The Bucket Method: How I Got A 3.9 GPA In Med School (With Less Than 5 Hours A Day)

If you're fed up with studying endless hours in med school (and still not seeing results)... Start using the exact study system i used to learn quickly, retain more in med school - without late night cram sessions.

For the last 8+ years, I’ve been teaching pre-meds, medical students, and future health care providers how to finally see the grades they’ve always. It’s the same approach I used to get a 3.9 GPA in med school:

If you want to either get better grades, keep your current grades with less time, or (and possible) – get better grades with less time – then this is THIS is the study system to do it.

The kicker:

It’s actually super simple.
(Smart students tend to overcomplicate things 🤯)

I call it The Bucket Method. 🪣🧠

It’s the exact system I’ve taught to hundreds of med students over the past 8+ years—and the same one that helped me:

✅ Get the grades I needed to be competitive for residency & cardiology fellowship 🏥
✅ Have free time to spend with my then fiancée (now my amazing wife, daughter, & our mini Goldendoodle 🐶)
✅ Never pull an all-nighter or cram for any quiz, exam, or even board exams 🎓

If you’re tired of studying more but not getting better results, this method will change everything. 🔥

My Studying [Used To] Suck

When I started med school back in 2015 – I heard all of the horror stories of how hard it would be.

And sure enough – everything I was told was right!

10+ hours of studying. Poor grades. Lack of sleep. And severe amounts of doubt if I could do it!

I knew absolutely nothing about how to study effectively, how to manage my time, and what I needed to do to become a happy and successful med student.

But I wanted to make sure that my medical journey was a positive experience! Not just a necessary evil to become a doctor.

But after hours and endless cycles of trial and error – I figured out the basics.

Then I figured out how to optimize every step along the way!

My 10 + hours of studying a day turned into 4-5.

My lack of sleep turned into no longer having to pull an all-nighter.

My poor grades completely flipped around. And I ultimately graduated with a 3.9 GPA while crushing my board exams.

My severe doubt and imposter syndrome were crushed. And I got into my #1 choice for residency and a competitive cardiology fellowship.

I was able to go from the typical stressed out med student to one who was happy & successful!

Sounds like the perfect combo no?

Let me explain how...

Since 2016, I realized that learning in med school (and beyond) was as simple as filling up a water bucket.

The filled up bucket represents your retention going into a test.

The goal is simple:

Before any quiz or test. Maximize how filled the bucket is.

Now there’s one big problem.

Our bucket has holes. Lots of tiny ones.

So it becomes a game of filling the bucket (ie. learning new things) and filling up the holes (ie. remembering what we’ve already learned).

Thus our study system has to effective in both:

✅ Help you learn new material quickly & effectively (tough when you have full-day lectures + a mountain of flashcards 📚)
✅ Give you enough time to review so you don’t forget it all (hard if your study schedule is a mess ⏳)

💡 But don’t worry—I’m going to show you how to do both in just 3 simple steps.

It’s the same system we teach other med students to get results like these 👇🔥.

[Case Studying] How Tanya went from failing to a's In just Weeks

When Tanya joined us, she was burnt out.

She had tried everything — rewatching lectures, typing notes for hours, and still barely passing her exams. The worst part? It crushed her self-esteem.

She started to wonder if she was even worthy of going into medicine.

But after just one week of working together and implementing the Bucket method – she was going from C’s to the best grades in the entire class!

Instead of studying longer, we taught her how to study smarter — using a personalized strategy based on her goals, strengths, and schedule.

We cut the fluff, focused on high-yield methods, and rebuilt her confidence.

Within a few weeks, Tanya didn’t just pass.

She ranked at the top of her class — all while preparing for her dream to serve in rural and global communities.

See her results below!

"Can't Believe How Much I Retained And How Well I Did On My Last 3 Quizzes! I'm Shocked!"

"This Is Life Changing For Me"

"Best I've Done On Exams Yet!"

And it can work for you as well...

Now if you are struggling to see results on your medical journey. Studying way too long to get below-average to average grades … and are willing to put in the work to optimize your study system … then pay close attention to every word on this page.

The Bucket Method solves 3 big problems for med students:

"I'm studying way too much and not seeing the grades I want"

Feel like you either have to spend 25 hours a day to remember information well enough to get a respectable grade?

