Okay, maybe not easy.. but from what I've been hearing from pretty much everyone I talk to is: anatomy is the hardest subject you will ever take and it has to become your entire life in order for you to get a passing grade.
This worries me..
I'm just looking for some reassurance. I'm taking anatomy next semester. Is it really going to be SO hard that I will have to do nothing but anatomy for the entire semester? Is it even possible to get an A? I'm getting more and more skepticle about my abilities to succeed/get an A in this class as each day passes and next semester anatomy creeps closer and closer.
It really depends on the person. I am working on my second bachelors (1st was in psychology) and am now taking a&p 2. Most of my class mates this semester and last have been freshman. I have seen many of them struggle in our class that I consider relatively easy. I work 48 hours a week 3rd shift and have two kids under the age of 3 so I am only able to dedicate 3-4 hours a week to study. I have a medical background as an Emt which has helped me tremendously, but I also know how to study more effectively than many of the freshman students. If it is easy for you, then great! Get an A and try to retain some of the info for later in nursing school but don't stress to much about content as all of it will be recovered again in much greater depth. If you are struggling I would recommend khan academy videos, crash course anatomy on YouTube (although he talks REALLY fast so listen to these as a refresher not at first. Make study guides, do group study and answer test like questions. You can find these in many a&p books or by using quizlet. I average about a 98% on exams, but got an A- last semester because our lab is much harder than the lecture. I spend 4-5 hours a week physically in these classes and know many community college classes aren't as long or in depth.
I do have to say that AP1 so far isn't as awful as I perceived it would be.
HOWEVER... I think this could be due to a few things.
-This is my second go around at school (I hold a BS in Business Admin), I'm a few years older now, and I think I just take my studying more seriously.
-I am excited to be a nurse, and more excited about the subject material. Easier to learn.
-The class is entirely online (exams and all), so I have the luxury of reviewing material when it is easier to me. I can get myself through a lecture quicker than a professor could. I don't have any recorded lectures through my school, but I DO watch lectures on youtube from other schools which helps immensely. Since my course is almost entirely self taught, I have the curse of every tiny detail. I wasn't aware until the first exam how detailed my professor would be in her testing, or if it would be more "big picture". I learned she takes her questions almost directly from the Pearson review questions. It's a bit lazy, IMO. This is why I use youtube for a lot of my learning. I can memorize facts/look them up during an exam, but the online lectures with a good prof point out to me what is the really important things I should be learning. My husband is a PA and sometimes during my homework he makes comments that the detail we are covering is so "to the book" that it's a little ridiculous. Since my prof takes literally ALL her questions from the homework review (which, is written by Pearson) we aren't ever really tested on the big item things you would think would be important to learn. Not that it isn't all important, but you know what I mean.
-I am much more efficient at studying. I study less than I used to in undergrad, but I am much more "down to business" now. I am far less distracted and have much more of a get it done attitude.
I think a lot of times going back as an adult learner can actually be beneficial. You are choosing your path at a more mature age and are more serious/excited about it. At least I am.
I think a lot of times going back as an adult learner can actually be beneficial. You are choosing your path at a more mature age and are more serious/excited about it. At least I am.
I feel exactly the same. I'm 25 and got my Associate's Degree when I was 20. I gave zero hoots about my college education at the time and didn't care at all about my degree. This time around I'm very into it because I chose nursing and have had to work very hard to get accepted to nursing school. I do not want to mess this up or lose my career path (also, people's lives may some day depend on how well I know my stuff) so I am way more invested in the material than I was when I entered college at 18.
Galvingirl
9 Posts
It really depends on the person. I am working on my second bachelors (1st was in psychology) and am now taking a&p 2. Most of my class mates this semester and last have been freshman. I have seen many of them struggle in our class that I consider relatively easy. I work 48 hours a week 3rd shift and have two kids under the age of 3 so I am only able to dedicate 3-4 hours a week to study. I have a medical background as an Emt which has helped me tremendously, but I also know how to study more effectively than many of the freshman students. If it is easy for you, then great! Get an A and try to retain some of the info for later in nursing school but don't stress to much about content as all of it will be recovered again in much greater depth. If you are struggling I would recommend khan academy videos, crash course anatomy on YouTube (although he talks REALLY fast so listen to these as a refresher not at first. Make study guides, do group study and answer test like questions. You can find these in many a&p books or by using quizlet. I average about a 98% on exams, but got an A- last semester because our lab is much harder than the lecture. I spend 4-5 hours a week physically in these classes and know many community college classes aren't as long or in depth.