How to "memorize" flash cards quickly and effectively

My final exam for Patho I is tonight. I made about 150-200 flashcards and now want to make sure I know them well. I found these tips here on how I can achieve that: http://www.wikihow.com/Memorize-Flashcards-Effectively

1. First off, write your flash cards, if you haven't done so already.
2. Next, arrange all of your flash cards in a grid. You should keep it to about five flash cards to a column.
3. Now with them all arranged in a grid, pick out the ones you already know. Be very honest about this, don't guess and see if you're right. You're just cheating yourself and you won't learn the material. Take the ones you know and put them aside in a pile.
   • If you know enough of them already, you might need to rearrange your grid to fill in the gaps.
4. Take the first row of your flash cards into your hand and lay down 3 cards in front of you.
5. Take the first card and read the front and back out loud. This sounds stupid, but the information will really stick if you do so.
6. Take the second card and look at what it means as well and say it out loud.
7. Now, point to the first card and say what it means.
8. Then point at the second card and say what it means.
9. Now, read the third card.
10. Now, go point at each card and say what each means.
11. After you're sure about them, rearrange the cards without looking and say what each card means to make sure you memorized the card and not the placement in the row.
12. Take the fourth card and add it to the mix.
13. Mix up the cards and say what each one means again.
14. Then, throw in the fifth card.
15. When you're sure that you know them very well, pick them all up into your hand. Go through the stack of five note cards. Say what it means and double check to see if you're right.
16. After this, put them to the side and repeat steps five through fifteen again with the next column of cards.
17. When you have memorized those five cards, join it with the other stack of five cards and run though them all to see if you know them. Again, double checking to see if you know them.
18. Continue with this process until you have all of the columns memorized.
19. Don't forget to keep adding to your stack of known cards and running though those after every new row is learned.
20. Congratulations! You learned your flash cards quickly.

Making effective flash cards.

1. Keep the questions/key word simple.
2. Keep flash cards in bag to study wherever/whenever.
3. Try and review the deck a couple times a day. Once you feel you know a card well you can remove it from the pile to focus on the more difficult areas.
4. Highlight important terms.
5. Add pictures/diagrams.
6. Colour code.

What to expect in first year.

My first year consisted of very general science and mathematics courses. The first semester I took Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Writing and Computing Tools. Then second semester I took the continuation of Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology along with Math and Foundations for Clinical/Exercise Biochemistry. The only two courses that I really felt related to med lab were Biochemistry and Anatomy & Physiology.

Don't think that because you are taking general science courses that it will be as easy as high school and slack off. These courses are pre-reqs for a lot of the courses in second year. It would also be a drag to have to spend more money on the same class because of it. In my opinion, first year is not like high school. It is a different environment that may take a while to get used to. I think the amount of freedom that you are given is the main difference.

First year may seem boring because there isn't any "med lab" courses but it will all be worth it once you reach second year.Savour first year because you'll be wishing for it in the upper years!

Getting through Pathophysiology: Update

• I have currently completed all the new material needed for Patho 1 
• I am now studying for the final that's in two weeks
• I currently have an A- in the course (woo hoo!)
• I developed a system that seems to be working:
• I have the lectures and reading completed beforehand
• Study very often for the tests
• I try to "talk"/"run through" the processes and definitions in my head without the help of a textbook or notes
• When filling out the multiple choice I like to circle key words like TRUE and EXCEPT so I know exactly what to look for
• I also like to cross out choices that I know are definitely wrong, therefore making the correct answer more visible 

Laptop Update.

• they fixed it in under 2 days and I'm picking it up tomorrow
• there is apparently insurance for the first time there is big damage
• it only cost me $25 to have it repaired 
• I got a loaner laptop for the two days it was at IT