Advice for o-chem in the summer

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

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so.. i decided to take o-chem my freshman to sophomore summer
im interested in what you guys would recommend..
what advice would you give?
like study strategies that work for the summer
or
what text books i should get like.. organic chem as a lang
or w.e

im doing this because i think taking physics and o-chem at the same-time next semester might be a death sentence for me..
so idk..
i could probably get away taking a bio course and a psych or a math or physics over the summer
instead of o-chem

so all of you opinions and advice will be appreciated

 

[Catalystik]

I took 10 hours of OChem plus lab over the summer after freshman year due to utter terror that I would never survive the course if distracted by other classes. I think that fear was the key to my success. I was 100% immersed in OChem, did not work, and had no fun. It was totally worth it. I actually enjoyed it so much, I volunteered to TA the course in the fall. And there's nothing like being a TA to keep the material fresh so you kill that part of the MCAT.

I used Morrison and Boyd.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I took 10 hours of OChem plus lab over the summer after freshman year due to utter terror that I would never survive the course if distracted by other classes. I think that fear was the key to my success. I was 100% immersed in OChem, did not work, and had no fun. It was totally worth it. I actually enjoyed it so much, I volunteered to TA the course in the fall. And there's nothing like being a TA to keep the material fresh so you kill that part of the MCAT.

I used Morrison and Boyd.

so someone smart actually recommends o-chem over the summer
w000t.. that slightly removes my worries that i'll die in o-chem

 

[Catalystik]

It's best to stay somewhat worried. There's nothing like adrenalin to amp up your efforts and make you more productive.

 

[phience]

Doooooooooooo it! I LOVED taking it over the summer. Echoing serenade, I took it over the summer because I wanted to live, breath, eat, drink, sleep Ochem without being distracted by other courses. It resulted in me having no life or work for about 3 months, but it was so worth it.

We learned everything that you would in the normal year, but I think it actually stuck better because you learn it so fast that you don't forget the first reactions by the time you get to the end. DO IT!

 

[avksx]

This is good to know. I'll try to do this as well.


Any other premed pre-reqs that should probably be taken over the summer?

 

[packofneurons]

This is good to know. I'll try to do this as well.


Any other premed pre-reqs that should probably be taken over the summer?

I took Physics I and II over summer. Physics is probably one of my weaker subjects, but I still did very well on them because I was able to concentrate on one subject only! This summer I'll be taking biochem and genetics. Focus is key! 🙂

 

[FloatOn]

OP, I didn't take organic over the summer, but these tips should apply nonetheless:

-Don't fall behind. Ochem is not a subject that you want to pile up and cram into your head near exam time. This shouldn't be a huge problem since you'll be going to class on a daily/almost daily basis.

-Practice the mechanisms and make sure it makes sense to you and you understand why certain steps occur (why the electrons move where they do) instead of straight-up memorizing.

-Make a list of reagents once you start encountering them. This way, you'll have them in one place rather than flipping through the textbook or your notes to find them.

Good luck!

 

[OneTyme]

I took Organic I and II over the summer. I was working full time and conducting research as well.

I would SERIOUSLY consider your choice. It was very difficult and I'm no slacker. My SGPA before was 3.85, after....well, lets just say it wasn't.

I'm not saying it isn't doable, because it is. But, you must very carefully weigh your options. I would have liked to take it over a normal two semester schedule.

On a positive note; I really enjoyed the ability to immerse myself into one subject (especially organic).

Just be sure to weigh your options carefully. I took the risk because I was on a tight schedule to get ready for the MCAT and graduate. I knew my GPA could handle a few grades that were not the best. Either way, when you take Organic be sure to drop your shoulders and push through to the end.

Good Luck,
OT

 

[Aromatic Amine]

I took it over the summer as well

i got A's in both O-chem 1 and O-chem 2
(i repeated O-chem 1 after learning nothing in the semester)
i took it with really good professors over the summer and i went to every lecture.

9-12 (lecture)
1-6 library

and then i went home, ate some food, relaxed, and studied from 9-11

o-chem over the summer requires a lot of work, so make sure you are prepared to take it, but i think it would be the best time to take it since you can focus only on o-chem and not other subjects at the same time.

when you take the class, understand why the mechanisms work the way they do, and DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT, memorize information.

