Prereqs - Is A&P That Difficult?

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Hi all,

I have 4 prereqs to go. A&P 1 and 2, Microbiology and Intro to Biochemistry. I'm thinking of taking Intro to Biochemistry and Microbiology together (during the Summer) and taking A&P 1 & 2 one at a time (next Fall and Spring) because I've read that A&P should not be taken with any other class. This plan will take an extra semester to finish. Can someone let me know if this schedule makes any sense? I work full time if this makes any difference. I guess my definitive question is: Is A&P that difficult that I should take it by itself?

Thank you!

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It depends on what kind of student you are and how much time you need to put into something in order to retain information.

For me, I took A&P I in an 8 week session in addition to my normal 12 credits last semester. It was stressful at times, but I ended with a comfortable A. I put in my hours studying, but I wouldn't say it was excessive since I did have other classes to worry about. This semester, I am taking A&P II along with 14 other credits. I also plan to take Micro over the summer to finish in time for Spring applications.

Overall, it was hard but not so hard that I needed to take it by itself or quit my job. Do you only need science pre-reqs? I might feel differently if I had to take A&P with another science.

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I am taking A&P I and psychology right now. I am fine with this work load but to take II I have to have I done. My school doesn't allow you to double up on A&P. I couldn't image taking both on at the same time. There is so much information to take in with just one A&P but I also work full time. If you think you can handle it than great. There is a LOT of work in this class and terms to know and how it all works I would be afraid to start mixing things up! Best of luck!

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Thank you both for responding. All I have left are science classes. My advisor suggested that taking too many sciences at once can be overwhelming, especially if taken with A&P. Having to work full time doesn't help.

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Yeah I hear you.. I spend lunches studying, before class, after class, and weekends. To say i am tried is an understatement! I would be worried about mixing up the different sciences by taking them at once. The first few weeks of A&P has been a bio, microbio, and chemistry overview. So, take those first it will give you the first few weeks to focus on lab and learning the bones. :) The first day of class the teacher asked how many people have taken the class before and i kid you not more than 2/3rd raised their hands!! I went whole cow! Did they not realize the first time what they were getting into and put everything they have into it and make it count? I dont want to pay for this class twice! :)

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Reading on here I've seen people say the A&P pairs well with Micro, so that's something to do some more research on. Maybe someone else here can tell you about their experience if they did it.

If it were me and I had to double up (I'm so Type A and worry all the time about finishing college "on time" so I would probably do it if I was in your situation), I would take A&P I and Micro together, then A&P II and Chemistry separate. And I'd take Chem first because it bleeds into A&P quite a bit in the beginning, like the PP said. At my school, A&P II covers more systems than I, so I might think about pairing I with Micro and then taking II separate. To get specific. ;)

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I agree that taking 1 hard science course at a time is a good idea. At my school we take Anatomy and Physiology separately. I took classes like psychology, health, etc. concurrently with both and got an A in both. They aren't that difficult if you put in the study time. One thing that is really helpful is to get a study group together in your classes, and meet up a few times a week to go over everything.

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I mean, I'd they are the ONLY other classes you are taking and are organized and committed I don't see why not. Last semester I took A&P among my 17 credits. This semester I'm taking A&P 2, Micro, Advanced English Comp and developmental psychology. While I work part time with 2 kids. So if you have no other classes or responsibilities I don't think it's that bad, but I also understand and retain information very easily so my view is a bit biased.

If you did double up I would do A&P with Chem and micro with A&P 2.

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Thank you all so much! I will consider everyone's suggestions.

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At my school, a student cant take A&P 2 without first finishing A&P1; and we cant take Micro without first taking a Biology and a Chemistry. If you do want to double up, I would take A&P1 and Chem, then A&P2 and Micro. I just started back at school again today and the first thing my A&P2 teacher said was don't take this class with another science. But it all depends on the student, so if you think you can do it... Do it! And good luck

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Specializes in Public Health.

I doubled up all my sciences because I retain and understand information pretty easily. I worked full time plus part time and I took at least 15 cr each semester. I was busy but not overwhelmed. Still had a social life too, it's all about prioritization and organization.

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When I was working on prereqs, I decided to take A&P by itself. I went to college close to home and had the opportunity to easily take the class at my university during the summer.

1st semester (fall): Pre Nursing, Statistics, and Medical Ethics (12)

2nd semester (winter): General Psycholgy, Sociology, Developmental Psychology, Organic & Bio Chemistry

Summer (1st half): Anatomy and Phys 1 with lab

Summer (2nd half): Anatomy and Phys 2 with lab

I finished my prereqs after that, and I had no problem getting admitted to school the following May. It's really up the the individual when it comes to anatomy. I wouldn't take a jam packed schedule with it, no matter what. There's just no way to have enough time to really learn everything when you're worried about 4 or 5 other classes

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