The Solution: One study method that helps you learn as quickly as possible. One study method (sometimes the same one) to plug up the holes and avoid forgetting. Thus your bucket stays full going into test day.

“I’m spending way to much time trying to learn information and always behind”

Do you always find yourself behind on lectures. Always feeling sense of anxiety that you can’t even get a solid first pass of the material, much less two or three.

The Solution: A predictable study schedule where you know when to review information the first, second, and even third-fourth before an exam.

"I'm tired, burnout, and don't have any time for myself or other extracurriculars"

Do you know that you need to get your grades in order, but also just don’t have any more time in the day to fix your problems. On top of this – do you know that you need to be taking care of yourself plus trying to be competitive for residency & beyond – but have no idea where to even find the the time?

The Solution: A study system that grows and optimizes over time so you’re identifying “fluff” quickly, reducing your study time, and using the free time on yourself & resume building activities.

Here’s how you create yourself a study system that is always filling the bucket.

Step 1: Identify The Quickest Study Method That Helps You Maximize Reps

Here’s the good news – there’s no one right way to study and learn information.

But there are tons of wrong ways for med school (because they take too long).

So here’s the question to ask yourself.

“Of the study methods I’ve used in the past – which allows me to get to learning and reviewing the quickest?”

If you need some ideas – I’ve included some of my favorites in this video.

And if you want an example of a method that has gotten over a million views on YouTube – check out this video below.

If you want to do a simple test – ask this question:

From the second I learn something in lecture or the syllabus – how much time does [insert study method of choice] take me to get into the first learning/review pass.

For methods such as flashcards – this can be minutes. For methods such as outlines – this can be hours.

Pick the quickest method you can see yourself sticking to.

Here’s the good news – there’s no one right way to study and learn information.

But there are tons of wrong ways for med school (because they take too long).

So here’s the question to ask yourself.

“Of the study methods I’ve used in the past – which allows me to get to learning and reviewing the quickest?”

If you need some ideas – I’ve included some of my favorites in this video.

And if you want an example of a method that has gotten over a million views on YouTube – check out this video below.

If you want to do a simple test – ask this question:

From the second I learn something in lecture or the syllabus – how much time does [insert study method of choice] take me to get into the first learning/review pass.

For methods such as flashcards – this can be minutes. For methods such as outlines – this can be hours.

Pick the quickest method you can see yourself sticking to.

Step 2: Create A Predictable Review Schedule That Makes The First & Second Pass Simple

Most students struggle with step 1. So they never get this far.

But now that you’re here – let’s talk about the way to improve your grades just by doing some pre-planning.

Answer these two questions:

From the day you learn new information – how long until you review it? (ie. If lecture is today I will review it within 48 hours)
After the first pass – how long until you review it again? (ie. Within 7 days of my first review – I will do my second pass of each lecture).

Now you can just plug and chug each lecture into your weekly schedule.

Here’s an example:

Easy part? You can make up any rule as long as you’re getting at least two passes before a quick and ideally three for a test. (The third pass can be the week of the exam)

Step 3: Keep The Bucket Filled With Free Recall

Again our goal is to keep the bucket full.

Step 1 & 2 fill up our bucket at a predictable rate. And the reps are going to help minimize the holes (ie. forgetting things)

Now we need to work on continuously identifying weak spots & remembering past info quickly.

How?

You need a free-recall method.

This often can be the same study method you’re using. (ie. Flashcard tools like Anki will show you weak content overtime so you can ensure you’re weak topics are being addressed).

Or you can use one of my favorite tools.

A whiteboard.

I call this the Brain Dump.

It’s pretty simple.

1. Take a lecture you’ve reviewed (ideally recently).
2. Try to recreate the main points from memory (don’t try to make it pretty, you’re going to erase it shortly)
3. Focus on the gaps – when you know there was something in the lecture that you can’t quite write out by memory (ie. Maybe you know there were 3 side effects discussed in lecture but can only remember 1 of them right now)
4. Finish off the rest of the lecture you can remember and then identify what the gaps are that need filling (these are the holes in your bucket)
5. Go back to your resource (syllabus, notes, etc.) and identify what you were missing.
6. Repeat the process.

