Is A & P difficult to get into?

CarVsTree · Nov 23, 2003

Are there any community colleges near you? May have an easier time getting into the class there. Plus it will be a LOT cheaper.

Also, continue to check back in case someone drops early on. It is very frustrating to not be able to get into a class you need.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

Ditto what Sue says. CC classes are cheaper and much smaller giving the opportunity for cooperative learning. As far as instructors, one of my A&P instructors was an MD, board certified in internal and emergency medicine. Another was Ph.D.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

Think no matter where you go A / P I is a crowded class.

Trick is to apply for the section you want as early as possible.

I got into the class this semester (CC) at the very last moment by speaking with the department chairman in person, and by agreeing to accept placement into any section immediately upon a previous enrollee's cancellation.

Got into the A / P II class I wanted next trimester by signing up on the first day of open registration.

SirJohnny · Nov 23, 2003

Skybirdrising:

- For A&P 101. If the class is filled. Find out when the last day to add classes is. Then start pestering the professor and department chair - become a pain in THEIR butt.

- Also, just go ahead and attend the lecture(s) and lab(s). Keep hounding the professor. I mean totally hound these people to death. Someone - somewhere will listen to you.

- Regarding books. Until you get your "petition to enter closed class" slip signed - use the texts in the library. A&P101 is such a standard course - that the material used now is the same as 10, 20 years ago. So any textbook will be fine to start with.

- Seriously, go talk to the professor NOW - and start talking to them. Don't let some pea-brain in admissions tell you what you can and can't do -- take charge.

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- I am in the same situation as you are with regards to Microbiology at University of Southen Indiana (Evansville, Indiana).

- First time studens are put at the bottom of the registration list - can't register until day before classes. Bunch a crap in my opinion.

- I've already called the professor 2 or 3 times. Am keeping my fingers crossed. School doesn't start until Jan 13th -- so will be sweating it until then.

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- Thing is, that for both A&P as well as Microbiology, at least 20% of the class drops before the 2nd or 3rd week. Less than 50% pass on their first try -- so lots of attrition -- meaning lots of open space once the semester gets rolling along. THis is why I say to just show up.

- Will see what happens.

John Coxey

SirJohnny · Nov 23, 2003

Skybirdrising:

- One other thing.

- Go ahead and sign up for A&P102. The sequence in A&P does not matter. Lots of people in my college (Ivy Tech) are taking A&P102 before A&P101.

- See if you can jump into Microbiology at PURDUE -- This too, should be one of your prerequisite courses.

- If both are filled, then hound the professors for BOTH classes. Become agressive and take charge.

- Yes, I would rather have PURDUE on my resume than IVY TECH, but if worse comes to worse, go there. You are in Indiana (Purdue), so Ivy Tech would be the community college you would need to talk to. They have like 25+ branches all over Indiana. Just make sure the credits transfer.

Hope this helps,

John Coxey

iliel · Nov 23, 2003

John makes some good points, however, at my CC it's not that easy. There are huge signs posted everywhere that say a prof will NOT sign you into a closed class. If you show up on the first day and you are not registered then you have to leave. There are no adds, the only way to do it is to keep checking the computer for open spots.

Also, we reg by alphabet that rotates so every 6th semester (besides summer) the A's -D's go first. I think it's the only fair way to do it. this year I'm on the 3rd day at 8am-12 noon, last year I was able to get my A&P class so I think this year it should be ok to get my Micro, if not, I'll take it online.

As far as registering for A&PII, the computer doesn't allow us to register for a class unless we've taken or are 3 weeks into the pre req course. Plus, there are a lot of things I learned in A&P I that have been applied in A&PII.

Good luck and keep trying, I know there's not much you can do when your last on the list but someday you'll be first! (BTW, try to take enough units to get you to Sophmore status.)

Cali · Nov 23, 2003

At my school A&P are two separate classes. Anatomy is hard to get into but Physiology is not. ( Don't know why)

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Nov 23, 2003

Just sharing ideas here. I'm just about done with A / P I.

With respect, don't agree with the suggestion to take A / P II before going through the first module. In class, our prof has repeatedly made comments such as "this will be further clarified in II," or "these concepts will make greater sense (or be expanded upon) next semester."

To me, the prob with doing II out of time would be that besides needing to comprehend what's being presently covered in II, you'll need to deal with all the stuff that was already addressed in I. (And don't believe the Teach would appreciate too many questions on the material supposedly taught and tested in I.)

And you'll be at a definite disadvantage vis-a-vis your fellow students.

Personal opinion: think going ahead with II before I could easily backfire.

Jrnalist2RNinOR · Nov 23, 2003

Personally - I WOULD NOT become a pain in the instructor's or department chairs butts....

these people have a lot of control over your life in the future and you may have to take courses with them over the next couple years and they will keep seeing your name over the next four years (assuming that you are a freshman)

Remember - that professor has to sign off on your add slip to let you into his/her class - and they dont have to if you have been making their life miserable - sure you could go to the department chair - but if you're making their life miserable too - dont count on help from them either....

I would recommend sitting in on the class - as long as the professor allows it - get permission - speak with the professor daily about the add slip - just remind them - but dont pester....

You dont want to be a thorn in their side....however, it that is sort of obvious....since they will also be grading your papers...

I think taking classes at a community college while going to a univ. would be a pain in the ass...and then when you need to have things transfer later on - it may get messy- just be careful about that....

Good luck though and hope you get in - and remember - when you are a senior it'll be worth it!!

then you can laugh at everyone who was in your position....

try to volunteer and do internships - employers love 'em....

AmyLiz · Nov 24, 2003

The best thing to do is to register for the class on the very first day that you are allowed to register and at the earliest time possible. For example, say registration begins at 8:00am on Monday. If it's telephone registration, start calling at aroung 7:59am and keep hitting redial until you get through. If it's an in-person registration, be at school as early as you can and stand in line. If it's online registration, be on the computer at 7:50am.

Early bird gets the worm. I've not been closed out of any class that I have needed because this is how I register.

A friend of mine got closed out of a class she needs (A&P II, coincidentally), but she went and saw an advisor who said that she should try to add it after the tuition due date, because a few folks may be dropped because their tuition was not paid. She also said to check back at the first week of classes if that didn't work, as many folks may drop on their own.

SirJohnny · Nov 24, 2003

AmyLiz:

- I would love to have registered early. However, the University of Southern Indiana has a policy that new students (1st semester there) can only register the day before classes start.

- I am a non-degree seeking, first-time student at this college. So I am put way way down at the bottom of the list. So I have to fight (as I see it), to get into the Microbiology class.

- I took my A&P classes at Ivy Tech Community College, and am hoping to take Microbiology at Univ of Southern Indiana (as Ivy Tech does not offer Microbiology).

- Then, am transferring (already approved to do so) the credits up to the nursing school in New York.

- Yeah, it's a juggle -- trying to hold down full-time job and teach 2 nights a week, do the nursing thing. Then get it all transferred up to New York, then fly back and forth to clinicals in New York every other weekend.

- Am going to call Univ of Southern Indiana this moring and see if the class is filled yet or not. Hopefully, I am sweating over nothing -- but will see what happens.

- The total irony of the situation -- I already have two undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree -- yet they don't have any bearing on my standing with Univ. of Southern Indiana. What get's me even more - is that 50% of the students will fail Microbiology -- just like they did with A&P 101 and A&P 102.

- So the game continues.......

John Coxey