What is so hard about A&P 1?

Published

I'm planning on taking A&P 1 next semester and I am wondering what makes it so difficult to pass? I already knew it was going to be challenging, but I've been thinking it was more along the lines of heavy memorization. However, reading this forum and especially hearing about how many students drop out of this class after the first couple of tests, I am getting really, really nervous. If anyone could enlighten me as to what seems to make this class so difficult to pass I would really appreciate it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It depends.

My A&P I class had more than 50% drop rate. Why? I think some, the people that showed for only one or two classes thought the professor was a jerk and indicated they would take it with a different professor. Some stuck it out to the first test, which was on the first 4-5 chapters and then had a rude awakening to see a short answer, essay answer format instead of true/false or multiple choice test. (we were warned) We had a 12 week term with only three tests and a final and some students, after they bombed the second test realized that mathematically speaking, they had no chance of passing and withdrew before the last date to receive a W.

I thought the class was very challenging, but not impossible. There was no spoon feeding of information and no extra credit and dropping the lowest test score and all that stuff that some professors do to get more students passing grades.

I've discovered that a lot of students in college for whatever reason, just don't think they need to be in class regularly. I think in A&P some just never can catch up because they missed class one too many times. Anyway, that's my :twocents:

Best, L.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

The language of A&P is foreign to some people. It is a lot of vocab, memorizing, and actually understanding what you learned. My A&P I class had 3 tests. The tests covered so much information that by the time you thought you felt comfortable with it you weren't. If you failed one you were kind of screwed with the others. I basically slept with my A&P book while I took the class. My class only had 7 people pass. We also had a lab section of it where we had to identify things on a cat. I hated the actual hands on part.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A lot of the time A&P is the first serious college class some students take. You have to show up everyday, take good notes and start studying well ahead of the exams. Of course, it also depends on the professor. I had a good one and A&P was a very simple and straightforward class for me.

If you have good study skills, you should do fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it really does depend a lot on the instructor and how they structure their class. Some instructors are very straight forward, while others leave out pieces hoping you will take the initiative to fill in the gaps. If you are lucky you will be in a class where your learning style matches up with your instructor. I finished A&P 1 this summer and it was VERY time consuming. Other students might say it was "hard" because they had to put in so many hours. I triumphed with an "A" (yep, bragging just a little):D. I am currently in A&P 2 with a different instructor and there is a huge difference in teaching style and we are only 3 weeks into the semester.... I'm stressing a little but staying confident as should you :).

Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuroscience.

It's not hard to pass -- passing is a "C". It's hard to get an "A." I did, but damn it sucked up ALL my time. I also had a ridiculously hard, first year teacher, and she later admitted that she made it harder. *RAGE* It got so bad at the end I had an acne breakout, and I never have acne.

It's really the AMOUNT you have to know that makes it hard, (and the fact that you have to know everything perfectly, because only half will ever appear on the exam, and they will never tell you what half), and some people have a hard time envisioning the physiology (youtube helps SOOOO much). That's also why A&P 2 is often said to be easier, because by then you are used to the pacing, the amount of work, and everything seems to come together as a unit.

My class was made worse due to the fact that our lab was always ahead of our lecture. So we'd be doing bones in class and muscles in lab...yeah, OK that really helps me learn *eyeroll*. We also had outdated keys, or NO keys!

Can you tell I'm bitter? I didn't enjoy A&P 1 at all like others seem to due to sheer stress. However, I DID enjoy A&P 2 even though the amount of work was esentially the same. The teacher made the difference.

You'll be fine as long as you plan to study at least 20 hours a week for this class. JMO

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuroscience.

I'd also like to mention that after A&P 1+2 every other pre-req seems like a breeze by comparison. So there is a plus side, lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did not really think that it was hard, just a lot of information to remember. Notecards, notecards, notecards!! LOL!!

Good luck to you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I personally did not find A&P difficult. It's certainly nothing compared to the nursing classes. :rolleyes:

If you're in A&P 1 I assume you're doing skeletal, muscular, etc... Find a study method that works for you and stick with it. Dedicate time each week just to study. Flashcards worked really well for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

:flmngmd: Flame me if you all will, but A&P is NOT hard. If you read before each lecture (even if you don't know what you just read), sit & take your notes in the front row like a good little student, don't chit chat with your friends during class, and never allow yourself to fall behind in anything, you will do well. A better word for the class is DEMANDING - it's a lot to learn but do-able! There are so many study aids for this class out there, you just gotta use them and ask help of the professor when you're stumped. This is why they have office hours. An "A" is within everyone's reach, you just have to want it bad enough and do what you have to to achieve it. If that means giving up the Thursday night pub crawl with your drinking buddies, that's what you do. Nursing school admissions are at an all time high in competition, you need to act accordingly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Very well said, Paco69.

I think I've mentioned it on here before, but if it helps you (and esp. if you're a visual learner) try out the A&P coloring book. It's kind of fun and helps to reinforce major concepts.

Never, ever be afraid to ask your instructors for extra help explaining a confusing concept! That's what they get paid for. They're there to help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For whatever reason, Latin just didn't stick in my brain well. For me, it would have been helpful to have perhaps taken a non-required basic human structures class first. For those still in high school, try to take that class in HS.

I struggled with the Latin language for a while. I hated all the rote memorization, and I hated the grueling pace of A&P I when really would have preferred to take it at a more leisurely pace. At a slower pace, I'd have been thoroughly learning. The way it was, I felt like I was always cramming. The school that I took A&P at, to me, seemed to not divide up the material into 2 equal courses. They crammed all of the anatomy into I and then also stuck in some physiology. II seemed like a lighter workload to me. I had a teacher that thoroughly covered entire chapters in I. I had one who glossed over the high points and left loads to us to self-teach in II. I really don't think it mattered. You teach yourself A&P, is what I concluded. The instructor is (almost) only there to keep the herd moving, answer questions, and give the tests.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion