Have you ever had an AP class where everyone is failing?

[diana10]

I took anatomy and physiology 1 this summer, even though I knew that it was going to be a tough one. I wouldn't say that I was prepared, but I wasn't UNprepared either. I was able to keep up with the lecture, asked the teacher things that I did not understood, I even went to a tutor to expand my knowledge about our topic. First exam came, I was feeling confident. I made flash cards, read the book repeatedly, listened to the lecture that I recorded over and over just to make sure I did not miss anything. I was sure that I was gonna get a good grade, but when the results came out, I got C+ My seatmate, who was also in the same introductory biology class that I had, got a C-. I was disappointed with my score because I studied my behind for it, but I got over it because it was only 5% of out overall grade and swore to myself to work even harder. My seatmate's score was what surprised me. She seemed really knowledgeable about the lesson, always participating and it was obvious during the first day of the class that she did her reading because she could answer all the questions the teacher threw at us.

Just like what I told myself, I worked even harder for the next exam. I went from 8 hours of studying to 9-10 hours everyday, including the hours I spent looking through the microscope to figure out tissues and identifying if whether the tissue is a simple squamous or whatever and where it can be found. It was a good thing that I have no job an kids/little siblings to look after because studying was all I did for the whole 8 weeks. So when the second exam came, I was, once again, feeling okay about it. I was hoping for a B, but to my shock, once again, my score was C+.

I started asking myself what I'm doing wrong. I talked to the teacher about it, and she said that I should work harder. So work harder I did. By then, from the moment I woke up (5 or 6am) until before I turn to bed (9pm, 11pm every friday), I was either reading or writing or listening to recorded lectures or memorizing stuff or understanding stuff. Of course, I took breaks, not including the times when I'm at class and the travel from my house to there. I also asked my classmates if I could join their study group. During our study sessions, I noticed that they really know what they're talking about. One was an LPN, the other was taking AP1 for the second time, the other has a degree in anthroplogy, basically everyone but me has either a degree or was working in medical field. I felt left out, but at the same time really happy because it meant that I'd learn much more from them.

Third exam came, my confidence started to dwindle. The third exam was about ANS and PNS. I understood the questions and I answered them with confidence, but by then, only a little. To be honest, I was no longer shocked to see D on my results. I came to class and asked my study buddies what their results were. To my utter surprise, their test scores were even lower than mine. The LPN one got an F, and my seatmate got a D-. That was when I started to ask everyone in my class. All 9 of them (we started with 21 and by the end of the term, only 9 were left, including me) got D's and the highest was C+ (79.43).

I thought I was the only one who was failing the class because I really expected them to have B's or A's. In the end, my seatmate also dropped the class. I, being a stubborn person, continued on with the class even though I knew I'd get a really low grade. And low grade I got. My final grade was D, and now I'm on Alert 1 status, meaning that I have to take an online class to make sure that I'd still be able to sign up for classes next term and I only have 3 more strike before they dismiss me.

I need to retake AP1 again this fall. Sigh. I sacrificed a lot for that AP class, even my waistline (I gained 5lbs because I did nothing but sit). Don't get me wrong, despite all the hardships, I fell in love with AP, and even though I epically failed my AP class, I would love to take it again. I just hope I'd do well this time. I started writing flash cards once again (my mom threw them out because they were all over my room) 2 weeks ago and I have started reading the book.

And also, if it's okay, could you guys give me tips as to how to do well in AP1? Thanks!

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

First of all, I think taking A&P in the summer is a mistake. You are trying to cram 16 weeks worth of work into 8 and that is hard. Also does your school offer tutors? Ours does and I know it is helpful to those who are struggling. I think you studied too much to be honest. There is only so much info you are going to retain in a day. What I am wondering is what concepts were you struggling with or perhaps you just didn't understand the way the teacher taught. I have come to learn that if my professor mentions something more than once it will most likely be on the test so I make sure I highlight that if she mentions it several times. Maybe you just need a new professor to teach it. Mine makes sure we understand the concepts completely before we go on to the next section. And she does a lot of analogies to show us how to relate. I know many kids who go to a big nursing college in Indy end up coming up to our campus to take A&P and then transfer it because our professors are so great with it.

[queserasera, RN]

I took A&P II over the summer and managed an A. Over half of my class failed too.

I did well in it by being able to teach the subject to someone else. That way I was able to critically think about each subject and truly understand it.

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

Taking a summer class doesn't mean it's accelerated. There are sessions where the summer classes can either be 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 16 weeks. However, it does sound like your professor did something wrong if nearly everyone (I guess everyone?) failed the class. I recommend speaking to the Dean of Sciences because when professors fail an entire class, that only looks bad on one person: the professor.

Of course, if the professor is tenured, you're screwed.

