afraid i won't get an a in gen chem 2 and bio

[brianbellau]

i'm panicking. i currently have an 88.1% in gen chem 2 and there is only one exam left and the final. Only problem is it's going to cover electrochemistry, nuclear, preview to organic chemistry, and coordinate compounds. Our prof told us electrochemistry is the hardest topic in all of gen chem so I'm worried I won't be able to get an A on this exam. (I need at least a 90 or above on this exam and the final to get an A) Also the final is the ACS final exam which is cumulative for all of gen chem 1 and 2.

I really don't know what to do, I got an 88 on the first exam and did horrible and got an 84 on the second, if I haven't gotten an A yet what are the chances I'll get an A on the third and hardest exam?

It's the same thing with bio, at an 89% and that's because of extra credit. Got an 88 on first exam and a 70 on second, also got C's on the lab practical. Two more exams coming up and I know I'm screwed for the final since I don't know how to study for this class 🙁

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[justAstudent]

Study your butt off from now until the test and you'll be fine. An A- or even B is not the end of world. You don't need straight A's. Work hard and everything else will fall into place. Good luck!

 

[Scottpilot]

Agree with mdhopeeful. Definitely don't need straight A's. Study your butt off, do your best, determine why you didn't get the grades you wanted previously, and most importantly move on.

Not sure of your background, but I assume you are still relatively early in your undergrad (or at least pre-med) career based on the classes you mentioned. If this is the case, you have plenty of time to create an upward trend.

 

[Pacna]

While I agree that you don't need straight A's and that recovering a good grade is definitely what you need to do at this point (duh), I would caution you not to get comfortable getting these scores.

I'm not saying that to be a jerk; I know that it can be almost impossible to change the scores you're getting in a class. We've all been there. The problem I see some people develop is that they accept that they're a "b student" or that they couldn't have gotten a better grade in that class "because I just don't get biochem/calculus/underwaterbasketweaving." If others can do it, you can do it. Remember that. Get 100% on your next exam. There's no reason that you can't.

 

[eizeral]

I got an A- in both gen chem 2 and bio 2. They were the only A-'s I got in my science classes, but it isn't the end of the world if you get a B or B+ either! Just keep trying til the class is over. I had a B for most of Bio 2 (87 exam 1, 83 exam 2, 98 exam 3, 96 final), but busted my ass studying for the last 2 exams and it paid off. You can do it!

 

[ace12345]

i'm panicking. i currently have an 88.1% in gen chem 2 and there is only one exam left and the final. Only problem is it's going to cover electrochemistry, nuclear, preview to organic chemistry, and coordinate compounds. Our prof told us electrochemistry is the hardest topic in all of gen chem so I'm worried I won't be able to get an A on this exam. (I need at least a 90 or above on this exam and the final to get an A) Also the final is the ACS final exam which is cumulative for all of gen chem 1 and 2.

I really don't know what to do, I got an 88 on the first exam and did horrible and got an 84 on the second, if I haven't gotten an A yet what are the chances I'll get an A on the third and hardest exam?

It's the same thing with bio, at an 89% and that's because of extra credit. Got an 88 on first exam and a 70 on second, also got C's on the lab practical. Two more exams coming up and I know I'm screwed for the final since I don't know how to study for this class 🙁

I had a handful of B's in my collegiate science courses, and I was accepted to a number of very reputable medical schools. Relax, you'll be fine even if you get a B in both. Like those above said, definitely do not get comfortable with B's though. Expect the A, work has hard as you can for the A, but realize that things do happen. Learn from those things. Show that you learned from those things. You'll be alright. Good luck!

 

[SnakeOilForSale]

An A-/B+ isn't bad.

I don't see it mentioned, so in addition to studying a lot, I'd recommend going to a tutoring center if your school has one. The ones tutoring chem/bio are usually premeds as well and have little tricks and hints to remember things. Sometimes seeing it explained another way keeps it in your head.

 

[deleted303591]

Old exams (performing under "game conditions"), studying in groups by working out problems together, working every problem in the book of the chapters covered, taking book notes, watching Khan Academy at 1.5x speed (using VLC player).

Your options are limitless.

Don't get distracted, you are at the end of the semester! You can play all you want after finals!

I use the Guaranteed 4.0 plan, but dude, you need to find a way to relax, or it's going to be bad.

 

[swolebrah]

Start studying everyday for 2 hours on each subject.

Reading the book does not count as studying.

