Learning to be flexible with my study habits

One of the things I heard again and again during orientation, interview panels with current students, and on other PA blogs was this: the way you study may need to change.

It's not that I didn't believe them. Rather, I thought my study habits must have been at least pretty good to have gotten me this far... right? I'm two weeks away from the end of Gross Anatomy, and some aspects of my study habits have definitely evolved since PA school started. Here's what I've learned so far!

Trust that you know what works for you (at least to start)

I remember vividly sitting in a recent undergrad A&P class. On my desk, I had my spiral notebook and a pen. Literally every other student around me was typing rapidly on their laptops. Wow, did I feel old!

I've felt like things "stick in my brain" better when they're written by hand. Research shows that I might actually be on to something with that thought; this NPR article says you're forced to be more selective with what you write by hand (because you write slower than you type) and this processing of what information is important helps with retention.

Consider methods that may be more efficient

Even though you need to learn a seemingly infinite amount of information, there's only a finite amount of time to do it (and no, the ten hours straight you spend studying on a Saturday still won't be enough somehow). Hand written notes can be time consuming, especially if you're planning to do all your studying that way.

After just seven weeks, I certainly don't have this all figured out. But I will say this -- find efficiencies where you can. For me, this meant taking written notes when I read the book chapters, but then trying to limit my re-writing. Instead, I would try to draw pictures, sketch out processes, or create digital flashcards (hello, Quizlet) to learn the content in different ways or memorize things that weren't sticking well.

I loved Quizlet during undergrad A&P, and I'm learning to love it again. However, a few things have been key. First, I can't possibly make a flashcard for everything -- I need to prioritize what I think I'll have the most trouble remembering and make flashcards for those items. Second, Quizlet is great for studying on the bus (or laying in bed when you can't possibly sit at a desk any longer). Just saying.

Try studying with a group (or two, or three)

This was actually a recommendation from my faculty mentor. I've never been much for studying in groups (I haven't found them to be efficient, and to be entirely honest, I don't always trust others to explain content correctly). You're in PA school now. These are some of the brightest people. Take advantage of having such smart folks at your fingertips!

This comes with a warning -- it may take you some time to find the right group of people to study with. Maybe smaller groups of people are better. Maybe your friends aren't the best choices because you chat and get off topic. So far, I've found that a group of about 4 people (usually a combination of some people I'm closer friends with and some whom I'm not) works best for me. I also seem to get better studying done when we study mostly individually, but have each other as on-the-spot resources when we need a concept explained or clarified.

Have a (mostly) strict routine for studying

I recently blogged about my daily routine, and I'm proud of the fact that I've kept a pretty strict study schedule so far. I've forced myself to become a morning person so I could split up my studying (early morning before class and evening) so that I stay more focused.

I know it can be hard to get back into it the day after an exam, but the worst thing you can do is get behind, even a little bit. Go almost as gung-ho on day one of a new unit as you would the day or two before the exam. It's also so much easier to keep a routine if you, well, keep your routine. You start getting lackadaisical with that morning alarm and you'll have a hard time going back to your early mornings in the future.

Study in the right environment (and be willing to change things up)

It's not just about how you study; it's where you study. For example, I just need to accept that a lot of the time, I can't study at home. I get too distracted by everything else (snacks, my dog, my phone, even cleaning). When I'm out in public, I am less likely to be distracted by my phone (people are watching me! it's like free accountability, haha). Depending on the studying task I'm tackling, sometimes a coffee shop is a great choice, and other times I need the silence of the library.

Same thing goes with your study group -- you may just need to find the right environment. I've group studied at a coffee shop, in a public library quiet room, and a conference room lined with white boards. You'll find the right place for you.


Getting adjusted to the rigor of PA school has been interesting so far. I'm shocked by how much time and effort I am putting into school and still feeling like it isn't enough. I think that discomfort is just something I'm going to have to get used to! It's good to know, though, that all this hard work is going to pay off in the end. Put in the work now, reap the rewards later.

Happy studying and be well,
Olivia