Biology 32: Human Anatomy &
Physiology
Tips for greater
student success
Advice from a past student. She had Prof. Newton, got a D on the first
exam, received a C the first semester and has been a consistent B
student in B33 now that she has made some adjustments
• Why someone would not succeed in Biology 32
• Not realizing the study expectations and when they do realize
them, they are not willing to put in the time and effort needed to
correct the situation.
• Not having the self discipline necessary to succeed.
• Not being personally accountable for their schooling.
• Not understanding simple medical terminology.
• Not applying critical thinking skills during study time.
• Unable or unwilling to change life expectations such as cutting back
work hours, missing family functions, and personal life. Not making
school and study time your top priority.
• Not taking account for their lack of effort and putting the fault on
the instructors.
• PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR EDUCATION IS A MUST!!!
Advice from current students:
#1
Be detailed in making flash cards
and preparations.
Student #2
• 1. Come prepared. Read the materials before you come to
each class. That way you will have a better understanding
of what you are learning
• 2. Be efficient. Do not spend whole time reading or
repeating things that are not important. Focus on things
that the professor says important or repeats. Then, branch
out study from there.
• 3. Use visual aids. Biology deals with lots of things in
microscopic level or in even smaller level. When you watch
videos from textbook websites or youtube, it will help you a
lot to get ideas of what you are really studying.
Student #3
• 1. Flashcards are amazing for memorizing this
material
• 2. I find that using the book as a reference/guide
to material I do not understand from lecture/lab
is more useful then sitting down and reading a
whole chapter.
• 3. Study with someone, I used my little sister and
she now probably knows this stuff better then
me!
Student #4
• Thanks for the praise. My advice may be useless but I'm happy to give it
• -I did my own outline for each chapter before the class lecture which really
helped familiarize me with the material and develop questions.
• -I made notecards only to review, After making them I didn't study them
too much.
• -Mostly, I just tried hard to stay focused and REALLY understand the
material from different perspectives. As I would go through the day I
would try to apply my life to what I was learning. ie, when washing my
hands I would review hydrogen bonds and the properties of a base. Or I
would drink coconut water and try to understand how isotonic solutions
behave, etc.
Student #5
• 1) I try not to leave things last minute or
procrastinate.
• 2) I ask questions whenever I'm unclear on
any part of the material.
• 3) I study alone (group study is a great idea,
but I absorb the material best in a quiet
environment).
Student #6
• 1) read the chapters! And do chapter review questions
• 2) I use a dry erase board to draw out models or
diagrams and explain it to family members on how it
works
• 3) this may sound really strange but I pop quiz myself.
Haha I think of how things work such as the cell and I
went through the cell and all the organelles and what
their function is while I am driving or cooking dinner.
Student #7
• I look at my notes and textbook daily, well,
almost daily. It is important to look at the
notes and the text the same day of the lecture
while it is still fresh in your mind.
• Whatever you do not understand after doing
this, you should make a note and ask the
instructor to clarify.
• Study until you know it. Do not stop short of
that. I'm just not a flashcard person. 