Summer A&P Crisis

carbon86 · Jun 15, 2011

Just hang in there. The first tests are always the worst. If you can just commit yourself from here on out you'll do just fine. Put everything you have into it for 5 weeks and in the end you will be amazed at what you have achieved. Good Luck! but honestly, I don't think you need it. :)

Baubo516, RN · Jun 16, 2011

I am taking A&P I this summer in an 8 week session. It certainly is a lot of information to get into my head! I can only imagine that it would be even more intense in a 5 week course. I agree - just give it all you have! Another thought - if you don't feel like you are getting what you need out of this course, instead of thinking of changing careers, perhaps you should take it during a fall or spring semester when you would have 16 weeks to process things, instead of just 5! Good luck - let us know how it goes!

AprilAnney · Jun 16, 2011

I'm taking A&P 2 in a 6 week summer session and I'm slightly nervous about it. I did fine in A&P 1, but it was a traditional 15 week course with an amazing professor who took the time to explain things in at least 3 different ways. Keep the lines of communication open with your professor. Let them know you need extra help. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Accelerated courses are difficult and most professors understand that. Don't get discouraged! A&P 1 is a lot of memorization. I'd recommend getting Kaplan anatomy flash cards. You can order them from Amazon for like $15-$20 (sign up for an amazon student account and you'll get free 2 day shipping- you just need an .edu email address). They were a LIFESAVER for me. Make your own flashcards, also. Carry them around with you everywhere so if you ever find an extra 2 or 3 minutes while you're waiting at a stop light or in line at the grocery store, you can review them. You can totally do this! Don't get discouraged :)

bug2621, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 17, 2011

Well first thing is first...think positive! If you tell your self that you can't do it then you can't. I'm just finishing A&P I over a five week course, and it is tough! You can make good grades but you just need to study and study hard. I have an A in both the lab and the lecture, so I'll tell you what I do. First I try to stay ahead of the course work and plan my study time. For example, if I know that I have a test on chapters 5 and 6 on Monday, then I will study all weekend by reading through the book and making notes on what I've read. I do this because when most people read they don't read for understanding, usually your mind drifts or your just reading. Taking notes on what you are reading will help you understand what you have read. See If your instructor or book has any type of practice or understanding questions and try to answer them w/o looking in the book for the answers, because if you can then you know the information. And also make sure that while you are studying the physiology side of things you get the basic fundamentals of the system you are working with because everything builds on everything else. With the anatomy portion of things, practice, practice, practice! Memorization is key and try getting with a friend and quiz each other to see what you know. Good Luck!!! You can do it!

MICHRNTOB · Jun 17, 2011

Does your text book have an online website you can use? I found those to be so helpful, especially in the beginning of A&P when you are trying to memorize all the bones, muscles, nerves, etc. But, it also helped me with tough concepts like immunity and urinary. My book had excellent activities, interactive quizzes, tests, animations, etc. When you learn information using different formats (reading, listening, videos,etc.), it really does make you use different parts of your brain, which greatly increases the chance that the info will stay in there.

Also, does your instructor use powerpoints during lecture? Do the exams come mostly from those or from the book as well? Find out because that will help guide your studying too. Does your instructor provide outlines for the chapters? IF so, you can use those to take notes from the book. I found that just writing the information down (even if I took notes in class) also help me to comprehend and remember.

I would give it another try for your next exam, then you can decide if you want to withdraw and retake in a regular semester. Good luck!

Timpleton · Jun 17, 2011

I finished the first class in the series 7 years ago this month. I would NEVER recommend someone take ANY of the 3 classes in the series during a compressed summer term. The school where I took A&P offered the entire 3 class series during one summer term. I don't know how anyone could retain enough information to pass the final exam for the 3 classes after a summer session.

Take your time. Re-schedule for the fall if you can.

JM2CW

DarkBluePhoenix · Jun 17, 2011

Until you adjust to the teaching style and the amount of material, just use this as a way to improve yourself and your habits.

Its not going to get any easier, whether its more pre reqs or actual NS.

Better start now better than later.

Give yourself some time and buckle down and study.

Good Luck

Baubo516, RN · Jun 17, 2011

Here is a website that I got from another link on this site that has some cool review tools and self-testing games for A & P. Check it out!

Baubo516, RN · Jun 17, 2011

http://msjensen.cehd.umn.edu/webanatomy/

Let's see if it posts this time!

CordaeP · Jun 21, 2011

Thanks everyone for all the encouragement. I took some of you all advice and I turned off my cell for for the week and studied hard. I had another test today in lecture and tomorrow I will have one in lab. The one in lab is covering the skeletonal system. :uhoh3: I recently found out that lecture is offering a 50 pt extra credit. I am currently working on it also. I made a 93 on the test today, which is an A. So I am going to study even harder this week for next week's test. So pray for me for my lab exam tomorrow. :lttang: Thanks again.

GoldenDomer63 · Jun 22, 2011

Don't try and memorize everything you write down and read...much too much information to comprehend. Study what the professor emphasizes during class lectures. Does the professor provide an outline or review questions for exams? If so, be sure to work and answer those questions. Get a study buddy...quiz one another. When you have lab, be sure to physically touch the models and quiz your partner, I found out having to quiz someone and check their answer helped me comprehend the material. Make flash cards...some people are visual learners. I am not, but I used to transcribe my notes from my spiral notebook into a three-ring binder. Tedious yes...but it really helped me to retain the information.

You have plenty of time to make up for the bad grade...this is an endurance race...not a sprint. You are facing adversity...how bad do you want this? You need to have confidence and think positive. If you think your situation is helpless it will be...doubt is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Buckle down...study smarter...and think positively. Then good things will happen to you.

Good luck!