How Do Top Medical Students Study?

My definition of top medical student is who knows most and eligible to save most number of patient afterwards - not who gets most marks. (Both are mostly same but sometimes mediocre has better knowledge than toppers)



There are 2 main elements of medical study.

1. To know. This is essential part of study. There are certain things which are always necessary. And you have to remember it either way.
2. To apply. Whatever you know, you have to use in OPD or OT. You can't remember textbook graph or flow charts at that time. You have to possess best logic and decision power to save the patient. (If toppers lack this - I don't believe them topper)

Words like consistency, cramming, understanding, IQ all are not more than illusions or excuses made to hide failure. As I told, you have to know things that are certain - either you read 6 hours a day or 8–10–12–14. Either you need 2/3 revision or 6–7 revision! Either you read everyday or for few days! You have to know - that's what is needed. It all depends on your habits, strength and weaknesses.

Some people say there are so many numerical values in MBBS to remember. - Have you ever forget value of normal haemoglobin count??? It's also a number. But it became routine. Hype was never created that it's very hard!!!

SO HOW TO STUDY?

First thing first. Clear all the concepts. Basic anatomy is to be remembered for understanding surgery or orthopedics. Understand anatomy of whole body. Imagine everything. Just like if you watch your own abdomen and you can recall all structures with orientation and parts. There are only 3 main arteries. Understand how branches are created and supply whole body. Understand how brain works along with PNS.

Physiology Pathology is to be understood for understanding diseases and to apply knowledge in medicine. How normal body works and where the problems can be created. Co relate everything and try to understand. If problem is created, how various drugs can set physiology back to normal. Understand it. Correlate how etiological factors affect our body to create pathology and what is the result presented as clinical features.

This is how you should integrate everything. No subject in MBBS is separate. Never draw a boundary. Whole human body is one unit. So understand it like that.

If you can't remember something after 1 or 2 reading. It's okay. Make a habit of revision. Don't count number of revision. Just revise it until it comes naturally to you just like Hb!

Length of MBBS?

Which book do you think is best for medicine? Harrison? 3000 pages. I think the biggest book among all subjects we read during MBBS. 15–20% of it's text is just anatomy and physiology. 30–35% is pathology. 20–25% is pharmacology. 5% is radiology. So now remove the overlapping part either from pathology-pharmacology-physiology. Almost 50–80% books are done. Or if you do it from those subjects - only 25–30% Harrison is new for you!!! Integration makes it very much easier.

Application and easy way of remembering!

When you see something, listen something you never forget. How much longer is Tuberculosis or AIDS for MBBS curriculum. Just go and take history-examination of 3 cases. 20 minutes each. And 80% of things are covered. Visit clinicals regularly and learn. If you read steps of tracheostomy, it will take 20–30 minutes to understand. Just see how it is done in 4–5 minutes. You need not to read even!!!

Only quality to be a topper!

Curiosity. You should have hunger of knowledge. It makes you extraordinary. If possible do research too. Learn as much as you can! Think above the limits and out of box!



This is how I feel the best way of learning in MBBS. And obviously anyone can be topper if they try and learn this way…

Dhairy Boghani

Source