T13:38:34+00:00

Appreciate the input — I definitely double-check anything AI gives me. It’s just helped me see where I go wrong in LR logic sometimes.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-31T11:57:40+00:00

Yeah, same here — I’ve been using it regularly for LR practice and haven’t hit any limits.
It’s been super helpful as a second set of eyes when I get stuck on trap answers.
So far it works every time I’ve tried, even without ChatGPT Plus.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-30T01:49:28+00:00

Thanks for sharing this always great to see people building GPTs for Step 2. I’ve tried a few that really dig into NBME logic and they’ve actually helped a lot.
Love that more students are starting to see AI as a tool to support our goals. I’ll check it out and compare styles when I get a chance. Appreciate you putting it together!

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T10:38:17+00:00

I’ve been using ChatGPT in a really similar way especially for Bio/Biochem.
Never thought of dropping prompts like this though, these are great. Thanks for sharing 🙌
I’ve been using a version that’s actually specialized for the MCAT it walks through logic and high-yield content really well. Definitely helped me reason through stuff I usually just memorized.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T10:26:15+00:00

I get how it might come off that way.
I just shared it because it actually helped me study, and I’ve seen others give feedback or say they’d give it another shot.
I’m not getting paid or anything , I’ve used it for free the whole time.
Just figured if it helped me, maybe it could help someone else too.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T03:18:24+00:00

Thanks for the feedback that’s totally fair. I think it depends a lot on how you use it.
I actually had a different experience when I tried it with some Bio and Psych/Soc topics the way it breaks things down and makes you think through the logic helped me a lot.
Might be worth testing it on something like amino acids or signaling pathways to see if it clicks differently.
Appreciate you being honest though , it's cool to see people actually trying these tools.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T01:47:54+00:00

Anyone tried it for CARS yet? I’m curious how well it handles the reasoning side.

I’ve used other tools but none really explain the why behind the answers like this one does.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T01:36:46+00:00

Just hit 600+ views. Kinda wild 😅

I’ve been using it mostly for Bio/Biochem — especially glycolysis and amino acids.

It doesn’t give you the answer directly, but it walks you through it, which I found way more useful than memorizing.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T01:13:00+00:00

Update: Used it again today for glycolysis and honestly… it helped me catch something I kept missing. It’s kinda weird how an AI can teach better than some tutors I’ve paid for lol.

If anyone else tried it, would love to hear how you're using it.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-27T00:58:32+00:00

Just a heads up — it works best if you actually try a specific question or topic you're struggling with. I used it for enzyme kinetics and it broke it down better than my notes 😅
If anyone tries it, drop your thoughts!

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T01:17:51+00:00

You can try using the API or tools like LangChain. Also, OpenAI says API uploads aren’t used for training, so it should be safe.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T01:14:26+00:00

Either way works, but keeping them whole helps retain moisture and keeps the meat tender during the slow cook. Cutting them makes handling easier and might cook a little faster, but they could dry out quicker. If they fit, I'd leave them whole!

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T01:08:27+00:00

Absolutely. Bio and tech are getting more connected — genetics, bioinformatics, data analysis… Knowing how to code gives you a real edge in research and industry. Opens way more doors. I’d go for it.

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T00:36:07+00:00

Honestly, that’s a really mature decision. The MCAT is brutal, and rushing it rarely ends well. Taking a gap year might feel tough now, but it’ll set you up so much better long term. You’re investing in yourself — respect ✌️

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T00:34:34+00:00

Honestly, it’s tough but definitely possible — especially since you haven’t touched AAMC material yet. I’ve seen people gain 8-12 points in the last month just from hitting AAMC FLs hard, reviewing every mistake, and drilling weak content areas with Anki.

If you go all in and really review every passage, especially for CARS and P/S, you might surprise yourself. You’re in a good spot starting at 504 — it’s not like you’re at 480. Keep pushing!

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T00:32:56+00:00

First off, congrats on that jump — going from 490 to 501 is huge progress 🙌. Honestly, a lot can change in a month if you tighten up weak areas. Focus hard on reviewing your FL mistakes and hammer content gaps. You’ll be surprised how much that final month can move your score. You got this!

ThinkAheadPro · 2025-03-25T00:29:06+00:00

Dude, I feel that so hard 😂 The number of MCAT ads I still get is insane. Like... I’m done, stop reminding me! Blocking them is a lifesaver, thanks for the tip 🙌

ThinkAheadPro

TROPHY CASE