Because I’m not trying to make my whiteboard be Instagram worthy – it takes me 5-10 minutes per pass. Each pass is faster.

Ultimately I’m left with little to no gaps.

And that’s it.

Here’s a few reasons why this works to help you get better grades in med school:

You fill your bucket quicker (ie. you pick the quickest study method)
You’re filling the bucket at a predictable rate – you have a predictable study schedule for your first two passes
You’re filling up your gaps to keep the bucket full – you’re using a free recall method to identify what you thought you knew but didn’t.

Now you’re probably wondering…

“This all sounds nice, but are students getting results with this?”

Here’s just a few examples of our success stories:

"made a 90, 100s on my quizzes aye!"

"I Saved 2-3 Hours Of Studying A Day. I'm really Surprised!"

"I Got A 93 On My Immuno Test."

"i got a 91 on my quiz this morning"

"got an 80 on the exam! definitely a very significant improvement."

"I Feel Like I'm Actually Finally Studying"

"I Got 93% For Anatomy And 83%
For Histology!"

So yes it has worked and has continued to.

The best part is the simplicity.

The 3 step Bucket Approach is the same way I learned in med school & in cardiology fellowship.

And once you have your study method & system – you will likely get faster and more efficient.

My study method ultimately went down to 4-5 hours max in med school because of this.

Now it's your turn. Here's how...

If you’d like to see how we can help you create your own study system that works smoothly & gets you results… you have two options:

Option 1:

Take the step-by-step process I laid out here, watch the videos, and give it a go on your own. Again it’s not complicated. There is no “secret”

I just figured out how to revere engineer how to learn quicker so I have time for what and who I care about.

Option 2:

You can work with myself and our team of coaches to support you through each step of the process. Save time, stress, and avoid the risk of more sub-par grades.

Med Ignite is a study coaching service for future health professionals that makes it nearly impossible to fail at getting better grades.

We combine proven step-by-step study strategies, with 1:1 coaching and peer support so you’re never overwhelmed, stuck, or left wondering what to do next.

How Med Ignite Improves Your Grades

Our 3-Step Process

1. We build you a custom study plan to improve your grades

We analyze your current study strategy, set your dream 4 week goal and map out every last step to hit it—so you no longer have to figure it out on your own.

2. We coach you through implementing your plan

Execute your study plan with your very own 1-on-1 study coach and have access to our entire team of study experts to help you with studying faster, remembering more, and preparing for exams with confidence.

3. We Microanalyze your Entire Study Calendar

Use the help of your study coach to improve your time management, guarantee free time for yourself, and set up a plan for upcoming exams

4. You get access to our entire library of proven strategies & programs

Get access to our entire library of courses, videos, and eBooks on studying, time management, clinical rotations, board exams, residency, and more!

5. Have Unlimited Access To Private Group

We are invested in your success even after your 1-on-1 coaching is finished. Get access to our Private Chat Group with our top study coaches to help you with study strategies, board prep, getting into med school/residency, rotations, and more.

Ready To Get Better Grades
Yourself In Less Time?

LEARN LIKE A PRO, STUDY LIKE A PRO, GET PRO RESULTS.

Join The Med Ignite Study Coaching Program

Want To Get The Grades You Always Wanted Without Extra Time Or Stress In Just Weeks?

What's Included In The Med Ignite Program

1-on-1 Coaching Sessions To Create Your Perfect Study System
Personalized Study Calendar So You Know Exactly When To Work
Entire Master Study Blueprint That Lays Out Your Entire Learning, Review, And Test Prep Strategy
Weekly Check-Ins (At Least) To Optimize Your Results
Lifetime Access To Our Entire Library Of Video Courses And Books For Every Phase Of The Medical Journey
Plus Direct Access To Your Study Coaches To Help You On Anything You Need

Apply Below!

This Was Made For You:

Did you know that the number one reason medical students struggle is not due to their intelligence but because their studying techniques are completely wrong?

It’s true. Some even spend 10+ hours a day studying and still fail their exams.

If you’re reading this – I’m guessing that you’re also struggling. Or maybe you just want to do better in school without spending more hours!

