Anyone Else Struggled in Gen Chem

[heinzmoleman]

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ok so pretty much im in Gen Chem and im just barley hanging on. It's not so much the exams because we had one and I somehow passed it. My problem is the lab write up, I go to a state school and we are given a book that has the lab questions in it and we are supposed to just fill it out. I was amazing at chem in highschool and got 100 through out the whole year. I dont know what to do this chem is pretty much the basis for all my anxiety and stress. It is because of this that I even looked into other Majors but I just don't want to do anything else but this. I dont want to quit nor will I, I pretty much just want someone to say it's ok and that they have struggled as well and that I will get through it. lol there's a bit of a vent

 

[Gallix23]

ok so pretty much im in Gen Chem and im just barley hanging on. It's not so much the exams because we had one and I somehow passed it. My problem is the lab write up, I go to a state school and we are given a book that has the lab questions in it and we are supposed to just fill it out. I was amazing at chem in highschool and got 100 through out the whole year. I dont know what to do this chem is pretty much the basis for all my anxiety and stress. It is because of this that I even looked into other Majors but I just don't want to do anything else but this. I dont want to quit nor will I, I pretty much just want someone to say it's ok and that they have struggled as well and that I will get through it. lol there's a bit of a vent

If your HS chem class was anything like mine, a 100 doesn't exactly equate to chemistry knowledge, unfortunately.

Although you said that the exams were good, so maybe you should just go talk to a TA or a professor specifically about the lab write ups and see is there is anything specific they'd like to see you do more of/better?

 

[Global Warming]

ok so pretty much im in Gen Chem and im just barley hanging on. It's not so much the exams because we had one and I somehow passed it. My problem is the lab write up, I go to a state school and we are given a book that has the lab questions in it and we are supposed to just fill it out. I was amazing at chem in highschool and got 100 through out the whole year. I dont know what to do this chem is pretty much the basis for all my anxiety and stress. It is because of this that I even looked into other Majors but I just don't want to do anything else but this. I dont want to quit nor will I, I pretty much just want someone to say it's ok and that they have struggled as well and that I will get through it. lol there's a bit of a vent

I had the same problem when I took G. Chem and I also went to a state school (CA) that only required filling in blanks.

In retrospect, I can easily tell you that you are having trouble with lab because you don't understand what is going on in lab. Let me rephrase, you need to take the concepts from lecture and apply it to lab. Since you said you "somehow passed it", I can bet you're not understanding the concepts. Hell, even getting an A doesn't necessarily mean you understand the concepts. This is because you can plug and chug your way to a pretty good grade imo.

So when doing your labs, try to mentally walk through each step and understand why the reaction is behaving in that manner. WHY is it reacting? Things happen for a reason, which is basically the question we try to answer with Science. Why are they happening?

GL

 

[heinzmoleman]

The problem is I don't Know how to do what the lab book is asking, My prof teaches 2000 kids a week and my Ta handles multiple labs and rec. Neither of them have the time to sit down and explain it to me.

 

[Global Warming]

The problem is I don't Know how to do what the lab book is asking, My prof teaches 2000 kids a week and my Ta handles multiple labs and rec. Neither of them have the time to sit down and explain it to me.

Well if your G. Chem was anything like mine, it's the same as cooking. You follow the recipe and directions blindly!! Be a robot and follow the directions (but make an active attempt to understand what is going on).

 

[armybound]

I made Cs in both gen chems and the lab.

 

[orthomyxo]

I feel like almost everyone struggles in Gen. Chem.

 

[Global Warming]

I made Cs in both gen chems and the lab.

How did you feel about G. Chem when studying for MCAT?

 

[BenUstudent]

I got C's in the Lectures and A's in the Labs. Thing that sucks is that my school won't let me retake since it still is passing grade😡

 

[armybound]

How did you feel about G. Chem when studying for MCAT?

I struggled with it then, too 😉

I also struggled in physics and organic chem, but got a 10 in PS and 11 in BS. The MCAT isn't impossible, but hopefully people have at least a better understanding of it than I did.

And FWIW, almost everything required for the MCAT has been completely irrelevant in med school so far.

