Weed Out Courses?

iliel · Dec 5, 2003

it's hard to say if these classes will be hard for you, I think anyone can do them if they put time into it. But I know what you mean about weeding out. My A&P I class was full until the last day, maybe 1 or 2 drop outs. My A&P II class, that's another story, we've got less than 1/2 the class left. I'm taking a different prof so it would be interesting to see if ppl are still in the other A&P II's.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine, there are a ton of career changers in my classes.

LisaRN2B · Dec 5, 2003

A&P is definitely a class that "weeds 'em out." It IS do-able, though.

I haven't had a science/bio class in about 25 years and have just finished A&P I with an A.

We had a jam packed class to begin with, many of the students taking the class for the second or third time. By the second to last day of class there was maybe half of us left and out of those people I am not sure everyone passed. Our class average was about 71%, grade wise.

My advice to you in the science classes (or any class, really) is to study as you go along. Cramming really, really does not work. Get study guides and the "Made Easy" or "Made Incredibly Easy" books to go along with the classes. They help A LOT. If you have tutoring available to you, take advantage of it. Look things up on the internet for reinforcement of what you are learning in class. Read your text, record the lectures if you are allowed.

I wish you success!

LisaRN2B · Dec 5, 2003

Oh, and another thing that helped was making flash cards...and some people really thought it helped to have a study partner or study group...

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2003

Depends on the instructor and the method of instruction. Some instructors will wind up with half a class and others will have lost nearly no one. The instructor makes all the difference.

nurse2be in ny · Dec 5, 2003

I have an accounting degree, too, and am just finishing A&P I with next to no science background (just Micro from six years ago). Like others have said, if you make studying and really learning the material a priority, there's no reason why you shouldn't do well. Good luck!

LisaRN2B · Dec 5, 2003

Originally posted by RNKittyKat
Depends on the instructor and the method of instruction. Some instructors will wind up with half a class and others will have lost nearly no one. The instructor makes all the difference.

I have had great instructors, though not everyone shares the same opinion about the instructors I have had. There is one instructor at my CC that NO ONE wants, but other than that, opinions about the instructors vary. Different teaching styles work for different people, but even if you have an instructor who's teaching style doesn't seem to mesh with your learning style, there are still ways of studying around that obstacle.

The drop ratios between all of the instructors are about the same at my school, which leads me to believe it ain't them, IMO.

luv2yoga · Dec 5, 2003

Thanks, makes me feel better about the Chem class. I appreciate the study tips.

But I have a follow-up question about A&P I - I have to take that in the summer and it sounds like that will be killer as it's so compressed. I think it meets for 3 hours twice a week for 8 weeks. Yow! Are those 8 wks going to be hell? I wish I could take it later but not unless I want to delay everything by a full semester as far as meeting ADN requirements.

Meredith

LisaRN2B · Dec 5, 2003

Originally posted by meredithT
Thanks, makes me feel better about the Chem class. I appreciate the study tips.

But I have a follow-up question about A&P I - I have to take that in the summer and it sounds like that will be killer as it's so compressed. I think it meets for 3 hours twice a week for 8 weeks. Yow! Are those 8 wks going to be hell? I wish I could take it later but not unless I want to delay everything by a full semester as far as meeting ADN requirements.
Meredith

I was told by my advisor when A&P was the next thing I needed to take and the next quarter available to take it was the abbreviated summer quarter, that I should NOT take it then, I should take the summer off and sit by the pool. :chuckle

In a nut shell, yes I think those 8 weeks will be hell, after having just finished the class in a normal length quarter. Wait for the next posts...I am sure there will be several on the board that will not agree...

I am not saying it can't be done...but it will be intense...VERY intense.

Dixen81 · Dec 6, 2003

From listening to the students at my school, the ones who took A&P in the summer were glad they did. I took Chemistry and Micro in the summer, and Chemistry was hell for me (I worked in Accounting for many years and had no science background, too), but I am soooo glad that I took it in the summer, just to have it over with! (I came out of it with a B). However, I loved Micro, so I wouldn't have minded a whole semester of it (came out of there with an A). I'm about to take my A&P I finals next week, and it's been a long, hard semester, but like someone else said, it's doable if you work at it (it was a lot more interesting than Chemistry!). I have a B in there right now. Not every class is going to be fun, but just keep reminding yourself that it's not forever, so you can hang in there. Best wishes!

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Dec 6, 2003

I took Chem and Nutrition last summer and they were no more hell than my normal full time 16 week semester.

I am GLAD I took chem over the summer, got it over with in a short amount of time and made an A in both classes. The only thing I did get tired of was going to class everyday, but it was still nice to just get it out of the way in a short amount of time.

Marilyn

LisaRN2B · Dec 6, 2003

Originally posted by marilynmom
I took Chem and Nutrition last summer and they were no more hell than my normal full time 16 week semester.

I am GLAD I took chem over the summer, got it over with in a short amount of time and made an A in both classes. The only thing I did get tired of was going to class everyday, but it was still nice to just get it out of the way in a short amount of time.

Marilyn

I think I could have done Chem over the summer, and done pretty well. But I believe the OP was talking about doing A&P over the summer. Have you taken A&P yet? If so, what are your impressions about taking it over a short period of time?