Here’s the problem you face: most students spend way too much time on “studying” techniques that don’t work for them and will never get them results.

If you’re one of these students – this means you’ll be spending years of medical school only to end up with…

Subpar Grades
Hundreds to thousands of hours wasted
An average application for your future residency and career choices
Less confidence
Serious doubt if you picked the right field
Risk of a lower salary (and a likely growing student loans)

Luckily for you, there’s a solution.

Let me introduce you to the Med Ignite Coaching program – a fully personalized 1-on-1 coaching program that helps any med student discover and create their perfect study system, get better grades – all in less time.

Here’s how the program works:

These are the struggles we help students with!

⚠️ “My study strategy is not working!”

✅ Use our 1-on-1 coaching calls so we can create a personalized study strategy and system that works for your learning style, your goals, your course load, and the testing format of your schools

⚠️ “I have no free time. I’m always playing catch up. I need a schedule I can stick to that works but I also need time for myself!”

✅ We’ll create a personalized study schedule for your after our first coaching call so you know exactly when & how to study, but also when it’s time for you to do whatever you want!

⚠️ “I need help with the MCAT, Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, applying to residency, and so many more things on the medical journey.”

✅ With lifetime access to our Med Elite Academy – our entire platform of video courses, books, and trainings on everything from study, board prep, rotations, residency applications, Step 3, intern year, and finances – you will always have answers to all your big and small questions!

⚠️ “I want a coach, guide, and mentor today, tomorrow, and the rest of my medical journey – not just now.”

✅ Even after your 1-on-1 coaching sessions are done, you have unlimited access to our private chat group so you can ask whatever big and small questions you have on your medical journey! Get Video Responses To Your Big And Small Questions With Practical Strategies

⚠️ “I want direct access to my coach to be able to ask any question, share my notes, struggles, wins, and get super fast replies so I can do well.

✅ You’ll be able to message me directly through our Slack group and have your questions be sent directly to my phone so I can answer you questions ASAP!

So just to review – by joining the Med Ignite Coaching program – you will get access to all the following!

⚡ 1-on-1 coaching calls so you can discover your perfect study strategy which means you’ll know exactly what to do to get better grades & where you should stop wasting your time
⚡Various coaching plans so you have the exact amount of guidance you require which means you can obtain 1-on-1 coaching for any budget or timeframe
⚡Lifetime Access to all of our step-by-step video courses on every major aspect of medical school so you can always know the best advice and strategies to follow which means you’ll always be prepared at each phase of your journey!
⚡Personalized study schedule so you know exactly when to study and when you’ll be spending to relax and enjoy yourself!
⚡Direct access to me through email and Slack so you can ask all your pressing questions which means you will receive instant feedback on how to study for your individual courses

Here's What Other's Had To Say

"This Is Life Changing For Me"

"You Have No Idea How Relaxed I Feel Right Now"

"Can't Believe How Much I Retained And How Well I Did On My Last 3 Quizzes! I'm Shocked!"

"I'm Doing So Much better!"

"I Saved 2-3 Hours Of Studying A Day. I'm really Surprised!"

Better Grades After Just 1 Coaching Call!

"I Feel Like I'm Actually Finally Studying"

Want To Get The Grades You Always Wanted Without Extra Time Or Stress In Just Weeks?

What's Included In The Med Ignite Program

1-on-1 Coaching Sessions To Create Your Perfect Study System
Personalized Study Calendar So You Know Exactly When To Work
Entire Master Study Blueprint That Lays Out Your Entire Learning, Review, And Test Prep Strategy
Weekly Check-Ins (At Least) To Optimize Your Results
Lifetime Access To Our Entire Library Of Video Courses And Books For Every Phase Of The Medical Journey
Plus Direct Access To Your Study Coaches To Help You On Anything You Need

Apply Below!

And Even More Proof This works!

TheMDJourney was the best investment I have made in medical school. Throughout my first year of school, I struggled to find a consistent way to study. Every other week I was changing my study method. Even though I was getting good grades, I had absolutely no free time, felt like I wasn’t retaining material and was constantly stressed. Lakshya helped hone my study methods, shared his success with Anki and as a result, I had my best block in medical school. On top of excelling in the classroom, I took time off from studying without feeling guilty about it. If you are on the fence about this program, you should absolutely go for it.

