Will this be too hard??

Mommycakers · Jun 5, 2007

I am taking A&P I now which is in a 6 week course and I can see how much time you have to put into studying if you want to do well. My advice would be to not take Anatomy in the same semester as Microbiology especially if you have all those other classes too. I am sure you can do it if you are committed but you may run into conflicts where you have two big tests or a paper may be due for one of your other classes at the same time. If you really want to do it maybe talk to another student who took Anatomy and Micro at your school. Maybe then you might get a feel for how demanding the course is or ask the professor if taking both at the same time is recommended. For example, before my Anatomy class started this summer I called the professor to ask what Anatomy coloring book he advised that I get to help me as an additional study aid. (Barnes n Noble had multiple versions) My professor recommended that I not buy the coloring book because everything I would need to do well in his course is on the Anatomy Lab CD's and in the text. He was right. I got an A on my first test but it took a lot of my time. Good Luck in whatever you decide.

LadyEJ BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2007

Sounds like a bit much. But then again it depends on your situation...are you also working, raising a family?

catzy5 · Jun 5, 2007

Hello guys I'm new to this ...and very thankful for this forum.
Well my question is, since i hear that anatomy and microbiology is hard, is taking these two classes together in the same semester too difficult?
I will also be taking a Developmental Psychology class, a CNA course, and a Clincal Medical Assisting course as well. I feel like it will be a fun semester but just a little worried if i will make it.
Is this overbearing? Has anyone done this(or similar and succeeded)? Any advice (recommendations)?

each course load depends on the individual. Everyones life circumstances are different, they are both very hard courses that require alot of studying, the other classes add to that, you have to ask your self though do you have the time, do you have other obligations etc...

I have 3 kids and a husband who travels, I took ap 2 and micro together last semester. I had to sacrafice alot with my family but we worked it out I felt more guilt then I needed too and I studied at weird hours but I got the work done and got A's in both classes, I am glad now I got it over with in that manner I would do it again the same. I also think it gave me a good idea of my schedule and time management for nursing school and gave me the confidence of yes I can pull a big load and still manage the home.

good luck in whatever you decide.

srkastc · Jun 5, 2007

Definately not! There are many concepts in both classes that you will need to master in order to pass.

I would suggest taking one at a time. I just took Micro in the Fall and it was alot of work. I passed, but had to devote alot of time to it. I neglegted my other 3 classes for Micro, but thankfully they were not intense.

I'm taking A&P right now and in order to keep a passing grade I have to study at least 2 hrs for every 1 hour I am in class. Granted the course is in summer and is shorter, I am sure that one would have to devote a considerable amount of time to learn the body systems.

If you do take both be prepared for alot of work. You will not be able to have much of a social life! On a positive note - there isn't alot of critical thinking involved with these to subjects. I'd say 90% is memorization.

If you are a very driven and disciplined student who has alot of spare time for study, then it may be do-able .

*Blessed2BaNRS* · Jun 5, 2007

Hi seek1,

:welcome: to allnurses!! You are off to a good start finding this site!! As far as your question about whether to take A&P and Micro together, I will have to say that it is up to you, how disciplined you are in your studying, and what your personal life is like. I took both together along with Intro to Psych in the fall, and was also registered to take Algebra, but ended up dropping it. There was so much to learn and so much studying to do. But...it is doable. I have 4 kids and a husband who was also in school in the evenings, so it was a busy semester for me. I did end up pushing A&P and Psych to the back burner so I could focus on Micro. I falied the first 4 tests and was looking at dropping, but my instructor encouraged me to stick with it and told me how to study for her tests. The next one I made a 97 on it and the last I made a 93. I finished with an 87, even with failing 4 tests! I will say that it was the hardest class that I have ever taken! Not because of the material, per se, but because of the way the instructor tested. I have never had tests like hers before! I have been told that it is how nursing school is, so I may be screwed!!! :uhoh3: But she also taught me much more than Micro. She taught me not to give up and that even though things don't look good at the begining, it is the end result that matters! She is also one of the instructors who I respect the most!!

