How Hard Is A&P1?

GeneralJinjur · Jan 26, 2008

Have you taken any biology before? It has a lot of information about cell metabolism and if you have some familiarity with the subject, that is helpful. There is also a lot of rote memorization. By the end of the semester, you'll have memorized the majority of bones, at least the same number of muscles, all sections of the brain and the 12 cranial nerves. I enjoyed the class a lot because I learned so much.

birdy88 · Jan 27, 2008

I've been taking it now for a couple of weeks, so I can't say I know how hard it will be, but from what I know so far its just a lot of information and it can get complicated trying to keep it all straight in your head. Everyone told me it was a lot of new terminology and a lot of information but not necessarily difficult information to understand. And they were right so far. I'd say go for it, I havn't even taken very many science classes before this one and I'm doing okay so far. The best thing I can say is to read ahead before your semester even starts. Get the textbook and read the first couple of chapters and make notes. You dive in pretty much the first day. I'm reading ahead and not only does it keep me from being overwhelmed at the sheer number of pages I'll have to read, but it allows me to understand what the teacher is talking about during lecture, that way I'm not learning it for the first time, but the info is just being reinforced. So far its helped because I've been confident on our quizzes when alot of people are just guessing and don't really know the info. Good luck!

RXtech · Jan 27, 2008

I'm just 2 weeks into it myself, so I don't have a lot of experience to offer. But I will say that I wish I had taken the time to read "Chemistry for Dummies" or something like that. Our instructor taught high school chemistry, so maybe she goes more in depth than most, but I'm really scrambling to get all of it.

ggabri07, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2008

Its not that bad especially if you are interested in learning about the human body and how it operates. It does require a lot of reading so get ready read a couple of chapters and expected to know a great deal of detail about the body. If you need any help PM me :)

Music in My Heart · Jan 27, 2008

I thought that neither anatomy nor physiology were particularly difficult. They are voluminous and you must be a disciplined, consistent student. They are not conceptually difficult subjects, though.

WANT2NURSE · Jan 27, 2008

For me, it wasnt that it was hard, it was just a lot of information. I took the class and lab as an intersession and did it in 2 weeks, luckily i made an a and b. Overall its very doable you just have to put in the time to study for it because its a lot. good luck!

Mom2Chaos · Jan 27, 2008

I just started A&P II and finished A&P I last semester with an "A". I didn't think it was difficult... it was actually pretty interesting (We ALL have a body that works pretty much the same way).

I am in school "late" at the ripe age of 44. I WOULD recommend biology or chemistry, as it may help but overall I think you will be fine if you study and read the material.

:specs:

jorhyne · Jan 27, 2008

I took it in a 5 week format last summer (followed by AP2). That was fast and furious and it is all a blur now. I just remember tons of rote memorization and using flash cards to drill the info in my brain.

rebelette10 · Jan 27, 2008

The best advise I can give you is memorize, memorize, memorize! Definitely go over your notes every single day and night like clock work. Also, get some tracing paper and draw your bones, organs, etc. and label them over and over so that you'll know them with your eyes shut! I'm not trying to scare you but it's just alot of information. I took A&P 1 in the summer online and it was very fast but I made a B on it. I liked A & P 2 better but I took it in the Fall of last year, so I had more time to take it. But like I said, if you study and apply yourself, you'll do good. If you need any help, I have some notes and powerpoints that someone sent me that are very helpful. Good luck!!

Konnie

hair_tie · Jan 29, 2008

It really depends on the person. You have to realize that you are going to be doing alot of studying. In my class there are people complaining because they have to study alot, they work full time jobs and then go do what they want to do and study when it fits in then get mad because they aren't doing well. We don't read too much in my class, the teacher prints up notes with the important suff on it in terms we will understand better.

I would suggest tutoring if you aren't getting it. We are doing cell stuff right now which is the hardest part and the most boring but not so horribly hard that I want to run. I am taking this over because I tried last term and the teacher would read his notes say ok you guys shold know it now this is easy, no explaining and no asking questions, so after 3 weeks I decided to drop and take it next term which I am glad. My teacher explains it all really well and we can ask questions and he tries to connect what we are learning to every day things in our life.

It isn't "easy" but it's not horribly hard either. In my school we aren't required to take biology first, which angers the teachers, but it should be. There are people who have no idea about what makes up a cell. I took it 12 years ago but it has still helped.

Good luck!!!

cmonkey · Jan 29, 2008

I took it online and it was an easy A. I'm using Springhouse Notes A&P study guide and that's been a blessing.