Motivation through Group Study

Following my last blog, I'll discuss how one can get motivated through group study: (This article applies mainly to people who are irregular in studying or find it difficult or uninteresting to study alone, but even others can derive quite some benefit)

The exam USMLE is a common enemy for us - all exam takers. By studying in a group, every member's score rises than otherwise. When we look at the exam and about 20,000 people who take the USMLE every year, the chances of our own group members becoming our competitors are miniscule. This is the basis of primitive man hunting in groups.

0) What are the advantages of group study?

- Your study and progress is guaranteed
- You achieve your full potential, and even more!
- Studying becomes interesting, actually you enjoy it!
- You make some good friends for life!

1) What is the ideal group size?

2 is minimum. 3 is optimum. If there are only two members, it is easier to coordinate and may be faster to study. But there is an inherent weakness in this. If one doesn't come on a day, the study will stop that day, and both lose. But if there are 3 people, even if one doesn't come, the study continues. This forces every member to come regularly.


2) How do I choose my group members?

All the members should take the exam within a given time frame, give and take a month or so.
Try to choose members with similar caliber as yours, a little less or more. But there should not be much difference. If someone is too fast, the other members can't keep up. And the same way, if someone is too slow, the entire group is slowed down. Even if you can't choose this way, take any member available. Some member is better than no member.


3) What are the methods of group study?

Ever member should read the same subject and the same book(s) (e.g. Kaplan) .

If you have adequate time, say 6 full months, you can study this way, the most basic method: Each group member, in turns, reads aloud a paragraph while others look into their books. Then, it is discussed and continued to the next paragraph and so on.

As you go on, you can advance to topic wise reading. You choose to study a particular topic in a particular chapter (e.g. Loop Diuretics from the Diuretics chapter in CVS Pharmacology). Each member studies on his own, recalls it in his mind and after everyone finishes, one of you will recall it aloud. Any clarifications and discussions can be made at this stage. Then you continue to the next topic. This method is the best because it combines individual study with group study at the same time.

As you advance in your group study, you can do the above with a chapter (e.g. Diuretics) instead of a topic, a section (e.g. CVS Pharmacology) in a book instead of a chapter, or even a subject instead of a section!

Let me know what you think about my article (based on my own experiences and insight into group study).

Good Luck with your group study!

-Bfn,
Subhas.