Not grasping the A&P1 labs

should I just drop/withdraw from it and do biology and chemistry
or stick with it and maybe get a failing grade and have to do it over.

The theory lecture class of A&P is ok I can read and study and make sense of it but im just not grasping the labs...

what yu think? I really dont mind starting from 'scratch'...

p.s. im doing the pre-reqs for the nursing program.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

Message edited 5/14/2010 3:21:38 PM.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

What aren't you grasping?

Honestly, unless you have any major crises going on in your life right now that would keep you from studying as well as you could next semster, i would stick with it.

Don't go in with the thought process that you might fail and then have to take it over again next semester- DECIDE that you're going to do well in it. I think people go into that class thinking "I'm not a science person" or they get caught up on the stigma that its such a hard class. Yes, it's hard, but its not impossible-or as terrible as you may think it is- and realizing that will help keep you from being self-defeating.

So what is it about the labs that you're not grasping? Do they correlate to the lecture? There are a TON of resources out there for A&P labs. I know alot of my classmates got the coloring books to help them. But i had a different approach.

I never read the text book, just took really good notes (basically wrote down EVERYTHING my prof said) and read them over and over. When it came to labs, i felt almost like it was cheating sometimes because everything you had to remember you HAD on you- literally! So when i was studying for labs, i would sit there and say all the words outloud as i pointed to it on my body. I'd draw pictures of the area and label all of it. i'd write the list of words (parts) that i needed to know, look at the list and point to it on my body, or close my eyes and picture the area (for parts of the skull, and stuff like that). I'd do this over and over again. really, it didnt take long at all, but saying it enough locks it into your short term memory. OH---and MNEUMONIC DEVICES!!! I would make up the stupidest things to remember stuff, but it worked! find stuff that works for you (i'm sure you can even google some, too). The other major thing i did to study was WRITE the words over and over again. I speak english, not latin but i basically did what we did when we were given new spelling words in elementary school- write them over at least 5 times each. And, if there was one that i was really hung up on, i'd write it even more. I got an A in the class and really didn't devote my whole life to it or anything- just studied and didn't let myself feel overwhelmed even when it seemed overwhelming.

I know when you look at the whole picture it seems really daunting, But the GREAT thing about A&P 1 is that its really just all memorization- its as easy and hard as that lol My memory $ucked big time, but with enough repetition, you can remember anything. You dont have to worry about applying theories or anything like that, just remember the words and where they apply to the space on your body.

But, i'd definitely stick with it unless you have some other craziness going on in your life right now that will resolve itself before next semester- otherwise you're just going to build up anxiety over it. Also, it tends to be a class that fills up quickly, so, imo, i wouldnt want to take that chance that i might get shut out of it and have to wait even longer. Good luck! It's not that bad- really!

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

OMG...I took A&P in college and dropped the class and actually changed my major because of it. the Labs KILLED me!!

good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

Thanks ladies you are all so helpful and kind.

Kelly the acceptance rates are very very very discouraging..*sigh* its one of the reasons why I had originally asked if maybe I should persue the LPN/CNA/Medical assistant or something in the meantime or before, that way Im working in the field just incase.

Lisa I guess u gotta do what you gotta do..it is tough but I WANT to be a nurse so *sigh*.. I gotta suck up and push thru...

Neenie, u are such a gem. Thanks so so very much for taking the time to write that loooooooooooonnngg post lol.
U R right with all that stuff. It does stick after repetitive writing, talking out etc. Thanks for reminding me. Im thinking I should pro'ly pace around in my backyard and read out loud to the trees and plants too

I will see how the class goes this weekend.

eta. His labs DO NOT co-relate to the theory AT ALL. and its just the way that he brings it across, it doesnt come across at all. He doesnt lecture from the book, he just says go home and read. seriously.......

Message edited 9/24/2009 7:07:51 AM.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

Honestly I think bio and chemistry is harder than A&P.

What are you not getting? The content/materials? What you are supposed to do and how to get there?

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

wow.........I kid you not.......I just got home from my A&P class........where are you taking it? maybe I can help

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

I took A&P 1 twice! The first time was the summer session which was 4 weeks shorter than the reg session & could not get it . Its tons of memorization. I spent hours in the lab studying. I would stick with it. The best thing I did was get a study buddy. We went over it & over it & over it. I got an A the 2nd time and got an A in A&P 2.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

The labs were rough on me too. I got over a 90 on every lecture exam, but still pulled a B overall in the course (and before this I had a 4.0 average over 2 years) because the lab exams brought me down. For me, I understood the concepts perfectly. The issue was the way the exams were conducted. We would study the parts of the system we were working on in the text & then be tested off of a model we had only seen once & maybe seen weeks & weeks earlier. The models were often different from the pics in the book & it would get me all confused.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

well..yestaday wuz very much the same, but I will just stick with it and study like there is no tomorrow. At this point Im not gona get my money back so what the heck..

eta: that on the other hand Im sooo looking forward to the A&P lecture today.

Message edited 9/27/2009 10:30:26 AM.

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

STICK WITH IT. repeat repeat repeat..the first few weeks are overwhelming, but you will get into the swing of it. Don't be afraid to ask Lab prof. for Demo. ALso, hopefully you are working with a good group, that should really help. I took my A & P's in the past couple of years, FM me if you have a question

PS DO NOT let the acceptance rates into the nursing program discourage you. If you work your tail off, and apply IN TIME you will get in! If I can do this working full time and having a little one, YOU CAN DO IT. I did have to Drop AP2, but only because of the birth of my son, haha. Didn't count against me, and passed the following semester.

GOOD LUCK!

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

wow, i dunnow if I could take it twice lol Id pro'ly pull my hair out a 2nd time.
ur right its ton of memoriz..
Ive gotten so many tips etc from you guys. thanks.

lulu, thanks...it is def. alot of repeat repeat.

Im a studying fool, one or two hours during the day and I wake up about 5am to get in 2 hours while my house is still quiet.

on another note...talk about discouraging...i happen to be over at farmingdale yesterday..after i was done paying etc. as i was getting in the elevator i heard two gals talking one seemed to be a counselor/admin telling a chic she'd be better off trying one of the 'private' schools even though its so much more expensive cause they are a better chance.
she said "FU gets like 1000 applicants for like 70 seats".

Re: Not grasping the A&P1 labs

Posted by longislemom
on another note...talk about discouraging...i happen to be over at farmingdale yesterday..after i was done paying etc. as i was getting in the elevator i heard two gals talking one seemed to be a counselor/admin telling a chic she'd be better off trying one of the 'private' schools even though its so much more expensive cause they are a better chance.
she said "FU gets like 1000 applicants for like 70 seats".