ok so I've started my fast paced (8 week) A&P 1 course - with no background in chemistry or biology. We're using Marieb's book and the first chapter was very understandable to me, but chapter 3 is SUPER confusing. I don't know anything about cells, and it's really going over my head. I have GOT to do well in this course, and would love any advice, links, anything really that would help me master or even begin to understand this chapter. Looking through the book it doesn't appear to be as bad (for me) as this chapter. I've never been good with cells. Our test is this Friday and I would really love any help you can offer me - somehow, someway I've got to figure this out before Friday.
We are also testing on chapter 1 the same day, but like I mentioned I get that chapter. I loved lab, and feel I'll do well on the lab quiz for chapter 1 as well.
OK, wanted to send you all an update. My first lab quiz went great - I had hoped we would be labeling diagrams of the muscles but we're not - it's all what's the antagonist of ___________ or what's the insertion and origin of ___________ . Anyway, I only missed 1 problem on my first LAB quiz -- yay!!!
I don't have my grade yet, I'll have it back on Tuesday but I know I only missed one and not even the whole problem - just a portion of it. So I'll need to wait and see how she grades that, but I know I made an A.
As for the LECTURE quiz --- remember how worried I was about cells? I will tell you that I went into this class knowing nothing about the cell except that it has a nucleus! LOL! I ended up with a 72 on quiz 1 BUT I knew 3 of the problems and just kept doubting myself until I chose the wrong answers. So I would've made a B had I just trusted myself. Now I wanted all A's in this class - and still have dreams of pulling an A in the end - and I know I can!!! (we can drop our lowest quiz grade, and not count ANY of our quizzes if they don't help us).
Even with my C - I am SOOOO proud of all I learned for this quiz. The amount of information I learned is amazing, and I am SO proud of myself. I've never made anything less than an A in college, but I feel like I've learned more than I've ever learned in any of those A classes! The real shocker is that everything in chapter 3 seemed like a foreign language to me.... and now it all makes A LOT of sense!
Whew! AP in 8 weeks! I think the fact that you are reaching out for help is proof that you have what it takes to handle this.
If you have internet access, I would google cell anatomy, or cell physiology, etc. and there are several sites out there that may help. I remember coming across one that gave analogies for the organelles, etc. For example, the gated channels were the "guards" of the "warehouse" and only let certian people in or out (ex. Mr. Na and Mrs. K) at certain times.
Sounds childish maybe, but it was awesome! It really helps you get a grip on what actually goes on. Good luck to you!!
2nd lecture quiz was awesome, and midterm is in 3 days! Wow, it's just flying by!
I made a B on the lecture quiz, and I'm super proud of it. Of course I made some really dumb mistakes and it could've been an A, but I'm still proud of that B. I learned SOOOO much information in such a short amount of time. It was chapter 4, 5 and 6 all in ONE week...I learned all the tissues too - plus tons of bones in lab. Everything is all new to me - so I'll happily take the B. I never thought I would celebrate a B before taking this class!
OK - I have a new update and I am SUPER happy about it!
We had our midterm yesterday - I know .... crazy, it seems like I just started...well I did 4 weeks ago.
OK, we have 68 ppl in our class....out of those 68 only TEN people made an A on the midterm.
I WAS ONE OF THE 10!!!!!!! Can you believe it??!!! I have worked so hard, and I am so very proud of myself. IF you read the beginning of this message I knew absolutely nothing. I knew a cell had a nucleus and that was it - I had no pre-req's oer anything.
I am SO very happy to see my hard work has paid off. The cool thing is that now those quiz grades are obsolete - I have an A in this class. I have an A in lab too, but I haven't found it near has difficult.
So happy! thought you would all be thrilled for me!!!
Congrats. I got my first test grade in A&P I today and I made an 86. I would of loved an A but I am okay with this grade. Now I know how the tests will be and all the work I need to put in to make what I want. Good luck to you.
Congrats. I got my first test grade in A&P I today and I made an 86. I would of loved an A but I am okay with this grade. Now I know how the tests will be and all the work I need to put in to make what I want. Good luck to you.
You will do great! I don't know about you, but my class is fast paced - 4 months of work crammed into 2 months.
It is challenging! We have a lecture quiz weekly, as well as a lab quiz each week.
I made a C on my first quiz, and a B on my 2nd quiz. Since I made an A on the midterm my professor will drop my quiz grades! I'm thrilled about that.
well i wanted to give a final update since i just finished my crazy 8 weeks of a&p 1. i made an a in both lecture and lab!!! so thrilled i worked hard, and did what i needed to succeed. a&p 2 starts today - anoher busy weeks!
Specializes in Neuro, Geriatrics, Progressive Care.
I am in A&P I right now. What helped me: during class, instead of writing everything word for word, I would right down key words. Then I would go back and read the chapters and rewrite my notes for understanding. Then I would go through them again when I had free time. Then I would start focusing on the material, harder, about a week from the test. It's helping me......I have an A so far. But everyone is different.
I am just jumping for joy with my A. I do the same as you - go home and go through my notes and rewrite them - except I go through my voice recorder and pause it a lot to fill in everything I missed. It has worked well for me.
I am super thrilled to be doing so well in such a fast paced course. Ready to for A&P 2 which started today - glad to have both these courses over in just 16 weeks!
Specializes in Neuro, Geriatrics, Progressive Care.
Great Job! I would be jumping up and down too if I had a Final grade of an A in A&P I. So far I have an A, and I hope it stays that way. Good Luck in A&P II
I'm taking A&P I right now as well and was pretty clueless with cells, and I've managed to pass the test. My recommendation is to study, study, study!! You have to put your mind to it, really want to understand, and you will. I actually went out and bought a digital recorder for my lectures, which helps me tremendously! I also bought a A&P coloring book; I found it to be more wasteful because I felt like I spent more time coloring than mastering the actual material....but to each his own! It may not help me, but may help you. I am also going to agree with another poster about study groups. Its important to study individually, but studying with your classmates will open your mind a bit and they can teach you ways to remember things you may not have thought about. Hang in there, you'll get through it! I pretty much have accepted the fact that I breathe, eat, sleep and shower thinking of A&P stuff. Most important thing is to not give up!!! Good luck!
sk8inghunny
287 Posts
OK, wanted to send you all an update. My first lab quiz went great - I had hoped we would be labeling diagrams of the muscles but we're not - it's all what's the antagonist of ___________ or what's the insertion and origin of ___________ . Anyway, I only missed 1 problem on my first LAB quiz -- yay!!!
I don't have my grade yet, I'll have it back on Tuesday but I know I only missed one and not even the whole problem - just a portion of it. So I'll need to wait and see how she grades that, but I know I made an A.
As for the LECTURE quiz --- remember how worried I was about cells? I will tell you that I went into this class knowing nothing about the cell except that it has a nucleus! LOL! I ended up with a 72 on quiz 1 BUT I knew 3 of the problems and just kept doubting myself until I chose the wrong answers. So I would've made a B had I just trusted myself. Now I wanted all A's in this class - and still have dreams of pulling an A in the end - and I know I can!!! (we can drop our lowest quiz grade, and not count ANY of our quizzes if they don't help us).
Even with my C - I am SOOOO proud of all I learned for this quiz. The amount of information I learned is amazing, and I am SO proud of myself. I've never made anything less than an A in college, but I feel like I've learned more than I've ever learned in any of those A classes! The real shocker is that everything in chapter 3 seemed like a foreign language to me.... and now it all makes A LOT of sense!
Thanks to all of you for the encouragement!!!