 

[Global Warming]

I struggled with it then, too 😉

I also struggled in physics and organic chem, but got a 10 in PS and 11 in BS. The MCAT isn't impossible, but hopefully people have at least a better understanding of it than I did.

And FWIW, almost everything required for the MCAT has been completely irrelevant in med school so far.

That's good to hear because I am studying for MCAT right now and nearing the end of content review. Maybe you're just being modest? From what I've gathered on SDN, you must understand the material fully in order to do well.

 

[orthomyxo]

I got C's in the Lectures and A's in the Labs. Thing that sucks is that my school won't let me retake since it still is passing grade😡

Same. I keep getting low B's and C's on the exams, but I ace every lab...Gen chem SUCKS!

 

[roseglass6370]

Gen. Chem kicked my butt. Hang in there and GO TO OFFICE HOURS.

(P.S. This sounds a lot like OSU, lol.)

 

[MexicanDr]

I had the same problem when I took G. Chem and I also went to a state school (CA) that only required filling in blanks.

GL

What school you went to?

 

[armybound]

That's good to hear because I am studying for MCAT right now and nearing the end of content review. Maybe you're just being modest? From what I've gathered on SDN, you must understand the material fully in order to do well.

I didn't know what reduction or oxidation was. I didn't know what reduction potential was. I didn't know know what pKa was. I didn't know how to calculate the pH at equilibrium.

I'm serious, I really didn't understand chemistry. But looking at what I just typed, some of that does become important in med school. They make it simple, though.

 

[MexicanDr]

ok so pretty much im in Gen Chem and im just barley hanging on. It's not so much the exams because we had one and I somehow passed it. My problem is the lab write up, I go to a state school and we are given a book that has the lab questions in it and we are supposed to just fill it out. I was amazing at chem in highschool and got 100 through out the whole year. I dont know what to do this chem is pretty much the basis for all my anxiety and stress. It is because of this that I even looked into other Majors but I just don't want to do anything else but this. I dont want to quit nor will I, I pretty much just want someone to say it's ok and that they have struggled as well and that I will get through it. lol there's a bit of a vent

I have not taken any of my pre-reqs, but from experience in other classes I would recommend you read your lab project before lab and thinking about the connections to the conceptual basis, look at your textbook, notes.

Doing this you will be aware of the steps of your project once in lab and have some ideas. Also, for lecture I would say read/skim the chapter/power points before class, attend class and pay attention and if any doubts arise, google them or make an appointment with your TA/professor. There is always tutoring available, too so its a matter of reaching out for resources.

Good Luck

 

[Mitch556]

Yes I did. I found a good tutor and end up making A's in both chem I and II. Just keep doing problems and swallow your pride and get help, if you need it.

 

[La Doctora]

It's not just you, I struggled with gen chem also.

 

[GregoryMD]

Am I the only one that finds Gen Chem easy? Everything has a reason for the way it is. My university does really well at focusing primarily on concepts, not plug-and-chugs. They teach us the formulas, but overall on exams there is relatively little to do with plug and chug. It's all concept based, but if you understand it you can answer anything.

Don't just memorize what the text says or what your professor goes over in powerpoints. Understand why things happen the way they do. It's all about forces. As for labs, its pretty straight forward. At least at my college, every week's lab goes over the concept learned in that week's lecture. Apply it in real-time, find out how practical it is and get another way to think about it, then explain it over again in the reports. My school also has questions to answer from the book, but my TA also teaches a lecture so she grades pretty hardcore. I started going beyond what the fill in the blanks were.

This isn't high school anymore. Even if they give you blanks, they expect you to exceed that scope. Don't just answer that a certain bond is polar, explain why. Don't just plug in the numbers for ideal gas law, understand the relationships and what variables are inversely related, and which ones aren't. It'll help you succeed. I don't even have to study all too much for Gen Chem. When you know the underlying concept you can logic your way through any chemistry problem, even plug and chugs you aren't sure of.

 

[CoolWhipp]

It's just you. Gen chem is a joke how can anyone have a hard time studying for such an elementary science class? [Sarcasm]