Book Advice

[greenelm]

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For those looking back on their 4 years, what are the best text books you've encountered? I'm currently a freshman at a CA community college (I will transfer to a UC after my sophmore year) and the teaching's not great. I want to establish a really strong background so I won't fail out when I transfer. I want to major in Chem or Biochem.
What the best book for the following classes?
Gen Chem
Inorganic Chem
O-Chem
BioChem
P Chem
Gen Bio
Genetics
Physiology
etc.

 

[bewitched1081]

a UC is not harder than a CC because UC's are curved. you just have to work your butt off at both colleges. know everything. the best book that ive come across was stewart's calc. every school (UCs and CCs) used that book.

 

[bewitched1081]

also it's possible to transfer to a uc in sophmore year. just apply in your freshman year.

but if you get IGETC certified after two years it might be easier and much cheaper if you just transferred jr year.

 

[Newquagmire]

stewart's calc is decent, but i found myself lost in the explanations sometimes. maybe that's just me though--i'm not a math person.

wade's orgo is good and pretty standard fare for the course.

 

[jlee9531]

a UC is not harder than a CC because UC's are curved. you just have to work your butt off at both colleges. know everything. the best book that ive come across was stewart's calc. every school (UCs and CCs) used that book.

hmm...comparing the CC courses i have taken and tutored for with the courses at Cal...the difference is quite large.

but regardless, if you performed at a high level then you should be competitive to get good grades at the UC you will end up attending.

stew for calc is what the UCs use...
vollhardt for ochem blows, the notes from the professors are excellent...almost no need for the book here.
voet for biochem is decent
it doesnt matter what book you get for pchem...that stuff is just annoying and tough haha.
campbell for bio i felt was excellent.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Check these out

Campbell Biology
Carey Organic Chemistry
Lehninger Biochemistry
Fox Human Physiology
Walker Physics

 

[clevertooth]

McMurry for Orgo

 

[MrTee]

a UC is not harder than a CC because UC's are curved. you just have to work your butt off at both colleges. know everything. the best book that ive come across was stewart's calc. every school (UCs and CCs) used that book.

What UC and JC are you talking about??? There is no comparison in my opinion, unless you had the most insane JC instructors ever, and the easiest UC ones. Either that, or you must have gotten the highest grade in each school, so it didn't make a diff to you. I have taken a JC class before and it required about the same effort I put in when I was in hi school. At the UC schools I've been at, there was no way that kind of effort could have earned me an A.

 

[Arginine]

Physics Cutnell & Johnson: Very well written, easy to read, excellent illustrations and problem sets (but it only has answers to odd # problems)
Biochemistry Garrett & Grisham: Decent biochem text with some medical correlations included
Biology Campbell: The most amazing general biology text I've ever seen, with fabulous illustrations and detailed explanations. I still use it now & then for general overviews of things I've forgotten
Organic Chemistry McMurry: Pretty decent and painless o-chem text (you can buy a study guide with answers to problem sets).

Try to get the best teachers for each class, even if it means lots of schedule manipulation--the teacher really makes a huge difference in how you learn the material. Or at least try to get someone good for the beginning sequence of a two-semester course (great prof for 1st semester o-chem will give you a good foundation even if you get a terrible prof for 2nd semester o-chem).

 

[greenelm]

Thanks for all the advice- i'll definately trying to check these books out and look for the best teachers. What's the cheapest way to get these books- should I go to amazon.com? Are there any cheaper sites?

 

[medstylee]

The Essential Cell Biology, by Alberts, Bray, et al is a really good one that kind of overlaps with physio, genetics, and cell bio.

Biochemistry, by Voet & Voet is ok at best. I don't know if I'd recommend it. I thought it was a little wordy or something.

good luck.