So, only you know if it will be too much. Some people will say don't dare take all of those classes together and others will say no problem. I will say that I don't think I could do all of them if I had to do all over again. There is just so much to learn and those 2 classes are the core of nursing. Even if you dropped 1 class, it would be much more managable.

Good luck with whatever you choose, and again, welcome!!

justme1972 · Jun 5, 2007

If those are the only two classes you are taking, and you are working minimal, then yes, I would say it's doable.

If you have other classes besides them, I wouldn't do it.

seek1kees · Jun 5, 2007

Thanks for response guys.

I'm not sure if it makes a difference but i notice many of you put a&p 1, the class i enrolled for is just anatomy separated from physiology. Is that easier or harder?

And I will only be working two days in the weekend with no family to raise (im 19).

Is there anything to get me started with just anatomy (without physiology) so that i can ease this semester?

Heloisea3 · Jun 6, 2007

I think this is very doable if your are only working two days and you are taking the classes during a regular semester. My only advice would be to schedule your classes carefully. Make sure that your Micro and A&P classes are on different days. Also, be very careful about getting behind. Study everyday because there is a ton of info for each class. Definitely do what Mommycakers mentioned and use the CD's that came with the book. I honestly feel like the only reason I made an A in A&P was because of the CD that came with the textbook. I don't know which book you will use, but ours had this fantastic CD that would explain some of the difficult parts of the physiology in each chapter. Thank God for that CD. Also, start studying your lab material early. Don't ever wait until the day before the lab test. There is just too much stuff to procrastinate and still come out smelling like a rose, unless, of course, you are academically gifted. There are some web sites that have pictures of the models that were extremely hellpful. I can't recall them off the top of my head, but if you google something like "A&P and model and cardiovascular system" or something like that, you will find some really helpful stuff. Anyway, I think you should go for it if you are disciplined and good about studying. Just don't make any of your classes back-to-back. Good luck!!

livinglighthouse, ADN, RN · Jun 6, 2007

I am registered to take "anatomy" (not A&P) and microbiology this coming fall semester. I am not, however, taking any other classes and I think it is doable. I AM raising a family (3 teenagers) and do not work........so different circumstances than you, but other responsibilities than just school.

I would say get an anatomy coloring book or A&P Made Incredibly Easy and start looking through it now to get familiar with terms and root words. For micro.......not too much you can do to prepare for that.

Good luck to you!

Rachel

justme1972 · Jun 6, 2007

I can give you a HUGE thing that you can start on now. See if you can go to an old used bookstore...I'm talking CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP ($5), and see if you can find an old Anatomy book...doesn't matter how old it is.

Start on the BONES. This is HUGE with AP classes and sometimes brings the biggest nightmare for students. Here, we have to memorize the location of 250 bones and cavities. We have a lab practicum where we just stand up to the model, and we have to complete it in 9 minutes..so you HAVE to know where they are. I have noticed that other nursing schools have similar practicums...I would talk to current students and see if there is any major projects like that, you can self-teach now.

Agenyc · Jun 6, 2007

HI

I took Anatomy (not A&P) and Micro together in the fall and did great in both, a lot of work and memorizing, (especially micro)

BUT these were the only 2 classes I took that semester and I only worked very part time.

It sound like alot for you to do, and the other couses seem important too! But you are younger than me and have more intact braincells...you could probably get through it.

Only you can decide what you can handle. If you have the option of not taking them together I woudn't, but you also have to think about your own timeline, if the classes are offered every semester, what else you need to take etc etc. (for me anatomy was a prereq for Physio and only offered in the fall).

To prepare: learn bones and muscles this summer--that is a huge chunk of the course, also maybe sections of the brain, basic/cranial nerves, circulation.

Maybe you could find out from the professor which book he's/she's using and get a copy of the syllabus--that way you know what he will be covering and won't "waste your time "--tell the professor you're going to nursing school and expain the situation and hopefully they will be willing to "hook you up."

Good luck!