If you memorize, it will be your downfall lol. (of course there will be things you need to memorize, but i think you will be able to decipher what you need to memorize and what you need to understand)

 

[rmadell]

I took the second semester over the summer, and I ended up with a C and was super upset. I worked my ass off...but our summer classes are only 4 weeks long, so we learned an entire semester of material in 4 weeks...which isn't ideal, especially if you really want to learn and understand it instead of just memorizing everything. I spent 6 hours a day in class and lab, and then went to the library until at least 10 every night. Some people can do it, and some people just can't absorb the crazy amount of information you need to do it. If the class is only a month long, I wouldn't do it....but I know some schools do it over the whole summer, which I think would be exactly the same almost as a regular semester course, which, in that case, I say go for it. I ended up retaking the class and getting an A though, and it was my favorite class of the semester. I don't think anyone can tell you if you can do it or not, because it really depends on how you learn.

 

[SparkleMotion]

I just finished my first term of advanced organic for chem majors w/ an A. I suppose I can't speak for everyone, but what I recommend is that you DRILL every practice problem in your book. If you don't understand anything at all, ask your professor during office hours. Organic is an extremely cumulative science and you don't want to get behind.

 

[artx2008]

If you want to learn something, do not take it in summer. It might be easier to get a higher grade in summer (at least in my school), but it does not mean that you will learn a lot.

 

[Vol tron]

O-Chem is definitely doable over the summer. I finally got into the routine of: doing that day's homework and lab prep work and reading the next section to be covered in lecture. I supplemented the textbook with Organic as a Second Language and Organic for Dummies. As mentioned by others, you end up immersed in organic chemistry with little time for much else.

 

[Yudid]

so.. i decided to take o-chem my freshman to sophomore summer
im interested in what you guys would recommend..
what advice would you give?
like study strategies that work for the summer
or
what text books i should get like.. organic chem as a lang
or w.e

im doing this because i think taking physics and o-chem at the same-time next semester might be a death sentence for me..
so idk..
i could probably get away taking a bio course and a psych or a math or physics over the summer
instead of o-chem

so all of you opinions and advice will be appreciated

I was taking intense o-chem series last summer. Based on my experience i wouldnt recommend to do it to anybody.

First of all o-chem is not an easy subject and it takes TIME to understand and master it. My series were 7 hours per day, plus add to it that you need time to get to school, lunch and etc, so basically you are the whole day at school then you come home, tired as an animal, you are hungry and you want to sleep, so you take a nap and then study for tommorrows exam.

Exams are everyday, and each day equals to the week of regular orgo during the school year. It is hard to get an A in those series because there is no enough TIME to study, many students agree that basically time works against you, average grade is usually C.

This course primary designed for students that retake o-chem and have good background. However if you want to succeed in that class i would recommend you to start studying o-chem earlier on ur own. Talk to instructor that will teach it, get some recommendations from him/her.

 

[dd128]

Ummm, my recomendation would be to drop the class before it starts...just throwin' it out there...

the class blows at even a normal pace...

 

[JmanDO]

I don't recommend it mainly because it means being in that smelly lab for 5 hours a day, at least three days a week, IN ADDITION to 3 hour lectures and all that jazz, probably on alternating days.

 

[rctriplefresh5]

so someone smart actually recommends o-chem over the summer
w000t.. that slightly removes my worries that i'll die in o-chem

lol im with you man. im taking o chem 1, calculus 1, and ochem 2 this summer. the ochem 1 overlaps with calculus 1 , and the calc 1 overlaps with ochem 2. its a scary prospect but i dont have anything better.

 

[rctriplefresh5]

I took it over the summer as well

i got A's in both O-chem 1 and O-chem 2
(i repeated O-chem 1 after learning nothing in the semester)
i took it with really good professors over the summer and i went to every lecture.

9-12 (lecture)
1-6 library

and then i went home, ate some food, relaxed, and studied from 9-11

o-chem over the summer requires a lot of work, so make sure you are prepared to take it, but i think it would be the best time to take it since you can focus only on o-chem and not other subjects at the same time.

when you take the class, understand why the mechanisms work the way they do, and DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT, memorize information.

If you memorize, it will be your downfall lol. (of course there will be things you need to memorize, but i think you will be able to decipher what you need to memorize and what you need to understand)

i plan on memorizing everything. i cant think spatially,cant do equatons...memorization is my niches,

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Ummm, my recomendation would be to drop the class before it starts...just throwin' it out there...

the class blows at even a normal pace...

hmm =-/
realisticly.. im still debating
i might just take 2 or 3 psychology with a bio courses over the summer and then take physics 1 and 2 and organic 1 and 2 next year..
i just dont think i want to take physics and organic both at the sametime..
i mean the organic on the mcat.. is supposed to be pretty simple.. so you only need some concepts and mech's..

i think im probably going to take physics or o-chem regardless..
i've seen alot of people do it..
either way over the summer im really going to put all my time into o-chem..
with about 3 hours a week of volunteering or physician shadowing..
so i'll mainly just put in my time to study..
either way. i think that as long as i pull out a B in both o-chems i'll be alright..