Nichole

2nd Year Med Student

"i was able to match uConn Ortho as a dO. Couldn't have done that without your help."

"Got an 80 on the exam! definitely a very significant improvement."

"going into quiz, i had no test anxiety, felt confident, and no scattered thoughts!"

"i got an a in chemistry, statistics and gen-ed."

"i scored the highest grades on my final exams with just the short time of implementing your system."

"i got my bio exam back. got a 100!"

"Made a 90, 100s on my quizzes aye!"

"i got a 91 on my quiz this morning"

"i passed my remediation exams. i'm going into my white coat ceremony!"

"my husband has noticed how i am working out, sleeping on time, and able to handle this workload."

"i PASSED! i was still getting the
hang of it but i passed!"

"i did so much better on my exam today because of the help from the coach call on sunday."

"i really appreciate the fact that i felt free
to speak. i didn't feel judged or
any less of myself."

"the coaching is going very well. his advice and knowledge are immensely helpful."

"I was very impressed and enjoyed her explanations and suggestions thoroughly."

"I Got My Pass Mark For Step One! So Happy."

"I Do See An Increase In My Studies/Understanding."

"I got an 80% average in my mixed
uworld questions."

"I Was very impressed and enjoyed her explanations and suggestions thoroughly."

"Nichole guided me and gave tips to help with my studies and time management!"

"I Got 93% For Anatomy And 83% For Histology!"

"My Scores Are The Strongest Ones Yet.

I Even Got A 100%!"

"I'm definitely feeling super confident with the rotation this far."

"got 12/15 in anatomy and 6/6.5 in lab. finally!"

"It Feels Amazing To See My Grades Improve!"

"I Got Two 86 And 100 On Skills"

"I Got A 93 On My Immuno Test."

"It's a good indicator that this
system can work for me."

"I can handle two midterms on one day right before a huge holiday! i'm surprised!"

"I made it through with less anxiety
than my other exams."

"Got back my bio post labs which
were 99, 90, and 89."

"I Benefited a lot in my study methods and seen a tremendous growth in my career."

"now with my pass (step 1), i know i
couldn't done it without him."

"I Feel Less Overwhelmed Knowing I Have A support system with amazing people like yourselves who have figured it out."

"I got a 89% in histology and 87.5% on my anatomy!"

"I got a 91.56% on my oSCE Exam"

"I'm so glad i picked you as a coach."

"I got the 2nd highest grade in the class"

"I Feel Better Because I Feel That
I Accomplished A Lot"

"We pulled a's! i still had time in
my schedule to relax"

"I've Never Felt So Prepared For An Exam"

"Best Investment I Have Made In Med School"

Nichole

2nd Year Med Student

Better Grades After Just 1 Coaching Call!

"i got a 100 on my biochem verbal exam!"

The first coaching call went very well. I feel equipped with the knowledge and tools to succeed in my next block of courses. Thank you for answering all my questions and concerns so thoroughly. I like the customized google calendar that you sent me.

Ahimsa

Masters Student

"I can already tell the difference"

First coaching session was awesome, was only expecting it to be a little bit of an introduction and some general recommendations, however I got so much more than that! Only a few days in to applying Lakshya's ideas, and I can already tell the difference. Stress levels reduced and productivity increasing already

Jordan

International Medical Student

"i had a shift!"

"When I started MD1 I was all over the place. I would compare it to learning how to swim for the first time and you re trying to tread water. Lakshya helped me put the pieces together. Outside of medical school I would say I’m a disciplined and structured person by nature. However, for some reason I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Maybe it was shock and the unbelief of the unrealistic expectations medical institutions have of students.

I wasn’t really sure if his program would work but I gave it a chance because I really had nothing to lose. Lakshya helped me track how I was spending my time and study efforts. I took that along with his method of how many times you should be seeing material and was able to create a practical blueprint for what I should be doing every day. Imagine someone writing you tailored instructions on how to get through medical school from day one or whatever semester you are in. What mattered to me the most was that I didn’t feel judged nor was there ever a moment where he made me feel like I couldn’t improve my grades.

