Study Tips for Pharmacy Student

Fun Mnemonics

Mnemonics has been proven to improve memory retention and better information recall. Commonly, making mnemonics often takes the form of an acronym or rhyme. This study technique is crucial especially when you have to memorize tons of terms in a single chapter. For example, the common parasympathetic response is:

Another example is when remembering the function of G-proteins-coupled receptors. For example, adrenergic receptors such as alpha and beta have different functions, even for muscarinic receptors.

My mnemonics for these following G-protein coupled adrenergic receptors would be KISS (QISS)

Feynman Technique

To define this study technique in simple terms, it's basically just teaching. This study technique comes from the core philosophy or theory that humans understand concepts or skills between when we can teach them to others. And honestly based on my experience this study technique saves me from pharmacy school. You might be wondering how to apply the Feynman Technique in your study routine. Will just follow these steps below:

First, you have to pick a topic to learn. Take for example we choose solid dosage forms.
Next, you have to teach the concept or topic in your OWN WORD and you have to imagine that you're teaching a child. So you have to refine all terms and definitions that will suit the understanding capabilities of a child. Personally, in this part, I usually use a mirror or my laptop's webcam so I can look at myself while talking.
And that's it you're incorporating the Feynman Technique in your study routine! Now make sure that you can confidently explain all concepts and topics. Because if you're not then you have to go back to your notes, read, and understand the concepts again.

Blurting

This study method is simply writing all the topics, concepts, terms, and definitions in a paper. Then after doing so, you'll check all the things you have written and look for terms and concepts that you forgot or got wrong. Personally, these study techniques helped me so much in pharmacognosy.

Time-Management

Managing your time is very self-explanatory. Always remember that time is gold and we should value it. So make sure you create a time plan schedule for your study routine. Personally, I usually set a maximum of 3 hours for subjects that I find very difficult and I make sure that I only study in that designated time slot.

Plan Early

Last, is planning early. This study technique goes hand in hand with time management! So before you start your study session, make sure that you plan and organize early. Because in this way it will create a better and more organized flow in your study session. And the good part is it will save you so much time!

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