Anatomy & Physiology: experiences?

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So, really, in your experience how bad is it. What school did you take it from, and what supplements did you use (if any) to help you with the course/lab?

What are the labs like?

I'm enrolled in A&P 1+Lab for my freshman year this Fall.

Specializes in Neuroscience.

I had a horrible teacher for A&P 1. She was good with biochem, but beyond that - useless. I got an A in spite of her, because I made myself get one. This required about 30 hours a week of study OUTSIDE class. It's so worth it though. The info is not rocket science worthy but it is so much so fast that it can be overwhelming, and you have to know EVERYTHING despsite the fact that maybe only 1/4 will ever appear on a test. Study everyday, and I mean it. People in my science classes that do poorly do so because they treat it like some kind of blow off that they can coast by with and then they get the test back and wonder why they failed. I also noticed that those that simply tried to memorize but not look at the big picture of WHY things are the way they are, also didn't do well.

For me I went to lecture, got my notes, and read that section in the book, and reviewed my notes like a storybook everyday until test day. Always had someone quiz me the day before an exam as well. I never read ahead (waste of time, because my teachers omitted and jumped around a lot in the book), used study groups, flashcards, coloring books or taperecorders. Those things don't work for me, so I'm letting you know that you can get an A even without those.

Muscles was the hardest section. All those action, origins, and insertions...my god. Half my class dropped after that exam. My teacher was over the top about how many we had to know though, and admitted so later on.

Favorite unit: the cardiovascular system. I LOVE the heart. Favorite system, favorite organ, just...the heart is

I really enjoyed A&P 2...thought it was more interesting overall, and I had a teacher that knew outside info as well that contributed to the topic.

It was a long 7 months, but now that I'm done I am fascinated by how much more I know about the body, how it applies to other sciences, and my life.

Good luck. you'll be fine. I was shaking so badly my first day of A&P1, but I MADE myself succeed.:smokin:

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I took A&P over the summer, which means 16 weeks crammed into 6 very fast paced weeks, then in the fall , I took Micro, A&P2, Nutrition, and Eng. comp 2 all at once. It is a lot of work, but if you can dedicate your time to study without fail, organize and manage that time efficiently, you should fair well. I got A's in all, so it is doable..however, understandin/comprehending everything you've just memorized, is a completely different thing...

It's not that I won't have time to study, I'm more worried about my ability to study. Despite making high/perfect grades on my entry exams (except math) there is a part of my that feels...sluggish. Maybe it's my age? :)

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I had a horrible teacher for A&P 1. She was good with biochem, but beyond that - useless. I got an A in spite of her, because I made myself get one. This required about 30 hours a week of study OUTSIDE class. It's so worth it though. The info is not rocket science worthy but it is so much so fast that it can be overwhelming, and you have to know EVERYTHING despsite the fact that maybe only 1/4 will ever appear on a test. Study everyday, and I mean it. People in my science classes that do poorly do so because they treat it like some kind of blow off that they can coast by with and then they get the test back and wonder why they failed. I also noticed that those that simply tried to memorize but not look at the big picture of WHY things are the way they are, also didn't do well.

For me I went to lecture, got my notes, and read that section in the book, and reviewed my notes like a storybook everyday until test day. Always had someone quiz me the day before an exam as well. I never read ahead (waste of time, because my teachers omitted and jumped around a lot in the book), used study groups, flashcards, coloring books or taperecorders. Those things don't work for me, so I'm letting you know that you can get an A even without those.

Muscles was the hardest section. All those action, origins, and insertions...my god. Half my class dropped after that exam. My teacher was over the top about how many we had to know though, and admitted so later on.

Favorite unit: the cardiovascular system. I LOVE the heart. Favorite system, favorite organ, just...the heart is

I really enjoyed A&P 2...thought it was more interesting overall, and I had a teacher that knew outside info as well that contributed to the topic.

It was a long 7 months, but now that I'm done I am fascinated by how much more I know about the body, how it applies to other sciences, and my life.

Good luck. you'll be fine. I was shaking so badly my first day of A&P1, but I MADE myself succeed.:smokin:

Yeah, I reckon the first day or 2 of A&P 1 is going to determine how I study. I have classes, mind you, on Mon/Weds (Math and English), then A&P+Lab and Into to Psych on Tues/Thurs. Hopefully I'll be able to work out a viable study program.

I notice that many, many, many people state that they do so much better in A&P 2 than in 1. What does A&P 2 cover exactly?

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How hard A&P is, absolutely, 100%, depends on your professor.

I 100% agree with this statement. If you have a bad professor, it seems that no amount of studying will help you. I have a fabulous teacher. So A&P 1,2,3 has been easy for me.