[SmYle4PeDs, BSN]

Does your professor provide a study guide? If so, I would go over that after each class. Re-write everything. Quiz your self from the things that are on the study guide. I took two summer session classes. A&P 1 it was 5 1/2 weeks and a&p 2 it was 6 weeks. I got a B in a&p 1 and an A in a&p2. I'm now in a 4 week micro class, and so far so good. I go over the syllabus and study guide and read the text book. Also, YouTube videos and Khan academy

[mrsboots87]

Sounds like your instructor was crap. When an entire class fails beside a small handful, the instructor did something wrong. Di you ever ask to review the tests? or did you notice weird questions that seemed like they weren't taught? I bombed A&P 1 with a C-. Like a few less points and I would have gotten a D. But I got mostly A's and a couple B's up until that point. I studied hard for AP1 and was in the 16 week course. The instructor was crap, but by the time the first test came around, it was too late to drop and re enroll in another class. I use financial aid and was only part time, so dropping meant paying back my aid and not getting a refund on the class so I had to tough it out. We started with 24 students, and on the day of the final had 5 left including myself. Only one student got an A, the rest failed, dropped, or got C's. THe student who got an A was a premed student who was ridiculously intelligent and seemed her could pass any class he took. THe instructor literally just read the powerpoints the author of the book makes. If asked any questions she would repeat the the info from the powerpoints and never expand on it. I read the chapters and took notes and still bombed all the written tests because the questions were worded weird or on subject I don't remember being reviewed. THe only reason I got a C was because I aced all the visual/lab tests, like histology and skeletal, and brain and that stuff. I knew the material but the teacher was crap. The entire class gave her bad end of year evals and many complained to administration. Luckily she wasn't tenured and was not given a contract to return the net year thankfully. Basically, it sounds like your instructor was not very good, and you should complain. I have been there and it sucks. And since I got a C in the class, if I retake it, the new grade will post to but the old grade still stands. If I had failed it, I could retake it to replace the grade. Looking back, I kind of wish I had intentionally bombed it to retake it with a different instructor for a better grade.

[Apples9847]

My A&P 1 class started out with 33 by the end of the semester there were only 7 people left (including myself).

[RNitis]

Mine was not A +P, but the second class in nursing (I honestly can't remember the name as it was a long time ago!), but I failed first try- fail was a C, I got a C -) anyway, it took a few semesters of a majority of the class failing and many students complaining that they were studying like crazy to no avail for the school to realize it was the instructor, not the students...after I took time off, I took the class with the new instructor and got an A. Big surprise, right?! (The original instructor was asked to resign, which she did. And it later came out she was intentionally making the class harder than its level to "weed out" who could and could not handle the remaining nursing classes...which was obviously not in her control). Good luck with everything!!

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

If you felt like you knew the questions and had confidence going into a test, but ended up getting a low score, that usually means you didn't know the material as well as you thought. One recommendation I have is to take a couple hours to analyze your quizzes and tests, and ask yourself why you got the questions right or wrong (yes, look at every question even the ones you got correct). Sometimes it could be due to the way the questions are framed, but most of the time you will realize that you just didn't know the stuff.

Also, reading/listening/asking questions are only a small part of learning. The big part is questioning yourself. During and after reading a chapter and or lecture, test yourself by asking yourself questions. Use your lab book's exercises so you can identify anatomical structures (I usually make copies of lab book so I can reuse the exercises). Don't just be a passive learner (reading and listening), learn by testing yourself or explaining physiology to yourself or others.

[Compassion_x]

It's hard stuff to learn in a short amount of time. It's understandable that many would fail.

[juniper583]

Our A&P I class dropped by almost half by the time the semester was over. A&PII wasn't quite as bad. Read over your notes everyday. Make flashcards. I ended both I&II with over 100% and my instructor was proud of that fact that those were the two hardest courses (excluding nursing specific classes) on campus. You can do it!

edited to add- for admission to the nursing program both A&P classes had to be passed with an 80% or better.

[ShelbyaStar]

I haven't had AP as a nursing prereq yet but did have to take that and a similarly really difficult class in animal sciences (y'all think human stuff is hard? Try remembering the differences between horse and llama ovaries on top of all that, LOL). The average grade on tests was typically a 50-60% and it's a big slap in the face when it's the first class of its kind that you've taken.

The thing is that typical modes of study don't work for classes like this. In most classes, you just need to memorize stuff well enough to be able to pick it out on a multiple choice question. In AP, you need to really know it and understand it.

My dry erase board was my best friend. Draw and redraw diagrams. Make flowcharts of hormone pathways. Make compare/contrast charts. Pie charts. Explain it to other people. Draw some more. Flash cards are helpful and necessary but you need to go a step further.

Hopefully since you're retaking it you have a foundation to build upon and have a bit of an easier time with it. I would definitely do as you're doing and read ahead and try to reteach yourself some material before class even starts. I am taking AP in the spring and will be spending Christmas break doing the same thing.