I realize everyone's methods are different, but I'm hoping this thread will provide a variety of study techniques.

I am getting ready to graduate from undergrad in May, and I hope to start medical school sometime in 08. If I don't make it thorugh medical school, it will be because of a lack of motivation to study and poor study skills. I'll read throuhg sections and feel like I've memorized the facts, but then I have difficult applying them! Sometimes I'll get stuck on a question, and I'll get discouraged from studying because I feel I can't move on until I understand that question.

Currently, I'm a crammer, and my mind has grown accustomed to working last minute. Although I've managed with this approach, it's bad because I feel like I'm retaining very little. So I have a few questions that I hope current med students can answer.

1) What materials do you use to study (books, notes, both, none, recordings, notecards, highlighters...etc)?
2) How long do you study?
3) Do you read aloud to memorize, read in your head? Are you a visual or audatory learner?
4) Any other tips for good study skills (this could be in your opinion, or web site references to learn good skills...anything!

I'd appreciate the input. I want to tone my study skills so I can retain the material--like a catelog