Getting Ready for Micro

[unmarooned]

I'm finishing up my pre-req's this year, but I was looking for some advice. I'm planning on taking Medical Microbio in the Spring. At my school there is no pre-req for the class, BUT I feel like I may need a refresher, since I haven't taken a general bio or chem class since high school (almost 10 years ago!). I will have A&P under my belt, will that be enough? Or should I take something like BIO 101? Something else?

Thanks!

[AtomicWoman]

I'm finishing up my pre-req's this year, but I was looking for some advice. I'm planning on taking Medical Microbio in the Spring. At my school there is no pre-req for the class, BUT I feel like I may need a refresher, since I haven't taken a general bio or chem class since high school (almost 10 years ago!). I will have A&P under my belt, will that be enough? Or should I take something like BIO 101? Something else?

Thanks!

In my school, A&P I and II were prerequisites, OR BIO I and II. I had the A&P courses done, and they were plenty of background for Microbiology. As long as your school doesn't teach it with an organic chem emphasis or something like that, you should be fine. Micro is a ton of information, but the labs are pretty straightforward.

Good luck!

[penelopelp]

You might want to look into a book that would provide you with a refresher. I did that with Algebra once because I needed to know it for my teaching certification. It had been 10 years, so I bought a review book and worked all the problems until I knew what I was doing. I passed the test.

[smilbig]

Much of the medical micro that I took was a more in-depth look at things we covered in API. There is a book by Barron's called "Microbiology: The Easy Way" that was actually recommended by my professor since the textbook was so technical and difficult to read. Something like that (available at Barnes and Noble) might be a good purchase prior to starting class. I don't know that I learned anything in either AP class that would make me say to definately take them first. It may help, but as long as you listen and ask questions, you'll be fine.:wink2:

[kalima09]

I was in the same situation last year (10 years since high school and never took chem)...you shouldn't worry. Micro is a difficult course (and can be intimidating), but as long as you're interested and don't fall behind, you'll do fine. Good luck with everything!

[unmarooned]

Thanks, guys. I will definitely check out tthe Barron's book. It's good to hear that it can be handled without the extra classes. That's a load off my mind.