9/7/2020
Even though I’ve been in school for 19 years now, Pharmacy school is a whole new world when it comes to studying! Being in my LAST year of didactic curriculum ever, I feel like it’s a good time to share my study habits before I’m done studying for classes forever. Everyone’s study habits are a little different, but this is what has worked for me as a Rho Chi honors student throughout pharmacy school.
Step 1: Go to class! During COVID-19 this looks a little different as a lot of times I am actually at home live streaming, but either way I am listening and engaged the whole time. During class I have the professor’s powerpoint pulled up to highlight important things on the slides and add notes with the additional details they might provide.
Step 2: After class each afternoon/evening, I go through the powerpoint and move things around so that they make the most sense. I may have to delete slides or rearrange depending on what helps the information flow best for me.
Step 3: Hand write all the information from the powerpoint (and additional notes I have taken) on printer paper. I skip over superfluous material or things that will not be on the test so that this is a very condensed version of the most important things. However, I won’t come back to the powerpoint again during my studying so I make sure this is comprehensive! Doing this EVERYDAY after class really helps me to be sure the information is still fresh on my mind as well as stay on top of things without getting behind.
Step 4: Highlight, add additional notes in colored pens, draw out pathways, tables, or other visual aids within my paper notes. I am a huge visual learner so this helps me a lot!
TIP: While going through the powerpoint and creating my notes, if I have any questions or things I feel unsure of, I make a note to ask friends or the professor if necessary.
Step 5: Create quizlets that help me to memorize all the information in my notes. I go through my handwritten notes and include almost everything, making a quizlet set for each lecture/powerpoint. I then am able to study these quizlets through the app on my phone during downtime at work or on my laptop when watching TV, what a relaxing way to memorize!
Step 6: Write out pathways, drugs or hard to memorize items on my big white board over and over until I am confident about them.
Step 7: Study with friends the weekend before the test. Usually we study both Saturday and Sunday evenings in preparation for a Monday test. We walk through pathways, hard to understand concepts, and write things out on the giant whiteboard wall that Alex has set up in her dining room. We also quiz each other and make up potential questions that may be on the test.
TIP: Make sleeping a priority. If you stay on top of things everyday after class, you won’t need to pull all nighters in order to feel prepared. I never go to bed after 10 PM the night before a test, and don’t wake up before 6 AM, because I know I need a full night sleep in order to be at my best!