When doing the problems in Gen Chem 2, understand whats happening. Have all the main concepts on a sheet of paper.

As for Bio, get started on creating flashcards and practice tests if you can find some.

I barely managed to pull an A in my first year of college in my scinece courses. Then came organic chemistry and it made me refine all my studying habits and how I approach any class. If I had the knowledge I apply in my OChem class to all the first year classes, lol I woudl have A+ in all of them.


GL man, you have plenty of time. Just get to work. Be time efficient.

 

[brianbellau]

Thanks guys, I'm more worried about Bio though. Any tips on how to ace the final (which is comprehensive) on stuff that I only barely studied for in the early chapters? (Metabolism, glycolysis, cell organelle function) Is it possible to review and retain the stuff for the final?

 

[kyamh]

Thanks guys, I'm more worried about Bio though. Any tips on how to ace the final (which is comprehensive) on stuff that I only barely studied for in the early chapters? (Metabolism, glycolysis, cell organelle function) Is it possible to review and retain the stuff for the final?

Yes, it is possible for many students. I can't say whether you are one of them without knowing you personally. The most productive thing for your future academic career is to learn from your mistakes. Frankly, if you barely studied the early chapters and you aren't the type of student who knows they can study at the last minute and pull it off, then you deserve the grade that you will get. Your final grade will be an accurate reflection of the combination of your student skills (innate killer ability to do well in courses with no work) and the time and hard effort you put into the course.

 

[deleted303591]

For bio, you need to read the book and take notes over all the material that will be covered on the final. Taking book notes is key, and anything that could be on the test is important enough to take notes on.

Use bullet point notes

* helps you retain info efficiently

* 3-5 words per bullet

* like writing a text:

** to a friend​

* skip a line

** between each bullet and sub-bullet​

* After each section:

** reread from beginning of notes​

Copy bullet points into Anki

* Anki is:

** A spaced repetition program

** A flashcard program​

* subdivide bullet point topics into:

** flashcards​

* Purchase app for phone

* Review on phone

 

[youmed]

Thanks guys, I'm more worried about Bio though. Any tips on how to ace the final (which is comprehensive) on stuff that I only barely studied for in the early chapters? (Metabolism, glycolysis, cell organelle function) Is it possible to review and retain the stuff for the final?

There is no easy way of studying; you just got to put time and effort into it. As blunt as this sounds, coming to SDN to seek for some sort of study tips may fuel your drive to study for a short amount of time but it won't last long and you will fall back to your old habits. If you spend more and more time studying, then you will find your own study methods and begin to spend less and less time studying. Good luck! 😉

 

[brianbellau]

Yes, it is possible for many students. I can't say whether you are one of them without knowing you personally. The most productive thing for your future academic career is to learn from your mistakes. Frankly, if you barely studied the early chapters and you aren't the type of student who knows they can study at the last minute and pull it off, then you deserve the grade that you will get. Your final grade will be an accurate reflection of the combination of your student skills (innate killer ability to do well in courses with no work) and the time and hard effort you put into the course.

well I'm a sophomore and i've had a 4.0 overall my freshman year and my pre-reqs so far (A in Gen Chem 1, Physics 1 and Calculus 1). But I did use ratemyprofessor to pick the easiest professors at my school so they weren't really that hard. But this semester, only one prof is teaching gen chem 2 and same with bio, and they're both known as pretty challenging. Should I continue trying to take easy professors for my gpa, or is it going to hurt me in the long run?

 

[911 Turbo]

well I'm a sophomore and i've had a 4.0 overall my freshman year and my pre-reqs so far (A in Gen Chem 1, Physics 1 and Calculus 1). But I did use ratemyprofessor to pick the easiest professors at my school so they weren't really that hard. But this semester, only one prof is teaching gen chem 2 and same with bio, and they're both known as pretty challenging. Should I continue trying to take easy professors for my gpa, or is it going to hurt me in the long run?

Lol........

 

[premed3445]

well I'm a sophomore and i've had a 4.0 overall my freshman year and my pre-reqs so far (A in Gen Chem 1, Physics 1 and Calculus 1). But I did use ratemyprofessor to pick the easiest professors at my school so they weren't really that hard. But this semester, only one prof is teaching gen chem 2 and same with bio, and they're both known as pretty challenging. Should I continue trying to take easy professors for my gpa, or is it going to hurt me in the long run?

Might hurt you in the long run especially when it comes to the MCAT.