How to Get an A in Histology

by Sarah Bellham

Attend Your Histology Class

Go to your histology class-- every histology lecture and every histology lab--every time. It is very common and very easy not to attend your histology class. "I can always get the histology notes from a friend." In some schools you can even purchase the histology class notes. Or maybe, "the histology notes are on reserve in the library." It does not matter. This is a justification for a bad habit. I know, you were up late partying last night. You were up late studying last night. You were up late working last night. You don't understand the histology lectures anyway. You only understand the histology lecture material after you read it. I have heard it all; but the bottom line is simple: the students who get good grades in histology attend their histology class regularly. You will absorb more information by being there. Hearing the histology material and writing notes helps you learn histology. In addition, you have the opportunity to participate. Unless you are exceptional, you are kidding yourself if you think you can learn histology just as well by simply reading your histology book.

Learn Histology Actively

Participate in your histology class. If you don't understand something, ask. Go to the histology professor's office hours if asking questions in histology class is intimidating. This is what the office hours are for. Ask yourself questions. Think about the material; apply it; discuss it; play with it; live it! Discuss histology concepts with friends over pizza. It will make learning histology fun if you get engrossed in histology, rather than simply trying to memorize histology facts.

Study Histology Regularly

Study histology routinely, a set amount each night. Force yourself to be mature about it. Comes histology exam or histology practical time, you won't be in a panic. Make a study schedule for histology and stick to it.

Form a Histology Study Group

Form a histology study group early. Quiz each other and keep each other motivated. A good histology study group will help you earn a good grade in your histology class. Meet with your histology study group routinely, once or twice a week, every week. Forming a histology study group will help you study histology regularly.

Maintain a Support System Outside of Histology

Keep in contact with your friends, family, and life outside of histology and college as well.

Keep a Balance

It is easy to get caught up in student life: all nighters studying histology, excessive partying, your first romance, your first taste of independence, and so on. Try and keep your life balanced. Maintain your health, your exercise program, sleep, family and friends. This may sound ludicrous if you have six chapters (500 pages) of histology to cover and the histology practical is in two days.The point is that if you have been studying histology regularly (see above), it will be easier to maintain this balance.

About the Author

Sarah Bellham is founder and owner of Histology-World!

Note from Sarah Bellham: Even though this is an article about getting A's in histology, I think histology students will find it useful for other classes besides histology.