Against the Curve
Most students study hard. The problem is that the strategies they often rely on are among the least effective ways to build lasting knowledge. I learned this the hard way: an MCAT score that put me squarely in the middle of the pack among admitted medical students, followed by a complete overhaul that carried me to the top 3% on every board exam since. This series breaks down what the research actually shows about how learning works, one principle at a time. No filler, no fluff, just the evidence, my personal takeaways, and how to apply these principles to improve your learning and performance.
New posts regularly.
Desirable Difficulty: Why the Strategies That Feel Worst Work Best
The study methods that feel most productive are usually the ones teaching you the least. The effective ones feel like failing while you do them; once you understand why, you stop trusting how studying feels.
Interleaving: Why Mixing Your Practice Beats Mastering One Topic at a Time
Most students practice one topic at a time until it feels solid, then move on. The research says that approach skips the hardest part of real performance, and a simple change to how you arrange your practice can fix it.