Why Is Sketchy Micro and Pharm So Effective?

You may already know this, but Sketchy Micro is the original Sketchy. Like, the OG. Sketchy started when four med students who were frantically studying for Step 1 cooked up a system that would allow them to remember all of the fiddly little details about microbes they were having trouble memorizing. They based their system on the Method of Loci—an ancient Greek memory technique that places visual symbols in a memorable setting and encodes visual memory cues, like color, location and story, to unlock the ability to remember an astounding amount of facts. Scientifically backed, the Sketchy Method combines the catchiness of mnemonics and the power of visual and spatial memory techniques to improve memorization quicker with longer retention. And thus Sketchy Micro was born.

Sketchy Micro

The Sketchy Micro course helps you tackle the bugs you need to know—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, we’ve got ‘em all. Using colorful characters and unforgettable stories, we make these microbes way more interesting than the usual lecture slides. With visual memory techniques, our sketches are themed to help you remember key information—one glance at a purple-toned scene and you’ll know the organism is gram positive—and recurring symbols like our catalase cat help lock in the details. Along your path through Sketchy Micro, you’ll meet fan-favorites like our tin can botulinum bot, splash through the Giardia jungle ride, and journey to the Corona Kingdom with SARS-CoV-2.

Sketchy Pharm

After you learn about all the bugs, the next thing to learn is all the drugs. Which is exactly what our med student founders did next! The Sketchy Pharm course is a compilation of all the drug classes you need to know for Step 1, starting with Pharmacology Foundations and moving through all the essential drug classes. From antimicrobials to antineoplastics, Sketchy Pharm will take you on a wild adventure! Hit the Ace card while playing the odds in Vegas in our ACE Inhibitors sketch, and dock at Sketchy Statin Steampunk Station in our Statins lesson!

Sketchy Works

The best part about Sketchy, and the reason it’s so beloved by med students all over the world, is the concise, memorable sketches that emphasize high yield facts and enable you to recall them under stressful conditions (like exams!). Speaking of exams, even 9 out of 10 students report higher USMLE Step 1 scores after using Sketchy. Sketchy’s the perfect companion for your first year in medical school and will provide you with the necessary learning tools to review and prepare for Step 1. Still not convinced? Hear from some of our amazing students:

"My mentor at school recommended that I use Sketchy because I needed help with Micro and Pharm. I remember feeling like I was up a creek, without a paddle, hurling towards a cliff. I hated being so overwhelmed with the material, short on time, and not knowing what resource to turn to. After I tried Sketchy—everything changed." - Marcus Hendricks, MS2

"Sketchy is definitely required for microbiology. I don't know anyone who did not use Sketchy for microbiology. And that's not just at my school too. I have friends who go to medical schools all across the country, and everyone uses Sketchy for microbiology... I haven't stopped using [Sketchy] since microbiology, and my grades have gone up." - Sarah Caplan, MS2

So, there you have it! Sketchy Micro and Sketchy Pharm are super popular because they fill a distinct need to help you memorize lots and lots of information quickly and remember it for a long time. Our fun video lessons are paired with our symbol review card feature to help you strengthen your recall, as well as sample questions so you can continue to reinforce and self-assess your knowledge. We’ve got a lesson search feature, which allows you to pinpoint a keyword or phrase on topics you want to review. Sketchy Micro and Sketchy Pharm were the first courses that we made, and it’s easy to see why they continue to consistently rank among our most popular content. 

Once you’ve passed Step 1 with flying colors, Sketchy’s got you covered with everything you need for Step 2, your clinical rotations, shelf exams and more! Once you’ve started, you’ll be hooked. So check out Sketchy today and come along on the adventure!