Smart book

The smart book can encompass various things. The people who coined it (I think), used it to refer to it as a place where you make notes on questions from uworld. But I like to think of my smart book as much more.

Some people use a hard copy version where they write it into a book and some people type it up.

I will go through my version of the smart book, and you can decide what route you choose

For me, I used the program Microsoft OneNote. Alternatively, if you wish to follow suit and don’t have office, then you can use Evernote since I heard that this is where OneNote got its idea from.

Here you can make tabs and sections.

I made a section for each system, Cardio/Renal/Pulm etc. as well as the basic systems, BEHS/Micro/Immuno

» I then made a subsection with which I added notes from uworld under each heading.

»*NOTE* this can be time consuming since given the nature of uworld, you cannot copy and paste, so I would write down each on a piece of paper and type it up at a later date. Eventually it becomes easier.

»Additionally I had a subsection for various tables/diagrams that I found helpful that I found online, from FA or uworld or any other resource. Eg. (Heart murmurs or different shock types)

»Finally I had a third subsection for where I made notes from FA on the facts that I frequently forgot so that I could make note of these instead of always opening up FA.

»Lastly, I sometimes had a subsection for mnemonics that I found helpful.

So just to summarize, I had a section for each system and under each system, I had a subsection for uworld notes, FA notes and for tables/diagrams found from many resources.

In this essence I was able to create my enhanced version of a smart book that went beyond the original definition and became something more.

The only thing that I will warn you off is that this is time consuming and during your dedicated period, we tend to become stressed over things, and using time for things other than memorizing or reviewing, can make us nervous.

So try it out and for the very least, have a book where you keep your uworld notes, be it computer, hard copy or even in your FA. The choice is yours.

How to use it

• Actual usage should be to read a small amount every night but for the majority of people I know, this didn’t happen
• I guess the drive wasn’t there and personally for me, I only went through my smart book the couple days before the exam and that is perfectly fine.
• Everyone is different, and most people prefer to read notes they made, so try to make reading your smart book enjoyable so that you don’t leave it to the end like I did.

 

Screenshot of how mine looked