I was chatting to some
first year veterinary students from the University of Queensland about a book
some of them had found helpful. How to Study in Medical School, by Armin
Kamyab, now in its second edition, is a lovely thin guide which can be read in
a single sitting.
It contains some useful
tips, the linchpin of which is taking excellent notes during lectures and then
reviewing these after each day before you go to bed. The idea is that every day
you spend around an hour for every lecture hour revising notes.
In principle I love this
system, especially two tips:
1) Don’t
just write it – ask why. For example, if intestinal biopsies are required to
differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease and low grade lymphoma, knowing
WHY helps you understand, facilitating learning and better recall.
2) Look
up things you don’t know – it helps you understand better (it’s a more active
way of learning) and facilitates better recall.
Dr Kamyab was clearly unwavering in his desire to excel in medical school. He applies a blanket “no sleeping” rule, i.e. no going to bed until you have produced excellent study notes every weeknight. Weekends are for revising one’s notes and that is all.
Don’t get me wrong. I like
this book. I like the fact that he suggests we act as if there is a test on
every Monday. It lends an urgency to one’s study, a knife to cut through the
procrastination.
Like Kamyab I am very much
of the view that time spent in the library is likely more fruitful than time
spent at home.
“I always recommend
studying at the library. If you go home, you will cook, watch TV, clean, lie
down to rest, browse online, call family etc. Time spent on all those little
things adds up. Studying at the library will avoid all those distractions.”
No argument there. But
this is where my agreement ends. He goes on:
“I understand of course
that certain students have families to spend time with, and important chores to
take care of. The issue is simply to prioritise, and to figure out where
studying falls on your list of priorities. For me it was #1.”
Number 1 it might be, but
medical school and veterinary school last four to five years. The program seems
very appealing and very structured, but if you keep this up for five years
three things at the suggested level of intensity it is quite possible that:
a) You neglect your family, friends and companion animals who are likely supporting you and doing all
those chores and earning income to keep you alive;
b) You
will excel academically but miss out on gaining any experience to round out
your skills (for example, animal handling, nursing, working with wildlife and
exotics);
c) You may set yourself up for a big shock (and disappointment) upon graduation. Living in the library revising from nice neat notes is very different to dealing with real live animals in the often chaotic context of practice.
I am NOT suggesting that
study is not important. But overemphasis on study, the concept of spending
every day til midnight writing notes then going snorkelling for two hours on
the weekend, is not my recipe for an excellent veterinarian. Ultimately, one is aiming to become a practitioner...you need practical skills, experience and the ability to do things (sometimes lots of things at once). With respect, I don't believe Dr Kamyab's schedule permits time enough to become a well rounded practitioner.
So what do SAT readers think? How did you survive vet school? Postgrad study?
So what do SAT readers think? How did you survive vet school? Postgrad study?