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

lol im with you man. im taking o chem 1, calculus 1, and ochem 2 this summer. the ochem 1 overlaps with calculus 1 , and the calc 1 overlaps with ochem 2. its a scary prospect but i dont have anything better.

blown lol haha..
i really think that if my school allows i'll take 3 psychology classes.. of which will basically mean that i'll be doing absolutey nothing 3rd year except for upper level bio's
which seems like alot easier prospect then.. o-chem..

 

[rctriplefresh5]

blown lol haha..
i really think that if my school allows i'll take 3 psychology classes.. of which will basically mean that i'll be doing absolutey nothing 3rd year except for upper level bio's
which seems like alot easier prospect then.. o-chem..

Honestly im more worried about chem 2. all the math. i mean i like logs but i hate the quadratic formula. what is your major btw? i know you said you didnt have to take calculus. i know for biology you need like calculus 2. im switching to psych though it interests me atleast rather than bio or chemistry .

 

[artx2008]

i plan on memorizing everything. i cant think spatially,cant do equatons...memorization is my niches,

You will not get very far in organic chemistry if you try to memorize everything.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Honestly im more worried about chem 2. all the math. i mean i like logs but i hate the quadratic formula. what is your major btw? i know you said you didnt have to take calculus. i know for biology you need like calculus 2. im switching to psych though it interests me atleast rather than bio or chemistry .

im a psych major
i decided its a actually practical major and relevant to understanding and treating a person.. since biology is honestly a worthless major unless your into research.. at the intro level.. i decided against taking it.

being a psych major i really just need statistics which im taking this semester.
thats going to finish off my math requirement as well.. and i'll probably take some other math class like algebra or what not..

i haven't figured out what chem 102 is going to be like.. but.. logs and quadratic formula don't scare me..
what kinda makes me sad is that i got a 87.4% with no curve in my school.. and there aren't any B+'s.. so im stuck with a B..
but yah.
im taking 17 credits next semester..
bio,stat,social psych,chem and english..
i hope i can still pull out with a 3.5+

 

[BlitzSleep]

I took it over the summer. I used Organic Chem as a second language, pushing electrons, and organic chemistry 1 for dummies. I didn't work and I studied a lot, I made an A (we don't use the +- system) in everything except the Organic chem 1 lab, I made a B in there. I'm actually selling 2 of the supplement books that I used in the for sale section of the forum.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You will not get very far in organic chemistry if you try to memorize everything.

i memorize concepts.. and the mechanics..
from there i figure out most things and how they work.

 

[Aromatic Amine]

i plan on memorizing everything. i cant think spatially,cant do equatons...memorization is my niches,

There is a problem with this method, as you will see when you take the course. Although there will be things you NEED to memorize, the other half of the battle is understanding the material. If you know what happens and why, i can confidently say that you will be able to do any type of question thrown at you whether it is synthesis or a simple reaction. Please do not make the same mistake I did, which was memorization. I am really good at memorizing also, but that plan backfired on me when i found myself in a bundle of over 50-60 reactions and mechanisms and just couldn't use my memory and retrieve every known fact.

Mechanisms will be your lifeline. Know them, and what happens and more importantly why it happens and you will do well in organic.

 

[BlitzSleep]

i memorize concepts.. and the mechanics..
from there i figure out most things and how they work.

There's nothing to figure out. The answer is always steric hindrance.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

There's nothing to figure out. The answer is always steric hindrance.

hindrance?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

alright.. keep the advice coming

should i
take
physics + o-chem next year in the fall and take 3 psychology courses
or
should i take
either physics or o-chem over the summer

 

[rctriplefresh5]

alright.. keep the advice coming

should i
take
physics + o-chem next year in the fall and take 3 psychology courses
or
should i take
either physics or o-chem over the summer

this threads got me thinking. im definately switching to a psych major. i think a gfood answer on why im a psych major. i think im gonna take algebra based physics next semester, even though its not required for my associates degree graduation. the thing is my qssociates degree is in science, so i think ill just finish that out, since it covers all my pre reqs, and then switch to a psych major. i just hope i dont have to start from scratch...

whats psych like? is it really easy? i have a strong interest in psych and teaching, so i was thinking of being a psych professor or a clinical psychologist, but i hear the deg4ree is so useless that it only has merit with a phd.

