Good point, the difference between a 90% and a 100% could likely be due to understanding what material the professor wants you to know.... And that is exactly why I do better on standardized exams vs regular coursework. I have more solid info regarding what USMLE wants vs what my professors want. Hell, most of our questions require an understanding of minutiae and, ultimately, the personality of each professor. It can be easy to miss a question just due to bad wording.
I know our first section of the year we had someone score 100%. This, without much understanding of the medical school professors question styles... He, i hear, spent all night all day studying to get that score.
So it seems as though there are two routes to the 100%: understand exactly what the professors want you to study, and thus study efficiently. Or, you can study a ****-ton of material all day all night until you cannot have missed any details that will be on the exam, regardless of understanding what the professors want
I will say you've inspired me to probe further on the more efficient route 8)
Was your first block anatomy? A decent number of med students (at least in my class) have a background in anatomy and/or other medical basic sciences (physio, biochem, etc). Plus many MS programs are taught by the same professor(s) that teach the medical school course so if you do an anatomy MS, for example, at the same school you attend for med school you already have a leg up. Obviously this is going to be only a handful of students, but perhaps it helps explain why some students do extremely well in 1 subject, then fall more in line with the average in subsequent subjects.
Studying all day and all night might work, but I know it doesn't work for me. I tried it during anatomy because I was an anxious newly-minted-MS1 just like almost everyone else. Grades were lowest in that class probably because I was burned out or whatever else.
But you're right, there's more than one way to skin a cat and the trick is finding out which way works for you. The other thing I've found to be highly important is to focus on yourself and not on what your classmates are doing. Obviously your performance is judged relative to the performance of other med students, but short of sabotaging people there's nothing in your power besides doing your best. The earlier you figure it out, the better off you'll be in and out of school.
I hope you find a way to improve your scores, make more time for yourself, or accomplish whatever goal(s) you have. In the end we're all in this together.
While I applaud you for your smarts and ability to juggle many things, you are in a small minority of med students.
Probably so, though I know 5 people who score the same or better than me and 4 of them have a lot on their plate as well. Actually, 2 of those 4 have a spouse and kids.. which is incredible. I have time for activities, but I can do them (or not do them) at my leisure. Having a family must make scheduling much more difficult and I am always so amazed by med students who can do well and also be a great parent/spouse.
Arrogance (internally) is quite helpful. I know people that worry about exams and performance even though they continually do well.. Not 100%s or high 90s, but they are worried about failing (or say they are) even though they score 10-15% above failing on every exam. These people would probably be much happier if they spent more time not in the books.
Studying for 5-6 hours less every week probably won't hurt your exam grades that much. I think that's one of the biggest secrets of med school.
