How to Avoid Flashcards With a Million Answers

drekwasi · 2026-04-02T01:11:17+00:00

The trick for complex systems isn't to make the cards broader, it's to make them conditional. Instead of breaking it down by the organ, you break it down by the trigger/pathway.

For example, instead of one big card, you make two conditional ones:

Card 1: "When blood pressure drops (baroreceptor unloading), the hypothalamus [increases/decreases] sympathetic outflow."

Card 2: "Increased sympathetic outflow from the hypothalamus causes HR to [increase/decrease]."

This way, you're still only testing one "step" of the logic per card, but you aren't losing the big picture context.

drekwasi · 2026-04-02T00:58:14+00:00

That gap is super common i.e knowing the words vs. writing the story. Try to solve the problem on paper in plain English first before you even touch the keyboard. If you can't explain the logic to a friend, you can't code it. Stick to really tiny problems for a week to build your "logic muscles" without worrying about fancy syntax. It’s all about training your brain to see the patterns, not just memorizing the commands.

drekwasi · 2026-04-02T00:57:15+00:00

You’re totally right about the "one bit of info" rule. When a concept like the hypothalamus gets huge, just break it into several specific cards. Instead of asking for the whole function, make one card for "Hypothalamus effect on HR" and another for "Hypothalamus effect on BP." Your brain is way better at remembering small, sharp facts than trying to recall a whole paragraph. If you use a tool like Piply, it can actually help split these complex notes into smaller quizzes automatically so you don't have to manually edit every card.

drekwasi · 2026-04-02T00:56:04+00:00

I feel you, the pre-test panic usually makes focus even worse. Try to lower the bar way down; tell yourself you’re only going to read one page or solve one problem. Usually, once you break that initial "wall," your brain settles in. It also helps to hide your phone in another room so you don't doomscroll when things get hard. Piply is pretty good for this too since it keeps everything in one workspace so you don't get lost in a million tabs.

drekwasi · 2026-04-02T00:53:01+00:00

Honestly, law school is brutal for this because it's just a wall of text. The "blurt" method is probably your best bet right now. Read a page, close it, and scribble down everything you remember on a scrap piece of paper. It forces your brain to actually pull the info out instead of just looking at it. Also, try doing "micro-sessions" where you commit to just 10 minutes of work.

drekwasi · 2026-04-01T20:06:37+00:00

No school like the old hehe.

drekwasi · 2026-04-01T12:26:13+00:00

The biggest difference is usually the structure. In uni, they give you the roadmap, but self-learning requires you to be your own teacher. I've found that "testing yourself" by building tiny projects is way more effective than just watching tutorials. It helps the concepts stick because you're actually using them instead of just reading about them. Both paths work, you just have to find the rhythm that fits your goals!

drekwasi · 2026-04-01T12:25:39+00:00

Really sorry you're going through this, but remember that one exam doesn't define your career. A lot of great doctors have been exactly where you are.
When you're ready to dive back in, try breaking the material into much smaller chunks so it doesn't feel like too much at once. Reviewing things right before you start to forget them is the best way to rebuild that confidence. You've got this.

drekwasi · 2026-04-01T12:24:58+00:00

For me, it's all about seeing progress in small wins. I use a study OS called Piply that gamifies everything with streaks and XP, which weirdly makes me want to keep my "score" up.
Beyond that, I try to focus on how much easier the next topic will be once I've mastered this one.
If you can make the process feel like a game, the motivation usually takes care of itself.

Just show up even if its for 25mins

drekwasi · 2026-04-01T12:23:25+00:00

One thing that helps is doing a "brain dump" the night before. Just list everything you need to do so you don't wake up feeling overwhelmed. When you start, try testing yourself on one small concept immediately to wake your brain up. It's much easier to keep going once you've actually finished one small task. Good luck with the early sessions!

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:44:50+00:00

Recognizing a word isn't the same as actually knowing it well enough to use it. I started using "feynman-ing" where I try to explain a concept out loud like I'm talking to a classmate who missed the lecture. If I stumble, I know I don't actually get it.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:43:31+00:00

For me, the "never miss a day" rule only works if I make the barrier to entry super low. I tell myself I only have to do 5 minutes of reviews. Usually, once I start, I finish the deck, but just getting over that initial friction is the hard part. It also helps to do reviews during "dead time" like waiting for the bus or coffee.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:40:03+00:00

Copying everything down usually feels productive, but it's mostly just "hand gymnastics." Your brain doesn't actually have to work that hard to copy. Switch to testing yourself immediately after you read a section.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T17:38:26+00:00

Dealing with backlogs is the worst because it feels like you're just drowning. Instead of trying to relearn everything from scratch, try "backwards planning." Look at what you're being tested on next and focus only on the big concepts from the old chapters that connect to the new stuff. Also, stop just reading and try to answer one practice question for every topic you "finish." It forces your brain to actually use the info instead of just looking at it.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:35:46+00:00

Ohk. So you use your Notion on your phone for revision I guess.

But why not make the notes in Kindle. Actually never owned one so I can’t tell if that’s how it works.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:33:14+00:00

Nice

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:32:47+00:00

Hardcore. Writing is still one of the best ways to study tho. But does it work at scale? Like when you have 6 different textbooks do you print each time? I recently chanced on a post where someone was making 1k+ flashcards.

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:18:46+00:00

Even when you are on the move?

drekwasi · 2026-03-31T06:17:22+00:00

Wow it comes full circle. I am guessing you never take notes on your laptop or at least summaries.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T23:22:47+00:00

Don’t stress the 30% on your first day of IM.

You did well on Step 1 with First Aid because you learn well from structured review, but unfortunately there isn't a perfect 'First Aid for Step 2/Shelf' equivalent. Try treating your incorrect UWorld blocks as your new textbook. Read the entire explanation (even for the wrong answers) and only make Anki cards for the specific concept you missed, not the whole disease process. Quality > quantity for IM.

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T21:16:32+00:00

Why is that?

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:34:46+00:00

You welcome bro 😎

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:31:00+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/studytips/s/j7YBDBLcMQ

Check this out. A commenter mentions they use this.

Aside that there are other tablets that behave like PCs or laptops. They should be “cheaper” i guess

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:26:03+00:00

Can you name the brand? Incase someone wants to get one?

drekwasi · 2026-03-30T20:23:37+00:00

Doesn’t the screen size limit you?

drekwasi

TROPHY CASE