How I Got a FIRST CLASS Degree Studying PHARMACY in the UK

Summary

In this educational video, Yasser, a senior lecturer and antimicrobial pharmacist, shares his journey to achieving a first-class honors in pharmacy. Despite not being naturally smart and initially struggling, Yasser emphasizes the importance of efficient studying methods over note-taking. He introduces active recall and spaced repetition as key strategies to combat the forgetting curve, which he credits for his academic success. The video is aimed at students who aspire to excel in their studies, offering practical tips and study techniques to improve exam performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Yasser, emphasizes that he is not naturally smart and had to work hard to understand topics, dispelling the myth of effortless academic success.
• 📚 Yasser discloses that he was not initially accepted into pharmacy school and had to retake assessments, highlighting the importance of perseverance.
• 🕒 He admits to being inefficient with study time, spending more time in the library than actually studying, which is a common struggle among students.
• 📈 During his first three years of study, Yasser was on track for a 2:1 degree, but he improved his study methods in the fourth year to achieve a first-class honors.
• 🚫 Yasser advises against the common practice of note-taking and highlighting, which research shows to be inefficient study methods.
• 📝 He recommends creating flashcards with potential exam questions based on lecture content instead of traditional note-taking.
• 🧠 Yasser stresses the importance of active recall and spaced repetition to combat the forgetting curve and solidify information in long-term memory.
• 📆 He suggests a study schedule that includes immediate self-testing, re-testing after one week, and again after one month to reinforce memory.
• 📊 Yasser shares that his final year performance was crucial as it contributed significantly to his overall degree classification.
• 🔗 The speaker provides additional resources for further study techniques and invites viewers to follow him on Instagram for more tips.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by Yasser, the senior lecturer?

The main focus of the video is to provide tips on how to achieve a first-class honors in a pharmacy degree, particularly for students who struggle with studying.

What are the three disclaimers Yasser gives at the beginning of the video?

The three disclaimers are: 1) He is not naturally smart and has to spend more time understanding topics. 2) He is not efficient with his studying, often spending more time in the library than actually studying. 3) He was on track for a 2:1 grade in his first three years of study before improving to a first-class honors in his final year.

Why does Yasser emphasize that he is not naturally smart?

Yasser emphasizes that he is not naturally smart to inspire students who may feel overwhelmed, showing that hard work and study techniques can lead to academic success even without being naturally gifted.

What was Yasser's initial academic performance before pharmacy school?

Yasser initially got three C's in his assessments and had to retake them to achieve three A's to get into pharmacy school.

What study technique does Yasser advise against in the video?

Yasser advises against the traditional note-taking and highlighting method, stating that it is an inefficient way to study.

What alternative method does Yasser recommend for studying pharmacy topics?

Yasser recommends creating flashcards with potential exam questions based on lecture slides and then practicing answering those questions as a method of studying.

How does Yasser suggest students should test themselves with the flashcards?

Students should test themselves by trying to answer the flashcard questions without looking at the lecture slides, and if they can't answer, they should review and practice until they can.

What is the phenomenon that causes students to forget most of their newly acquired information within a week?

The phenomenon is known as the forgetting curve, which indicates that students tend to forget a significant portion of information soon after learning it.

What two study techniques does Yasser use to combat the forgetting curve?

Yasser uses active recall and spaced repetition to combat the forgetting curve, ensuring that information is retained in long-term memory.

How does Yasser suggest students should schedule their practice testing throughout the year?

Yasser suggests that students should practice test themselves immediately after learning new material, then again after one week, and then after one month, with additional testing closer to the exam date if it's further away.

What was the impact of Yasser's study techniques on his final year and overall degree classification?

Yasser's use of active recall and spaced repetition in his final year helped him achieve a first-class classification across all modules, which significantly pulled up his overall degree grade.