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Yeah, I reckon the first day or 2 of A&P 1 is going to determine how I study. I have classes, mind you, on Mon/Weds (Math and English), then A&P+Lab and Into to Psych on Tues/Thurs. Hopefully I'll be able to work out a viable study program.

I notice that many, many, many people state that they do so much better in A&P 2 than in 1. What does A&P 2 cover exactly?

I don't think the material is "easier." But for me, A&P I was new and required a new way to grasp and understand the information, therefore a new way of learning how to study. Once you get into A&P II, you will be familiarized with how to study. Also, A&P I complements the second part and it comes together in a way that you understand it better. But if I was thrown into A&P I again, I could easily make an A because the concepts would not be new.

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I don't think its hard at all. Its just a lot of material and you have to put in the time to learn it. If you put in the time, its not difficult material to grasp. But its not the kind of thing that you can cram for or afford to fall behind in and think you can easily catch up. You have to stay on top of it. Break it down in pieces and study every day.

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I am taking A&P 1 with lab this semester at Broward College in Florida & so far its not as hard as I expected, the lab it basically looking at blood smears & cells.. Its is a lot of studying and lots to remember.

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I would suggest that you study from real pictures and not drawings. The truer to life the pictures are will increase your chances of making a good grade. I just finished A&P II in May. I think the biggest issue I faced in lecture was actually figuring out the best way to study for the tests. Spending as much time as possible viewing pictures online, in an atlas, or in the lab with models of anatomy will trully benefit you. I did not spend money on anything extra for studying. I used what came with my anatomy book. Also, studying for tests at least 3-4 days ahead of time will increase your memory of lab and lecture notes. You will learn names of bones, muscles, organ systems, and how those things generally work in A&P I, and go in more depth in A&P II. Overall it is a very interesting class.

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I am about half way through an eight week summer session of Anatomy and Physiology I.. it is fast paced. Our class is four nights a week, and I am at school probably 6 nights just to get extra lab time. Our "lab time" is unstructured, where we can study which ever models we need to. Our professor meets us the extra two nights a week to go over anything we are unclear on. It isn't too terrible: if you do not have a full time job or lots of other commitments. I am a stay at home mom to two small children and a husband and am doing really good. But I think, if I had a job on top of taking care of my girls, it would be really rough. In a 5 or 8 week class, I suggest to read the chapter... but don't spend all of your time in the book. (This is coming from someone who spent hours in previous classes outlining chapters.) Spend more time on whatever the professor gives you (hand outs, powerpoint, study guides). I use the "myaandp" website, all the time, there is help on there for labs and lecture exams. I recommend taking the quizes on the website to identify where you are weak and go back and study those areas more. I also used the atlas of anatomy (came with our text) a lot for the histology section, and drew my own pictures of what I saw under the microscope. The anatomy is pure memorization, spend extra time at school if possible with the actual models that your prof. will use for the lab exams. I make photocopies of any diagrams my prof hands out, tons of photocopies, I draw the structures and label them and then label the diagrams. You don't want to memorize the diagram in order, you have to understand where the structure is, not just its place on a diagram. I guess I really don't think that Anatomy and Physiology is that terrible... if you really want to become a nurse and enjoy learning about the body you can make it fun to learn. I bought the coloring book but have not used it : ( Good luck!!! Its a lot to learn but again, if you enjoy what you are learning it is a lot easier.

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I wanted to clarify, about the full time job... I am a mom and that is a full time job- but I am in my house where I have access to my text. My poor kids, they are learning right a long with me.. we kind of make it a game. If I were working out of the home things would be a lot harder for me. I really wish you luck, I bought a ton of supplemental materials only to use a few of them. I guess, I am lucky that my prof gives a lot of hand outs and I don't really need the extra things. (And also do not have time for them.) But the website is an invaluable tool for you.

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I think the most important thing for doing well in A&P lab is to spend as much time as you can in the open labs hands on! Hands on was key especailly with bones and organs! It just isn't the same as pictures. If you don't have alot of time to allot to being in the lab, then flashcards, altlases, and the anatomy and physiology revealed cdrom were also good investments.

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I would say notecards are the BEST memorization. It's what got me my A I needed to get into the nursing program. I spent hours and hours a week on that class. I would prepare yourself. I have to say though. Now that I am in the nursing program I wish I was back in those classes. It does prepare you for the amount of work you are going to have to put into your nursing classes. I made up my own notecards. I put two piles of stuff I knew and stuff I didn't. Then I went throught the ones I didn't until I knew them. Then went through all of them again to make sure I knew the information. It was lots of time, but it was well worth it. Good Luck! Really just depends how you do on memorization how much time you will spend.

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