SilatK
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Hello everyone,
Well my issues here is that for some reason I cannot seat myself and study at least a good 3 to 6 hrs. My exam is on Sept. 20 and I do not feel I can be ready at the rate of study time that I am doing. I am not sure what is going on with me but if you have any advice I will greatly appreciated. Teh most that I can is 1 to 2 hrs. and everyother day. I notice that I am learning what ever I review or see but I wish I could do it for longer periods of time. does anyone have the same problem?
On the NMS self test I am averaging 40%. Not good since I have been reviewing for a month already or sort of reviewing.
I appreciate any input.
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| prep4usmle
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Give yourself some rewards after a number of study sessions: some music, preffered food, icecream, cofee, fruits, cake, internet access, tv, movies...
The brain is so dumb when stimulating it with unequal exitants on relatively regular intervals. No work ... No rewards!
Might help!
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| cococat
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I plan to take exam at the end of Sept too, feel like won't be ready by then at all... :roll:
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| SilatK
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Thank you for sharing and truly appreciate your advice.
Anyone is doing it at the end of Sept.? Well we have to push aour selfs more and find something that will drives us to study more and to be ready in time for this exam. I believe there is still plenty of time to get ready for it. Good Luck to all and wouldn't getting more advice.
Thank you all!
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| nuprin
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have you always had this problem re: sitting still (i.e., throughout med school), or is this something new?
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| SilatK
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Always but not for everything. There at times when I can spend many, many hoursMore(+12hrs.) reading something non stop. # days ago I started reading a book(380 pgs. or so) and finished it in three days. In med school while under pressure I could study non stop for 24hrs.
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| nuprin
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enrique, please see my private message. until recently, i've had the exact same problem!
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| Sheffield
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does anyone have any tips for staying motivated? i think that would help evryone still preparing for the exam (including me!)
i drag thru the qbank review , even thru some of the more boring chapters like physio...i just opened up my micro in FA and i made such a face at the thought of starting it. but my exam is on the 29th so i really have no time to mess around. i hear what you are saying Enrique, it is weird how you can sit sometimes for hours and have good momentum, and then other times you are just not motivated at all.
any advice would be much appreciated.
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| nuprin
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i work well to deadlines, so setting up a daily schedule with what needs to be covered and knowing i have only that day to work on something really helped me. for example, i had 3 days to cover all of micro, bacteriology one day, virology one day, parasite and summary the last day. it had to work my butt off to stay on schedule, but i knew if i didn't complete my work for that day, i would never have a chance to make it up.
you can also schedule in rewards, as prep4usmle suggested. i'm not so good at using rewards, but many people find that useful.
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| rubensssss
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It is hard to mantain motivation, but I have a lot of time studing for this test, I even went to take it , but they did not let me, I fixed the problem , but now my motivation is very low, I have tried every thing, TV, running, spend time with my son and daugther, but still the same, I have this last week been studing even I don't get anything and I don't want, but once I start getting few minutes, sometimes even 30 minutes and then start my motivation getting up, even in this moment I do not what to stop.
What I do, study even I don't want and few minutes later I read, read and one of the sudden there it is
I am studying.
I don't know if it work for everyone but it does for me.
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| bm
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yeah, going through the motions of reading and sitting is really boring and tiresome! at first, i wanted to study at home so that all my books are accessible. several days later, i tend to do more household chores (and sleeping) than studying! so, i decided to "go to work" with my husband by riding with him every morning when he goes to work, and him dropping me off at the nearby hospital library- it worked! when i get sleepy i do questions, when i get bored or tired, i go through the forum. i printed out success stories from this forum just like what meg did, and read them to encourage me. sometimes, when emotional turmoil does take its toil, i go for a break, like a real break (but limit yourself to one day, you might enjoy it!)
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| namf
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It's so nice to read your strategies, everyone! It is a great relief to know that I am not alone in my difficulties; since I am documenting them in my diary on these forums, I wont take more space to repeat them here. I think that nuprin makes poor points. NO! As usual, nuprin is right on. Deadlines are important. Making a schedule, and then sticking to it. Easier said than done, but I am trying to use the memory of all those other tests when, like Enrique, I would go nuts and study 24 hours in a row at the end. It would have been healthier to do this more gradually--and I am afraid it is impossible to cram the USMLE (but if I don't start picking up my speed, I will be forced to try it). I also like these songs--but their "boost" only lasts a very short time, and it's not good to wear their energy out by playing often...:
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor?)
One Shot (Eminem)
Warrior (Bennetar)
and maybe most of all...
No Easy Way Out
There is a school of psychology in Japan which emphasizes just doing what you must do regardless of how you feel. That might be, ultimately, what our collective mission is here with this *%*&%*&^ test.
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| nuprin
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the mention survivor reminds me of this GREAT vh1 program you must watch when you have the time! it's the 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs of All Time.
i like to listen to electronica while studying (though i prefer silence), especially a guy named Squarepusher. his music is so frenetic and driven and ecstatic at turns that it's really inspiring.
maybe this should be a new topic? best music to study to? best movies to inspire you?
namf, have you seen Twilight Samurai? it's supposedly a more realistic (Japanese) version of the Last Samurai. i doubt it would be as inspiring, though. 
bm had some excellent points--if you're bored or tired, do something else!
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| SilatK
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Thanks to all of your replies and thanks nuprin. I have read your pm.
Well if we are talking about inspiring songs or movies mine is Chariots of Fire, both the song and movie.
bm taht is a good pointer also. I will give it a try.
Rubensssss do not loose your motivation.
Hope to keep on hearing from you all.
Enrique
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