How to study during your MBBS Years
This was a frequent question, and finally I’m writing about it now that I have a generic idea of what works.
3.5 years of MBBS + 1 year of internship is a long time to study for NEET PG, and hence there were varying strategies.
If you’ve noticed by now, I ALWAYS talk of strategies and not just simple points to follow.
Strategies are what will get you results- you have to research and choose one, and then stick to it over the years.
The same approach I advice for studying during MBBS years.
PART A
To begin with understand this: Studying for MBBS exams is NOT the same as studying for NEET PG.
They both have completely different strategies.
Basically, I was a very average student during my MBBS years, but with the strategy I used for NEET PG, I’ve scored much better than some of the folk who used to get higher marks than me in MBBS- Some of whom are still attempting NEET PG even now.
So, it doesn’t matter if you don’t do well in your MBBS exams, as long as you’re focused, you’ll get into a really good PG College and Stream.
But understand that the two exams are completely different.
PART B
How do you go about studying?
1st Year: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
Focus on learning the basics.
You can use standard text books like Chaurasia, and Cunningham’s.
Focus on the brain well.
Physiology: I personally learnt my concepts from Guyton, although Ganong would be just as good.
Learn physiology concepts well: Especially the nerves and heart.
2nd Year: Community Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology
Right Now do your Forensic well. This is the time you study the subject so you don’t need to waste time on it later.
You’ll also have to do Pathology exceptionally well- I’d done from Robbins.
For the rest, use standard textbooks: Park’s for PSM, and Tripathy for Pharmac.
PSM is something you study well, focus on statistics especially.
Pharmacology for MBBS isn’t the same as that what comes for NEET PG, in my opinion; Although you should focus on the basics of Autonomic system and drugs affecting the brain- Anti-Epileptics, etc.
3rd Year A: Pediatrics, ENT, Opthal, and short subjects.
Focus on Pediatrics!
Not because I’m a pediatrician, but because milestones are exceptionally volatile, yet scoring. So the earlier you start learning them, the higher you’ll score- Exams such as AIIMS PG ask atleast 1–2 questions only from milestones.
Not much to say about the other subjects.
Here would also be the time you joined some foundation course and prepare your step 1: NOTES.
3rd Year B: Medicine, Surgery, Obs/Gyn in Final year:
I’d prefer you studied during this time for your finals.
But in the beginning of the year, if you’re done with your Notes, you could start solving MCQs.
You strategy should be as such: NOTES -> MCQ QBank -> and finally Test Series.
Don’t skip the above steps.
Internship: Now is the time you REVISE your Notes, solve and complete your QBank, and sneak in those Test series when you get the time.
If you didn't attend any classes before, now would also be the time to attend a Test and discussion session to prepare your notes.
Read the in depth article to study and get MD Medicine during internship here.
Your key points to remember are that you have to make sure you have COMPLETE personal handwritten notes to study from for internship, followed by starting your MCQ solving as early as you can (once your notes are complete).
If you’re interested in more details about the subjects, rather than the strategy, you should check out my eBook on the same here.
That’s about it.
