Stuck..AP Related

queserasera, RN · Oct 24, 2013

I did poorly in the 1st half of A&P I and it wasn't until I made it my own that I succeeded. I went from 70's on my exams to over 100's. I learned to make a story out of the material, and learn to explain it to my fellow classmates. I know that sounds vague but try and teach others, that aided me more than the hundreds of flashcards.

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2013

I noticed that I spend more time making flash cards than I do studying. But I don't know how else to succeed. Obviously, it worked in the beginning, and is now not working anymore. There's just so much information, and I'm overwhelmed. Starting to think that perhaps I chose the wrong career path.. :/

Marsha238612 · Oct 24, 2013

I noticed that I spend more time making flash cards than I do studying. But I don't know how else to succeed. Obviously it worked in the beginning, and is now not working anymore. There's just so much information, and I'm overwhelmed. Starting to think that perhaps I chose the wrong career path.. :/[/quote']
Don't say you picked the wrong career just because you had a test that you couldn't ace. You just have to find what study strategy works for you. For me flash cards did not work. I rather read the chapters and watched a video or two related to those chapters (youtube). I always aced my tests that way.
Find what works for you, you have time to figure it out, you still have a 90% average grade.
Good luck :)
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Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2013

Don't say you picked the wrong career just because you had a test that you couldn't ace. You just have to find what study strategy works for you. For me flash cards did not work. I rather read the chapters and watched a video or two related to those chapters (youtube). I always aced my tests that way.
Find what works for you, you have time to figure it out, you still have a 90% average grade.
Good luck :)
Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Well, the really hard part is that she doesn't test on ANY of the book's materials, it's all what's on her powerpoints. Flash cards was working for me really well, that's how I got the great grade on the first one. I'm just so beaten down. I got a 77 on the histology quiz as well, and I'm just so spent. I don't know what else to do.. :/

MyOwnBlueSky · Oct 24, 2013

This is really good advice from Chealsea. My AP professor says that you don't really know it until you can teach it to someone else.... Like Chelsea said. And if you have no one to teach, say it out loud to yourself. Some of my classmates even use the whiteboards located in private study rooms in our library and they talk it out loud to themselves.

My professor also says that AP is not about memorization, it's about understanding the concepts. Good luck!

Marsha238612 · Oct 24, 2013

Well the really hard part is that she doesn't test on ANY of the book's materials, it's all what's on her powerpoints. Flash cards was working for me really well, that's how I got the great grade on the first one. I'm just so beaten down. I got a 77 on the histology quiz as well, and I'm just so spent. I don't know what else to do.. :/[/quote']
Uhm have you asked your other classmates what they are doing to prepare for exams? Remember that just because the teacher bases her exams on powerpoints, it does not mean that reading the book won't help you.
My professors for both AP I & II used powerpoints but I still read the chapters it made so much more sense and it was far more interesting. At the same time it helped me ace all my tests.
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Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2013

Uhm have you asked your other classmates what they are doing to prepare for exams? Remember that just because the teacher bases her exams on powerpoints, it does not mean that reading the book won't help you.
My professors for both AP I & II used powerpoints but I still read the chapters it made so much more sense and it was far more interesting. At the same time it helped me ace all my tests.
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Well, in Histology it was because I didn't look at the pictures. I totally forgot. However, this time, the only thing that I understood why I got wrong was confusing Meiosis I for Meiosis II. Which was about 6-7 questions. Being sick and missing class didn't help either. Most of my classmates use flashcards and/or pictures. Another girl writes everything and matches them. That's all I know.

I'm just tired, and frustrated. AP is a difficult class! Maybe I'll see what I get on the next exam before assuming it's terrible.

ScientistSalarian · Oct 26, 2013

Have you talked to your instructor? If you haven't I would go to her next office hour and see if she has any advice for you. Tell her how you've been studying so far and she might have some suggestions.

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2013

Have you talked to your instructor? If you haven't I would go to her next office hour and see if she has any advice for you. Tell her how you've been studying so far and she might have some suggestions.

I talked to her on Thursday. She said the last exam is the hardest exam. The average was a 75 on it, and there were 6 people in my bracket(70-79) 9 above me and 10 below me. She told me not to worry so much about that one, to make sure my homework is turned in, and to give myself more time to study the next exam. So I'm thinking I should start reviewing things more as we are learning them. But she did say that my grade is salvageable. :)

Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2013

This is what helped me and what's currently helping me in pathophysiology.

1. Read aloud! You'd be surprised how much you'll remember when you say things aloud. :bookworm:

2. Take a 10 minute break every 30 minutes or after each section. :brb: Get some coffee :coffee: , play with the dog, or give your hubby a kiss;)

3. Only highlight definitions and key words. Do not highlight the entire book! :nono:

4. After reading a section, summarize the material you just read aloud to yourself or a friend, and write it down.

5. Make concept maps and flow charts. :yes:

6. Find Youtube videos (animation and lectures). :headphone:

7. Find podcasts on iTunes to listen to in the car. :headphone:

8. Try out the Made Incredibly Easy books. :bookworm: They are great review tools and will help you summarize sections.

9. Take notes on the lecture Power Point slides, not so much with your notebook. Print slides 4 to a page. This will give you room to write specific facts mentioned in class that relate to a particular slide in the professor's presentation. I often find that if I write in my notebook, I end up wasting time rewriting the PPT slides by mistake! :writing:

10. Learn from your mistakes and realize that you can't possibly know everything about micro, A&P, patho, and etc! If we did, then we'd all be geniuses. The book goes in way more detail! Stick with understanding the BIG picture, so that you can apply that knowledge in nursing courses, then clinical. :nurse:

Hope this helps:)

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2013

This is what helped me and what's currently helping me in pathophysiology. 1. Read aloud! You'd be surprised how much you'll remember when you say things aloud. 2. Take a 10 minute break every 30 minutes or after each section. Get some coffee play with the dog, or give your hubby a kiss;) 3. Only highlight definitions and key words. Do not highlight the entire book! 4. After reading a section, summarize the material you just read aloud to yourself or a friend, and write it down. 5. Make concept maps and flow charts. 6. Find Youtube videos (animation and lectures). 7. Find podcasts on iTunes to listen to in the car. 8. Try out the Made Incredibly Easy books. They are great review tools and will help you summarize sections. 9. Take notes on the lecture Power Point slides, not so much with your notebook. Print slides 4 to a page. This will give you room to write specific facts mentioned in class that relate to a particular slide in the professor's presentation. I often find that if I write in my notebook, I end up wasting time rewriting the PPT slides by mistake! 10. Learn from your mistakes and realize that you can't possibly know everything about micro, A&P, patho, and etc! If we did, then we'd all be geniuses. The book goes in way more detail! Stick with understanding the BIG picture, so that you can apply that knowledge in nursing courses, then clinical. Hope this helps:)[/quote']
Thank you! I definitely read aloud, write flash cards, and try to make my own little pictures of the information. However I didn't even think about how I'm wasting my time writing on my notebook because you're right - I kill myself writing what's on the PowerPoint.