Any advice for Orgo?

[honeypot]

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I'm taking Orgo over the summer and currently enrolled in Orgo II. In just a week and a half we have covered Alkynes, Allyic group reactions, arene reactions and electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. I am a bit overwhelmed by all the reactions that I have to know for the exam next week (over 100+) and so I was wondering, do you have any study tips? Should I memorize all the different reactions? How should I approach the material/study so I can do well on the exam?

Thanks!

 

[wildfocus]

I'm taking Orgo over the summer and currently enrolled in Orgo II. In just a week and a half we have covered Alkynes, Allyic group reactions, arene reactions and electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. I am a bit overwhelmed by all the reactions that I have to know for the exam next week (over 100+) and so I was wondering, do you have any study tips? Should I memorize all the different reactions? How should I approach the material/study so I can do well on the exam?

Thanks!

yeah, you just gotta memorize the reaction mechanisms in ochem (no easy way out), AND understand why they happen. best way for me to memorize was to write them over and over and make up reaction combos.

 

[16846]

yeah, you just gotta memorize the reaction mechanisms in ochem (no easy way out), AND understand why they happen. best way for me to memorize was to write them over and over and make up reaction combos.

You're another one of those "O-chem'ers", huh? You must be west coast

 

[KaraKiz]

I got an A+ in orgo II and I pretty much studied ~20 hours a week for the regular semester long course. There is no way around memorizing the reactions, but if you try to cram the night before, you will never get all of those reactions right on the exam. I made notecards and it worked well for me. On the front I'd write something like "alkane to carboxylic acid?" and then write the reaction on the back. that way i was prepared for anything they threw on the exam. My prof also had us do "optional" hw, and then would put those same reactions on the exam. A lot of the reactions in your textbook will prob show up on your exam. Orgo II was a pain in the ass. Hope you do well on your exam.

 

[Apollyon]

do you have any study tips?

Yeah - don't post this stuff in the Lounge. I mean, you can, but you may certainly not get that for which you are looking.

 

[KaraKiz]

Yeah - don't post this stuff in the Lounge. I mean, you can, but you may certainly not get that for which you are looking.

i was thinking this too. pre-allo might have been a better choice.

 

[honeypot]

I got an A+ in orgo II and I pretty much studied ~20 hours a week for the regular semester long course. There is no way around memorizing the reactions, but if you try to cram the night before, you will never get all of those reactions right on the exam. I made notecards and it worked well for me. On the front I'd write something like "alkane to carboxylic acid?" and then write the reaction on the back. that way i was prepared for anything they threw on the exam. My prof also had us do "optional" hw, and then would put those same reactions on the exam. A lot of the reactions in your textbook will prob show up on your exam. Orgo II was a pain in the ass. Hope you do well on your exam.

Did you just learn the reactants and products and the reagents used or did you have to learn the intermediate steps for all the reactions as well?

Thanks!

 

[cheezer]

Hi, I represent KaraKiz. If you would like further tutorial advice, please have your people get in touch with me. I'm sure we can work something out.

 

[KaraKiz]

Did you just learn the reactants and products and the reagents used or did you have to learn the intermediate steps for all the reactions as well?

Thanks!

we had to learn everything. i would number all of the reagents above the reaction arrows. that way i associated the number with the reaction. so i remembered that for each particular reaction, there were extra conditions. numbered lists are easier for me to remember. i would also write the extra reagents/temp in a diff color than the reaction itself. that way it stood out more. just writing it will help. then quiz yourself using the cards.

 

[KaraKiz]

Hi, I represent KaraKiz. If you would like further tutorial advice, please have your people get in touch with me. I'm sure we can work something out.

tee hee! you silly goose! 😛

 

[Rendar5]

don't sweat it. I got B's in Orgo and got into med school just fine. and listen to Kara if uwant a good grade.

 

[KaraKiz]

don't sweat it. I got B's in Orgo and got into med school just fine. and listen to Kara if uwant a good grade.

Yes, this is very true. I am neurotic and a compulsive organizer. But I did do very well in the class.

edit: i was also a biochem major, so i figured it would look bad if i didnt do well.

 

[16846]

Yes, this is very true. I am neurotic and a compulsive organizer. But I did do very well in the class.

You're one of those rainbow highlighter people, right? You have every color in the rainbow?

 

[JunkintheTrunk]

i say, quit now while there's still time. go business, that's where all the smart people are going, because they'll actually make $. lolz. 😳


we said ochem, and i went to college in michigan

 

[KaraKiz]

You're one of those rainbow highlighter people, right? You have every color in the rainbow?

actually highlighting is very ineffective in terms of retaining information and is a waste of time for the most part. i don't highlight or underline. in fact, i do not believe in writing in textbooks at all. i take notes in 120 page college ruled notebooks with 0.5 mechanical pencils only. i am however a huge fan of those multicolored post it flags and pink/green/purple pens for adding in details/diagrams to my notes. i am the anti-highlighter. 😀

 

[DickyV]

Cyanide capsules work well if your first exam doesn't go as well as hoped for.

 

[vinniekan]

I'm taking Orgo over the summer and currently enrolled in Orgo II. In just a week and a half we have covered Alkynes, Allyic group reactions, arene reactions and electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. I am a bit overwhelmed by all the reactions that I have to know for the exam next week (over 100+) and so I was wondering, do you have any study tips? Should I memorize all the different reactions? How should I approach the material/study so I can do well on the exam?

Thanks!

Are you taking Orgo II in Woo State?

 

[FSUUndergrad]

Don't wait until the last minute to study. Do at least 8 hrs of hw each week and do study about 4 hrs a night the week leading up to the exam and you'll be good. It's also impossible to just memorize rxns and makes your life a lot easier if you understand the flow of electrons for each reaction.