 

[SparkleMotion]

alright.. keep the advice coming

should i
take
physics + o-chem next year in the fall and take 3 psychology courses
or
should i take
either physics or o-chem over the summer

I'm not sure what physics is like at your school, but at mine it's somewhat challenging. I wouldn't want to take Organic over the summer because you might skip over some things that you may need on the MCAT. You could apply to this logic to physics or any of MCAT course as well, but I'll suggest that it might be much, much easier to take physics during the summer rather than during the year.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

this threads got me thinking. im definately switching to a psych major. i think a gfood answer on why im a psych major. i think im gonna take algebra based physics next semester, even though its not required for my associates degree graduation. the thing is my qssociates degree is in science, so i think ill just finish that out, since it covers all my pre reqs, and then switch to a psych major. i just hope i dont have to start from scratch...

whats psych like? is it really easy? i have a strong interest in psych and teaching, so i was thinking of being a psych professor or a clinical psychologist, but i hear the deg4ree is so useless that it only has merit with a phd.

realisticly psychology is a worthless degree in itself it literally is a paper.. but the foundations you learn in psychology.. the theories and concepts are worth more then anything. psych is chill.. if you can see things and thing theoretically your a shoe in.
psychology is really just a practical skill that most people should have..
yah without a PHD you cant do much, but you can get a PHD after your bachlors. and PHD's are cheap.. only 10k or so

really im considering the phd in psych route

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I'm not sure what physics is like at your school, but at mine it's somewhat challenging. I wouldn't want to take Organic over the summer because you might skip over some things that you may need on the MCAT. You could apply to this logic to physics or any of MCAT course as well, but I'll suggest that it might be much, much easier to take physics during the summer rather than during the year.

in bio section of the mcat i think there's very minimal organic.. and its 25% of the bio section at most

physics is probably easier..i'll admit.. i've heard of good teachers being really easy too..

 

[rctriplefresh5]

realisticly psychology is a worthless degree in itself it literally is a paper.. but the foundations you learn in psychology.. the theories and concepts are worth more then anything. psych is chill.. if you can see things and thing theoretically your a shoe in.
psychology is really just a practical skill that most people should have..
yah without a PHD you cant do much, but you can get a PHD after your bachlors. and PHD's are cheap.. only 10k or so

really im considering the phd in psych route

dont you need a masters first? or are you saying go into a masters/physics program? is that also 10k? im guessing you mean 10k a year cause thats like a 6 year course lol.

i think a positive about doing psych is that it will be easier to maintain a high gpa for med school. since we are taking the pre reqs anyway, we should still be able to do well on the mcats and prove we can make in med school. i just dont feel like taking math beyond calculus, or any 200 level science classes other than orgo.. i just dont want to do it.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

dont you need a masters first? or are you saying go into a masters/physics program? is that also 10k? im guessing you mean 10k a year cause thats like a 6 year course lol.

i think a positive about doing psych is that it will be easier to maintain a high gpa for med school. since we are taking the pre reqs anyway, we should still be able to do well on the mcats and prove we can make in med school. i just dont feel like taking math beyond calculus, or any 200 level science classes other than orgo.. i just dont want to do it.

masters in psych are usually for people who arent strong enough for phd's
masters cost like 4k.
no.. ph.d in psych in total will cost you around.. like 10 to 25k at most..
i know.. when i heard it too i was suprised..

you dont need calc for psych, as a psych major you NEED stat.
realisticly i dont want to take science courses either. i want to get a 3.4+ sgpa.. and chill..
i dont care anymore..
im not interested anymore.. i dont want to become neurotic..
i've become neurotic over this year.. my lifes basically medicine.. medicine.. and more medicine..
really, i dont like this.. at all
i dont want to work 80 hours a week till i die..
i want to work 9 to 5 and mantain a good relationship with my co-workers..
by the time im done with medical school
even my friends who want to go into teaching.. they will have made as much as i have amassed in debt.

just whats the point..

