How to Eternalize Your Study Notes

MCAT Adventure: Pathlight

Journey Goal

How to Eternalize Study Notes Goal

Explore the image to find out more about this MCAT journey...

WHY?

Let's face the truth: most notes aren't actionable.
If they are in a nice notebook, that's terrific: but they are hard to access.
If they are a flash card, that's better: but flash cards have an extremely small half life.
Ever wanted a note system that reflects reality? Where you could grab a note, go for a jog, and it retains its shape?
Find out how to do this below...

MCAT Adventure: How to Eternalize MCAT Study Notes Goal
Colored Writing WeaponsMCAT Drawer OrganizersLamination SleeveLaminatorStudy CardStudy ScissorsSticky Notes

Colored Writing Weapons

MCAT Adventure: The Best Fine Point Markers

See the options here: https://mcatadventure.com/product-category/writing-weapons

While I adore Sharpie pens, I often prefer the bold confidence their fine-tipped markers offer. In fact, I use them more than the pens.
Give these MCAT Fine Point Color Markers a spin.

As an artist, I am incredibly picky when it comes to pens. Having spent a lifetime weeding out the best: I finally decided on a hierarchy of sizes:

 Fine Tipped Pens: Black and Color + Fountain Pen
 Fine Tipped Markers: Black and Color
 Regular Sharpie Markers: Black and Color

The hierarchy of size and variation of color allows your sticky notes to emphasize what is important – to create a reference note worth preserving. After all, that is how the Amino Acid Legend was first conceived.

 

MCAT Drawer Organizers

These AWESOME plastic organizers not only make your drawer useful: they create portable stations for you to efficiently move and get stuff done.

Get them here

Lamination Sleeve

Scotch has amazing lamination sleeves that allow you to cut through the laminated area without the plastic detaching.

Get them here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VBXB48/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mcatadventure-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B007VBXB48&linkId=c10db94ac08cd6ec038a437e415e2d60

Laminator

A laminator is not only a cool office supply: it is an ideal MCAT study tool.

https://mcatadventure.com/product-tag/laminator

Study Card

Learn how to make a great one one in this tutorial...

Study Scissors

MCAT Adventure: MCAT Scissors

It may seem trifling, but having a handy, reliable pair of scissors nearby enables you to scratch many creative study itches.

We recommend this brand:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZ9HPEA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mcatadventure-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00FZ9HPEA&linkId=289c730492e26a18fd6aa770fe172525

Sticky Notes

Behold: the ULTIMATE MCAT Study Tool

The ULTIMATE study weapon.

You are not perfect. You will make mistakes. Sticky Notes acknowledge this, and allow little room so that you can summarize key points for what you are reading.

They are portable, cheap, and trash-able. Most importantly, you can follow our lamination study tactic: stick the best, most comprehensive notes into a laminating sheet and preserve it forever.

① ALLOW easy access to supplies

%

Done

WHY?

Let’s face it: if it isn’t
accessible, you won’t use it.
That is why setting up your study environment
is so important.
The same goes for filing away
MCAT information into your brain.
Take time to make your own
sticky note system to save time later.

MCAT Adventure: Eternalize Study Note: Ideal Access to Study Supplies
NEVER

*Think, I’ll do it later: Do it NOW.

ALWAYS

*Ask: Is the stuff I need easily accessible within three seconds of my time?

TIPS

Try using drawer dividers:
making drawers more functionable
and less for storage.

② MAKE a note worth keeping

%

Done

WHY?

The sticky note system
isn’t merely a reinforced flash card:
it is surrendering to the fact you aren’t perfect.
The only items you will bring
into the MCAT are your brain, body, clothing,
and Test Day bag. Make tons of sticky notes attempting
to best consolidate information.


This is a crucial part of this study process.
Simplicity is key. Think of this as neuronal pruning.

NEVER

*Overdilute information.
*Only focus on material you already know.

ALWAYS

Try to draw create a simple mnemonic or picture.

TIPS

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.

③ ADD the note to the note bin

%

Done

WHY?

Your brain works this way.
Useful neurons survive.
Useless ones die. Place the survivors in a bin to be laminated: preserved and “eternalized”.

NEVER

*Let your note bin become your trash bin.

ALWAYS

*Empty your bin at least weekly.

TIPS

*Treat this like a study factory.

④ TURN on laminator

%

Done

WHY?

When your study bin starts piling up,
turn on your laminator.
It takes a few minutes to heat up,
so doing it before you
get your supplies prepared saves precious time.

TIPS

*Need a laminator?
Here are our
recommended options.

⑤ PLACE note in laminator sleeve

%

Done

WHY?

Time to laminate!
To be cost-effective,
maximize your laminator sleeve space by
arranging your notes.

NEVER

Overlap your notes.

ALWAYS

*Allow at least some space between your notes.
*Ensure none of your notes
fold on themselves.

TIPS

Place the adhesive side
of the sticky note
toward the central groove.

⑥ FEED sheet into laminator

%

Done

WHY?

If this is your very first lamination:
the heat seals the plastic
and preserves your precious note.

NEVER

Crookedly feed in the sleeve.

ALWAYS

*Gently nudge the sleeve in.

TIPS

*Line up the sleeve
between the two laminator
tray grooves.

⑦ CUT out the notes

%

Done

WHY?

The notes become more
actionable when separate:
you can shuffle them, tape them to a wall,
use them as weapons, etc.

NEVER

*Cut sloppily

ALWAYS

*Use awesome scissors

TIPS

The beauty of the Scotch Laminating Sheets
is that the sealed components
rarely come apart once you cut.

⑧ TAPE concept notes

%

Done

WHY?

Your brain is a network of neurons.
Make a network of sticky notes on your wall
or window. Use this thicker adhesive tape
on the back.

TIPS

Keep your tape accessible:
you may use it often.

⑨ ADHERE to environment

%

Done

WHY?

Ever heard of a memory palace?
While we often forget names,
we rarely forget locations:
adhere memories to locations so you can
recall them on Test Day.

NEVER

*Put your note up and forget about it/ignore it.

ALWAYS

*Try to have fun:
Burnt out?
Go “visit” your note.
Snatch it and go for a jog.
It’s pretty much waterproof.

TIPS

*Prioritize the note’s “noticeability”
by how badly you score
on a concept.
The lower the score,
higher the noticeability.
Red is the most noticeable color.

⑩ STUDY actionably

%

Done

WHY?

The point of all of this was
to wield your knowledge, lest it is purposeless.
That’s why we sell a thermos and pillow
reminding you of the Amino Acids.
Tether the ignored to the memorable and use it.

NEVER

*Ignore your laminated beauties.
*Be afraid to trash and redo a note.

ALWAYS

*Ask: why bother learning this?
Come up with a good answer.
*Face these “fears” and turn them
into joys.

TIPS

*Using this cheap thin tape,
you can create a manipulable concept map,
that you can take a picture of
and later attempt to recreate.

*Try teaching:
explain the concept in basic terms,
and think about where your “eternalized” note is.

*Recreate the note for someone.

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