Study Tips and Tools

Top of Page Study tips for biology, chemistry or maths? Any advice on study methods? Do you…

  • Top of Page
  • Study tips for biology, chemistry or maths?
  • Any advice on study methods?
  • Do you have any tips on how to keep up my motivation?
  • How to succeed in school?
Study tips for biology, chemistry or maths? 

It depends on what kind of learner you are. I spend a lot of time taking notes, usually compiling different sources: textbooks, other student notes, internet, and videos into something that’s messy but somehow makes sense. Overall, my #1 piece of advice is videos. If you’re an auditory or visual learner, YouTube videos may save your life. Most people know these, but I’ll just mention them anyway:

Khan Academy (for everything) – it also has a Khan Academy Medicine channel

Shomu biology

AK Lectures: incredible, but I had to watch it on 1.5 speed otherwise it was too slow

Moof University

5 minute school

Bozeman Science

The first four channels were absolute favorites. In general, I’d search for anything I didn’t understand and look for a video or two.

Maths: for maths, the only thing that helped me was doing and redoing problems. I would do the problems in the back of the textbook, and I would check my answers. Our school also released old exams, so I would use those to practice. I had a messy math notebook and just did as many as I could. Also, I got a friend who was really good at maths (and unerringly patient) to help me out. I learn really well when “taught,” so if that helps you, see if you can find a tutor.

If you like flashcards, look into using any of the following: Anki, Quizlet or StudyBlue. My favorite is Anki, but Quizlet/SB are easier to use for first timers.

Any advice on study methods? 

Study methods: find what works. If you’re auditory/visual, watch videos. YouTube is an AMAZING resource that I didn’t have in high school, so use it. Make notes, use flashcards (Quizlet, StudyBlue and Anki are all excellent), highlight your textbooks—but don’t do them all for the sake of doing them. Find what works for you. If it helps to pace your room and talk to yourself, do that! And just remember, what works for one subject might not work for another subject, so be flexible and ready to change it up.

Do you have any tips on how to keep up my motivation?

We just learned a really interesting concept in psychology called “intrinsic motivation.” The phrase is somewhat self-explanatory, but here’s the definition: “Intrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven by internal rewards. In other words, the motivation to engage in a behavior arises from within the individual because it is naturally satisfying to you.” Sitting in lecture, I realized that this is what drives me, and knowing this, my advice would be to find what motivates you: why are you doing what you’re doing? Why are you studying at all? Figure out the answer, maybe write it down, and remember that in your moments of extreme stress or when you’re feeling unmotivated to continue. Another idea could be this: my friend also has what she calls an “aspiration board” on her Pinterest, where she collects things that drive her, quotes and goals and she flips through that when she needs a reminder.

How to succeed in school? 

Find what motivates you (see above). I found that it’s so much easier to study in med school than it was in my engineering degree because this material interests me way more.

Don’t procrastinate. It’s hard, we all struggle with it, but try not to. What worked for me is to schedule times of “active” fun, and schedule times for undistracted studying. I’ve used a ton of anti-procrastinating apps, what’s most popular right now seems to be Forest (phone and Chrome extension works well as a bundle, and it’s free!).

Study methods: find what works. If you’re auditory/visual, watch videos. YouTube is an AMAZING resource that I didn’t have in high school, so use it. Make notes, use flashcards (Quizlet, StudyBlue and Anki are all excellent), highlight your textbooks—but don’t do them all for the sake of doing them. Find what works for you. If it helps to pace your room and talk to yourself, do that! And just remember, what works for one subject might not work for another subject, so be flexible and ready to change it up.