Study with a buddy from your class. It will help your grades. Read, re-read, and highlight important things that look like they might be on a test. Make sure you are in a quiet room with no interruptions. Good luck!

For me... A&P I is all about memorizing.  Some are better at it than others and you can't take that too personally... not unless you're the type to take it personally when someone can run a mile faster than you.  ;-)

On the other hand, A&P II seems to be more about understanding and being able to integrate concepts.  I was better at this than pure memorization.

I generally have very good focus, but I find it difficult to focus when I am trying to memorize things.  Some, as mentioned, find it better to study with someone.  But, that drives me nutty and totally stresses me out.  Instead, I find peace and quite and take many breaks.  Try forcing yourself to study for 20 minutes straight without taking a break.  Then, increase that to 30 minutes.  Keep upping the amount of time until you feel you reach a good balance between studying and down-time.

Finally... I used to be the sort to sit up all night studying and I would do horribly on exams, particularly ones that involved a lot of memorization.  An organic chemistry professor took me aside after an exam one day and basically said, "what's up?  I know you know this stuff because you participate and ask good questions in class."  Well, that's what I thought, too.  I just couldn't figure out how I could think I understood something ... only to do poorly on the exam.   Aside from test anxiety, my professor forbid me to sit up all night.  He told me to, instead, study until say 11 pm or midnight, take a shower to relax and think through some of what I had just been studying, and head to bed.  As it turns out, our brains process information while we are asleep.  You can take this stuff in, but it won't stick unless you give your brain a chance to rest.  If you are studying all day... take 15-20 minute naps periodically.

Finally, stay on top of it all from the very beginning.  And, reward yourself along the way.  You can do this.  Millions have done it before you and there's no reason to believe you can't!

rusty97015 says ...

For me... A&P I is all about memorizing.  Some are better at it than others and you can't take that too personally... not unless you're the type to take it personally when someone can run a mile faster than you.  ;-)

 

I agree because this is what I did along with studying from a supplemental book.  I read the text book twice and if I did not understand something I would go to my supplemental book.  By reading the book twice I could put almost everything to memory well at least the main points.  By doing this I got A's in A&P and Micro and I am proud to say that I would always mess up the grading curve in all 3 classes. 

Oh..............here is how I got through alot of hard classes:  I became friends with several LPN bridge students.....................we are all still great friends.   I take horrible notes and they were nice enough to help me in that area.  My own contributions seemed less than theirs and I will never be able to repay these friends of mine. Who you 'hang out with' in school is important, and I dont mean this in a snobbish way.  I meant that there were students in school who didn't have to study like we did, they were those icky 'gifted' people !  Those giifted people always made me jealous! 

Thank you all,,I too am struggling alot, mostly with test grades!!!! I was thinking that maybe my age is making it harder to memorize??  It probably not one of my better skills,,  I made a mistake of taking my anatomy and physiology online with labs every other week!!!! I will never do this again,,,when we do have labs,,its usually involves an exam of 3 or 4 chapters and a lab exam as well.  I also do not have as much of an opportunity to study with anyone. The only reason I got stuck with the online is because thats all they had left!  There is alot of good advice here and I appreciate any other suggestions that will help!!!

I was having a hard time in A & P 1 and found a website called Mr. fords class online and I paid the 30 bucks. Boy did this help. I actually started to understand the lectures more and my grades came up, although I only got a B+ in the class I did learn the material instead of memorizing it. Now I am in A & P II and it is very different. The Dr. that teaches it tests us on 2 - 3 chapters at a wack without any study guides. I am holding an A - right now but hoping to get it up to an A. I am finding it harder and harder to focus in on my school work. I hope my focus returns or I'm in trouble. I see the finish line in my head but the road in harder than I thought it would be. We use the HESI entrance exam for the nursing program and I'm concerned I won't be able to get the 85 or higher. with a 3.82 GPA I need to get at least a 90 or I will not make the program.

Actually, I am taking Anatomy and Physiology 1 right now.

I have published my notes online on my website www.nursejendoll.com especially on Anatomy and Physiology. I also made my powerpoints downloadable.

Right now I only have reviews on Chapters 1-4 on the Thibeoudaeu (spelling) book 6th edition (that's the book we're using, I'm sure you know of it), but I also have Chapters 1-12 powerpoints on it.

Check it out. It might help you out.

I'm with you, though. A&P is verrrryyyy hard!! I'm borderline right now.

All of this is great advice, I scanned over it pretty well. But just keep in mind that YOU have to find what works for you. Also, and I REALLY don't mean for this to sound rude, but how are you doing in your other classes on tests and things? If you find you're having that problem across the boaed then you may just have a mental block to test-taking. It happens! Some people just aren't good testers even though they may know the info. in their sleep! If you're one of these people you need to spend more time on test-taking strategies. Hope it helps and you didn't take offense. Good luck!!

aggiegirl1989 says ...

before i moved to Arizona i was an A&P professor at a jr college in Texas and although my students HATED exam day, if they showed up on Monday, my exams were always on Friday, they received a 300 question study guide, my exams had 150 questions on them, they had all the test questions and on Wednesday we went over the review and if there were any questions i would go over them as much as possible. in the beginning my reputation as an instructor was not good but once my students realized  i wanted them to achieve good grades and worked with them i became the most requested prof in the science dept, when i moved they were none to happy with me. so if you have a good prof willing to work with you PLEASE go ask all the questions you have and if you are not a good note taker t hen bring in a recorder.....

 

 

good luck!!!

 

also get the a&p coloring book you may laugh now but when i took a&p it saved my ass on MANY occasions and it was required for my students.......

Great idea, where do you get the A and P coloring book???

Professors can make or break you that is for sure. I had some really good ones and some scarey ones.

 i just want to say thanks to everyone for giving me advice. i have made a schedule now and like one person said i started studying little by little and now i think i will actually pass the class with a B. instead of the minimum grade which is a C. well thanks again and God BLess