Is Micro harder/easier than A&P?

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Ok, I just finished up an 8 week course of A&P 1, and have started an 8 week course of A&P2. I am considering taking Microbiology in a summer session (which is also 8 weeks) but am curious - is micro more difficult than A&P?

I don't know a lot about it, what's covered, how lab is, etc. So I'm wondering if it's manageable.

I'd love your input.

Thanks!

I did not have any regular bio before Micro. I took A&P I and II and then Micro. I found Micro to be about the same level of difficulty as A&P. I acutally found Micro super interesting with all the gram stains, viruses and bacteria. If you've taken A&P you'll do fine in Micro.

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Yeah, I took chemistry and bio before taking micro because at our cc it required. I think it was a help to know all the cellular organs because they are discussed at every lecture so it was a help to have that knowledge.

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I will be finished with A&P 1 and 2 by the time I start micro - I just don't have any other biology or chemistry. So it should be fine. I just really can't decide if I should do the summer 8 week course...or the full 1? Each of my A&P classes were only 8 weeks...so I'm thinking it's manageable??? Anyone else done it?

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i havent done it but know several that have and they say that is the way to go.... the prof only throws out the material you need for test,none of the "filler material" that a whole semester requires....

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I personally thought that micro was harder than A&P, but I got an A in it. So if you did well in A&P you should be ok for micro as well. I was a biology major so I had a lot of bio and chem background before I took it (where i went to school basic bio and chem is a prereq), and I imagine it would be pretty difficult without at least having had a basic bio class first. But I think with hard work, it shouldn't hold you back too much. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

It's doable. I did anatomy in 6 weeks and got an A. Now I am doing micro and physio his semester. Not hard. Micro is a lot of facts and memorizing while physio is more conceptual.

Good luck.

BTW. Biology and chemistry are pre reqs to micro and physio. If your schools don't req one or the other, or sadly both. That's pretty bad because it helps link all the classes under the umbrella of science.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.
Do you feel it's necessary to have had Biology or Chemistry as a pre-req?

Uh yea

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I am taking A&P 1 and micro together this semester, so far I have aced both my test and labs are pretty straight forward. At the beginning Micro and A&P1 were teaching the same things so that was nice to get a double dose. For some reason I am more fascinated with Microbiology :)

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you do need chemistry for micro in my school.. and it is somewhat necessary to have it.. when u put the equation for cellular respiration and they are like c6 h6 ?? what does all that mean.. having that background helps.... and in bio.. when in my lecture are first portion of the first test is based on organells of the cell and their function. the teacher doesnt go over that in class she assumes you already and should known that from bio 101

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OK, so I completely understand that there are prereq's for micro in most schools....but my question is... can I do it in 8 weeks - or should I just stick with 16?

I do not plan to take chemistry or general biology. The biggest reason is that I need to be done with microbiology no later than december, so that only gives me the summer semester and the fall semester. So I don't have time.

Again, I was able to do A&P in 8 weeks and aced the lecture and lab with an A. There were only 10 ppl that made an A out of 68...and most everyone in the entire class had already had biology 101 and chemistry. I had neither! I went into the class with zero knowledge, chose the hardest professor in the school, and worked my butt off to earn that A. It was not easy by any means, but I learned a TON!

That's why I'm asking - is it possible to do the same in Micro in 8 weeks?

Or is it SO much harder than I should just completely forget about it and stick with 16 weeks?

Most ppl recommended that I not take A&P in 8 weeks, but that's the only way my school offers it and I did it and used it as a test for myself. Now that I know I was able to accomplish that, I'm just wondering if it'll be the same for micro.

So basically I do not plan to take any other pre-req's prior to micro - I apologize for the confusion. I just want to know how difficult it really is - so much harder than A&P that I should forget about completing it in the same time frame?

Thanks everyone - I REALLY do appreciate everyone's help!

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I just checked the pre-req's for my school - it is general biology OR A&P 1 - and I'll have A&P 1 and 2 before starting micro.

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You should do fine in micro-- considering you took Ap1 in 8 weeks and aced it. Besides, in ap the 3rd chapter is about cellular organelle/ metabolism. I think you will succeed in micro. Don't be too stressed about it. It's just like another science class. Seems like science is your area of perfection :).

My college does not have an option of taking science courses (or any others) in 8 weeks. We have that option only in summer. But I like the idea of getting classes over with in a shorter session.

Good luck!

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