Pre-req questions

Doug, I don't know if it would help now but you might want to think about changing your classes. You should take Bio and chem before A&P (I'm surprised they let you). For chem you might want to bush up on your basic math skills. A&P is mostly memory. It might help you to buy an A&P coloring book. Going over some basic bio might also help you in A&P. Good Luck!

Mikey's right. If you're hoping to get these classes done in two semesters, you may want to make sure that you've got your sequencing right. Some schools require basic bio before taking A & P, but it's almost a given that you'll have to take basic bio before you take microbio, and you probably won't be able to take these concurrently next semester. Or, maybe you will...every school is a little different.

All of the courses you've listed are definitely challenging, but all of them (with the exception of micro, which requires some bio knowledge) are intro/survey courses that don't require any foreknowledge of the subject matter. They'll teach you everything from the ground up, so brushing up on your fundamentals may not be easy, since it's the fundamentals you'll be learning in these courses.

Like Mikey said, brushing up on basic math is a good idea for chem. I've mentioned in another thread that my chem book had an appendix that covered the math required in intro to chem (exponents, fractions, basic algebra and a tiny bit of geometry) and also gave tips on using your calculator. That would be helpful.

For A & P, you'll certainly be learning the major organs and the bones, so if you have some extra time and really want to put some prep in, you could start memorizing those.

But my best advice would be...get the partying out of your system now! All of these classes require lots of time and attention; they're not terribly difficult if you make an effort to study consistently and never get behind. You'll do great!

I can only speak from experience and give my own opinion, which is, feel free to read ahead but be careful about delving too deeply into memorizing the material. A & P is a very complex topic with tons of material, and your professor will probably narrow down the details that you need to know. Reading ahead to get a general feel for the basic concepts and the textbook's style is never a bad idea, but I wouldn't go too overboard trying to memorize details yet. Wait to see what the prof considers important and wants you to know.

Now that I think about it, there is one thing that you will need to know and could get a start on now: understanding the anatomical position and some of the directional terms related to it (proximal/distal, anterior/posterior, etc.) These should all be outlined in your book, and you will definitely use them. Below is a page that outlines some of the concepts for you:

http://www.sohp.soton.ac.uk/biosci/anatomy1.htm

I really enjoyed A & P--lots to learn, but it's very interesting...and you can use your own body for an exam cheat sheet! The proctors in my school's testing center love it when A & P students come to take exams--they're always feeling their heads, staring at their hands, flexing their joints, you name it*

*edited to add: not doing this stuff to the proctors, obviously, but the students doing it to themselves

I would recommend the coloring book.. its not just about coloring pictures.. there's a lot of great facts in there as well.. hell it helped me to get an A!

yeah, I was gonna ask that too. I have AP I next semester and I really to pass with an A. I am willing to work my butt off for that grade. So where do you get the coloring book.

Try your school's bookstore or Amazon.com for the coloring book.