There were some coaching sessions where I had literally pulled myself together just enough to be able to say I had a bad week. “I remember him saying to me you’re right there, you’re just above what you need to see improvement”, that’s when I had a shift! It’s really reassuring to know that if I have a question I have the ear of a doctor and I really needed that since being an online student in medical school has been somewhat isolating. "

Markitta

1st Year Med Student

"Dr. Trivedi Is Amazing So Far"

Dr. Trivedi is amazing so far. Just in our first session alone, Dr. Trivedi carefully listened to my experiences as a medical student - and he took a genuine interest in identifying my struggles as a student. Based on my experience, he was able to move forward with meaningful and manageable plan for improving my studying and time efficiency. I am excited to continue working together.

Carter

1st Year Med Student

"If You're On The Fence, You'll be glad you did"

"Dr. Trivedi was extremely friendly and helpful during our conversation. The same thoughtful and compassionate demeanor that shines through his videos is what you get during a 1-on-1 with him. Take the jump and commit to using TheMDJourney’s services if you’re on the fence, you’ll be glad you did!"

Kevin M

3rd Year Med Student

After Just One Coaching Call!

Coaching is going great thus far. With this being my first coaching call, i felt that it went tremendously smooth. I really felt like you was being very attentive and actively trying to come up with a suggestion that you felt would best suit me, which I really appreciated. Overall, I have the utmost confidence that this coaching process is going to go very smoothly.

Roger

2nd Year Med Student

The Rest Was history...

My study system has improved tremendously since being involved with TheMDJourney. It gave me a more solidified direction and confidence in the way I approach my studying. The biggest thing for me was understanding what I was doing wrong and why my approach didn’t get the results I wanted. Once that was identified through this program, the rest was history.

Allison D.

Pre-Med Student

Got Into His #1 Residency Choice!

I matched to my #1 in an EXTREMELY competitive residency. Sifting through board scores is one part of the equation, but your programs gave me inside info I needed that set me apart as a prospective resident.

Max M.

4th Year Med Student

"Your system has worked The best for me"

After mind mapping, taking notes on the computer, taking notes on a tablet, pre-reading lecture notes, making diagrams, I was lost on how to study because each method was simply too time consuming. Your methods from these books and course are working for me and giving me hope that having a life in medical school is possible! I have tried 10+ study methods gathered over the internet, from my classmates, and even from other books to study for medical school. So far your system has worked best for me and it has led to a significant increase in my grades and confidence.

Frank Y.

2nd Year Med Student

He's Studying Less than 5 hours a day

Working with Lakshya, is one of the best investments I've ever made in my education. Over the course of the coaching we were able to constantly improve my study strategies and time-management skills. While working with Lakshya, my grades were able to go from slightly above average, to scoring in the 90s on my exams and doing so while studying less than 5 hours per day

Jordan Y.

1st Year Med Student

"It Gave Me Some Great First Steps."

I thought the coaching call went great. It gave me some great first steps and a basic structure of what to do next. I'm not sure what I'd do differently honestly. Thank you!

Caroline

1st Year Med Student

"The Coaching Helped Me To Be More
Prepared For Residency."

I think the coaching helped me to be more prepared for residency, have a system to collect all data- second brain, be familiar with the best resources for internal medicine, and gave a system in place for reviewing stuff.

Ferra

1st Year Med Student

"The call was everything I had hoped
it would be!"

The call was everything I had hoped it would be! I felt like I learned so many ways to not only make my studying more efficient, but also more enjoyable. I don't think there is anything I would've changed about it. Looking forward to the next one!

Jenna

1st Year Med Student

"I'm very Grateful For The Overall Confidence You've Instilled In Me."

Coaching is going well. This week will officially mark the first week of my applying the coaching advice and tactics that I've learned in the program thus far. I'm very grateful for the prompt responses, quick turnarounds and overall confidence you've instilled in me. Thank you!

Mike

1st Year Med Student

"Working with you has been such a great
tool and necessity."

Lakshya, working with you has been such a great tool and necessity leading up to my board exams. You have been very patient and knowledgeable with me and couldn't thank you enough for the roadmap that you and I have laid out for future success. Looking forward to our continued relationship. Thanks!

Halstead

1st Year Med Student