I'm feeling super discouraged right now.

A year ago I took half a semester of A & P but dropped before I could finish due to a family emergency. At that time I had taken one test and barely passed. Now here I am at my second go around and it looks like I'll be getting a "C". Sigh... should I give up? Before I was a graphic designer by degree but I wanted a change in my careers and I love working with people. Now I feel like I probably didn't study science before because I stink at it. Help!

I got a B and called it a day. I was already accepted into the program as a freshman, I was never in your situation to strive for perfect GPAs like most students now.

I wish it was just a matter of being a perfectionist about my GPA but it isn't. In Oregon they accept you into the program on a point system where of course A's give you the most points. My adviser told me they had 900 applicants into a 100 student class so I had better get A's in everything if I want a chance at getting in.

I'm taking A&P now and the semester does not end until May but I'm an A average so far. I'm a career changer and I pretty much avoided science in high school and my first time around in college because I used to think it was hard.

Like you, I used to say that I stink at it. I know this is cliche, but you can do anything you set your mind to. Get rid of the fear. It may take finding a study strategy that works for you. I quickly realized that I could not study science the way I studied other classes. I had to be more visual to really get the concepts.

It may be that you need to find a study strategy that will work better for you. Not that you just suck at it.

If possible take A&P by itself. Never take A&P with Micro. I received an A the first time I took it. I had devoted many hours to study - mostly memorize!!! Also - if you take it at a community college it's helpful. Good Luck!

You get what you put into it. Study harder! I bought supplemental readings, studied from companion websites and CDs that came with our books, found other websites to reinforce what I was reading. I took Anatomy & Physiology I & II once each and got a B+ and an A- respectively. It was not easy. After A&P I, over HALF of my class either dropped out or failed out of the class (and thus failed out of the nursing program). You definitely need to take it into your own hands to get the grades you NEED. And hey, if a C lets you continue in your program-- go with it! Just expect to have to review anatomy every now and again in your advanced classes ( I have to look things up ALL the time too).

Don't give up!!!

I bought supplemental readings, studied from companion websites and CDs that came with our books, found other websites to reinforce what I was reading.

I do the same.

There are some really great videos on Youtube. Berkeley has a full semester of A&P on youtube. The professor is great. I pick up things from her that I may have missed in my own lecture. There are 2 other guys on youtube that were really helpful to me to learn the skeleton. There are so many resources out there.

I re-took A&P only because my first time go-around was more than 10 years ago and nursing schools want recent grades. Re-took for the 2nd and last time last summer .. all A's. It can be done if you really want it!

Seconding the websites that come with the textbooks and companion CDs!!

I read the chapter before lecture, take notes in lecture, THEN re-read and take my own notes for each chapter. Then the few days/week before tests, I do all the online activities and practice tests, skim the chapters one more time, and study my lecture and personal notes. It's a big time investment to keep caught up, but totally worth it. I got an A in Anatomy last semester and right now I have over a 100% in Physiology halfway through the semester. Like you, I am also NOT a science-y person (I have a bachelor's in history, I'm a liberal arts girl at heart), but with time and dedication, I'm kind of turning into one! I actually enjoyed micro last semester, and I never thought I'd be saying that!

If you're not at one, is there a community college nearby that will transfer credit you can retake them at? Not to diss CCs at all (I've taken some fantastic classes from my local CC), but usually the instructors are a little more approachable and I've noticed the classes are taught at a different pace, and *TEND* to have a more relaxed attitude towards grades, extra credit, and curving. That's my experience only, though, and I'm sure individual schools and instructors can be widely different. But at least it would be cheaper. :)

it took me once to pass it.

Got an A the first time, thankfully. Micro and APII right now....killer.

Perhaps you can look into a good online AP course. I took both AP1 and AP2 online and received an A first time around at Alfred State SUNY college of Technology. It is one of the SUNY colleges in NY and the entire course is completed 100% online, including the lab via two different software programs. As long as you do all the reading and keep on top of the assignments, an A is easily achievable. No proctor is needed, but the tests are timed to prevent excessive use of materials. Your transcript will not show that it was an online course, but I would still check with your program to make sure they will accept the credits beforehand.

got an A in both AP I and AP II the first time

keep up the hard work everyone! Just tell yourself it's worth it!!!!!