 

[rctriplefresh5]

masters in psych are usually for people who arent strong enough for phd's
masters cost like 4k.
no.. ph.d in psych in total will cost you around.. like 10 to 25k at most..
i know.. when i heard it too i was suprised..

but you said you can get a phd after bachelors. dont you have to get a masters first??

ive heard masters may wind up getting more money. noone wants to hire a phd cause they get paid more, also insurance companies will refer their customers to masters because they are cheaper! plus i dont feel like getting a phd. if im gonna do something hard its gonna be md or do school.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

but you said you can get a phd after bachelors. dont you have to get a masters first??

ive heard masters may wind up getting more money. noone wants to hire a phd cause they get paid more, also insurance companies will refer their customers to masters because they are cheaper! plus i dont feel like getting a phd. if im gonna do something hard its gonna be md or do school.

you can only teach community college or lower with a masters

i dont think phds are hard lol..

 

[rctriplefresh5]

you can only teach community college or lower with a masters

i dont think phds are hard lol..

i mean counseling. i think id rather counsel than teach, but both would be pretty sweet.

why? is your goal to teach psych?

 

[riverjib]

so.. i decided to take o-chem my freshman to sophomore summer
im interested in what you guys would recommend..
what advice would you give?
like study strategies that work for the summer
or
what text books i should get like.. organic chem as a lang
or w.e

im doing this because i think taking physics and o-chem at the same-time next semester might be a death sentence for me..
so idk..
i could probably get away taking a bio course and a psych or a math or physics over the summer
instead of o-chem

so all of you opinions and advice will be appreciated

What's the rush? Why not take your other required courses during the summer? Classes can be either easier or significantly more difficult during the summer. I took biochem I during the summer because it was a pre-req for the major I switched into junior year, and I had no other choice. We had two lectures a week (and the professor cut them short to head down to the beach with his preschool-aged kids) and had three exams in five weeks. It was murder. I normally take a minimum of 18 credits in a 14 week semester, but I worked much harder to succeed in this class than I ever have.

The funny thing is that even among students in my program, the summer class is regarded as a joke. In reality, I took it with 140 students who never missed the class, and we all worked especially hard because we had time to do so. In my regular classes, most students lose steam halfway through the semester and sleep through lectures. In this one, even the "slackers" felt they had something to prove and missed NOTHING. The hyperfocus that was required was keenly felt by even those who knew they probably wouldn't get into medical school this year. So the nature of the course actually upped the ante, so to speak.

Bottom line? Summer courses are not as well-respected by ADCOMs (fine with me, since this wasn't OChem or any other pre-req) but are often harder. This is truer if you go to a CC. ADCOMs think you're taking the "easy way out," but summer professors are often harsher with grading, partly to maintain a reputation, and even more so because they're adjunct professors who normally teach at top schools. Watch out for this. I've tutored organic chem students for much higher rates because they're desperate after their first exams come back and they're horrified to find that they're faring worse at the "easy" school than they did that spring as regular matriculants.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

What's the rush? Why not take your other required courses during the summer? Classes can be either easier or significantly more difficult during the summer. I took biochem I during the summer because it was a pre-req for the major I switched into junior year, and I had no other choice. We had two lectures a week (and the professor cut them short to head down to the beach with his preschool-aged kids) and had three exams in five weeks. It was murder. I normally take a minimum of 18 credits in a 14 week semester, but I worked much harder to succeed in this class than I ever have.

The funny thing is that even among students in my program, the summer class is regarded as a joke. In reality, I took it with 140 students who never missed the class, and we all worked especially hard because we had time to do so. In my regular classes, most students lose steam halfway through the semester and sleep through lectures. In this one, even the "slackers" felt they had something to prove and missed NOTHING. The hyperfocus that was required was keenly felt by even those who knew they probably wouldn't get into medical school this year. So the nature of the course actually upped the ante, so to speak.

Bottom line? Summer courses are not as well-respected by ADCOMs (fine with me, since this wasn't OChem or any other pre-req) but are often harder. This is truer if you go to a CC. ADCOMs think you're taking the "easy way out," but summer professors are often harsher with grading, partly to maintain a reputation, and even more so because they're adjunct professors who normally teach at top schools. Watch out for this. I've tutored organic chem students for much higher rates because they're desperate after their first exams come back and they're horrified to find that they're faring worse at the "easy" school than they did that spring as regular matriculants.

im considering taking it because i dont really think i'd enjoy taking o-chem and physics my second year..
it seems relatively difficult..

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

i mean counseling. i think id rather counsel than teach, but both would be pretty sweet.

why? is your goal to teach psych?

masters cant consul in most states
no my goal is still medicine