Research has consistently demonstrated that higher academic performance is linked to effective study habits. These skills enable a student to understand, memorize, and process new information efficiently in order to achieve their goals. Navigating through a physician assistant program is no different; the best students utilize similar tools to attain the highest grades. While achieving the degree is the utmost priority, successful recall of information will be required for board exams and ultimately while practicing in the clinical environment. Retaining and applying knowledge is lifelong.
I interviewed several students and researched articles to determine what the best strategies are to tackle the physician assistant curriculum. The answers varied but there were underlying common themes. Let’s examine what worked for them and build a tool pre physician assistants can incorporate.
Time Management
We have all been in this situation, wondering where the time passed or how it got so late with very little accomplished. But just stating time management as a tool is not helpful. Rather, it is best to explore principles of how to accomplish it.
Limit Distractions: Nowadays, the internet and our social network is at the tip of our fingertips and available at any given second. While helpful, it is also the single biggest deterrent to learning. Frequent interruptions break concentration. Even if a phone or tablet is turned off, anticipation of a text message or app notification will slow retention and waste valuable study time. Get used to studying without these devices available, or if needed, schedule breaks to check missed updates.
Organization: Given the sheer volume of material covered in a physician assistant program, it is not possible to memorize everything. Evaluating the curriculum, identifying the course objectives, and understanding general concepts are vital. It is wise to plan a schedule, establish goals within time frames, and create to-do lists. This allows wiggle room to squeeze in tasks that might have taken longer to complete or to re-learn difficult subjects. Create a daily routine and stick to it.
Conquer Procrastination: Some students feel they learn better “under pressure”, however this style is not likely to work successfully in a physician assistant program for multiple reasons. Foremost, the avalanche of information will crush any student leaving it to the last minute. Secondly, and more importantly, a student is likely to forget the majority of the information retained just for the purpose of passing a single exam. Breaking old study habits and learning new ones can be difficult. But flexibility and being adaptable are keys to success. That brings us to the second big theme.
Methods of Study
Students have different learning styles, methods of retention, and ideas of how to study. Some prefer individual reading to group activities, while others are more visual than auditory. The most accomplished students follow the below principles.
Review Lecture Material The Same Day: Despite seeming redundant, the study Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve, supports the notion of reviewing lecture material on the same day it was taught in class in order to enhance retention. Students following this practice are typically able to review all the lectures more easily prior to exams since they covered it previously, and generally need to review it less often secondary to improved recall.
Spaced Repetition: Piggybacking off reviewing same-day lectures, spaced repetition is a process where a student revisits learned concepts at future intervals. For example, after thoroughly studying a concept, a student will go over the information in 2 weeks, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks. Each time the student covers the material, their memory of it becomes stronger. This will prove quite helpful on final exams, boards, and ultimately while practicing clinically.
Practice Questions: Taking sample exams is one way to employ spaced repetition in your study routine. Besides simulating an exam, the questions will guide a student in affirming what they understand and enlighten them on deficiencies. This allows one to cover material again in a timely manner while enforcing concepts already memorized.
Type of Study Material: Currently there are various streams of information to assist a student. Most physician assistant student responses indicated the lecture slides were the most helpful, followed by Internet supplemental medical learning resources on YouTube. Other less quoted resources included reference books and manuals. Although not advisable to rest solely on lecture slides, if a student reviews the lecture the same day and adds notes from reference guides, it would create a strong study sheet to propel them to academic success.
See One, Do One, Teach One: A three-tiered learning mantra that all medical and physician assistant students learn. After observing a skill, the student performs it and then passes it on to another student. Typically reserved for medical procedures, it is applicable to the classroom. Higher scorers preferred to study alone citing improved retention and fewer distractions. Once the material was fully understood, it was helpful to cover it in a study group with others, allowing them to “teach” and essentially prove their understanding of the topic.
Visuals: A great advantage over the prior generation of physician assistants, today’s students have the technology available to visualize concepts in animation, three dimensions, and with auditory enhancement. Illustrations and concept maps linking subject materials are still useful, however, the ability to simultaneously see and hear video material profoundly improves the processing of difficult topics. No longer left to one’s imagination, the student is able to correctly view the material as it is in real life.
Personal Factors
As written on the physician assistant personal statement required to be accepted into a program, every student has a slightly unique story of how they decided to enter the profession and how they accomplished the prerequisites. These same traits often carry through to the next level.
Motivation: Most students entering a physician assistant program are highly academically engaged individuals. The drive to success can vary, including a desire for an advanced educational degree, to achieve board certification to attain a high-paying job, to continue trying to be the best student in class, or to enter a successful clinical practice. Whatever the inspiration, top students periodically refocus on their goals throughout the program and use it to propel them to work harder than everyone else.
Enjoyment: Students who excelled took pleasure in learning the subject material and were inquisitive to research more about the topic. They studied on average 3-4 hours nightly, and were more likely to utilize reference guides and internet sites in addition to lecture slides. Although there is not a direct correlation between the amount of time spent studying and grades, odds are you will perform well if you put the effort into it.
Asking for Help: There is a preconceived notion amongst some students that requesting assistance is a sign of weakness. To the contrary, more successful students actively sought aid and engaged in conversations with their professors over topics that required clarification or were confusing. Additionally, it helped build relationships and possible mentorship.
Conclusion
Overall, a physician assistant student faces many obstacles on their path to a degree and license certification. By interviewing current students and reviewing the literature, the most effective study habits were discovered. Summarized, these included time management strategies to reduce distractions, avoiding procrastination, organizing, planning, remaining dedicated, reinforcing learned material via repetition, studying solo initially followed by teaching material in groups, utilizing modern technology for visual aids, honing inner motivation, and not being afraid to request assistance. Hopefully these principles will assist you in your journey. If needed, please contact me for further advice.