Essential OChem concepts for the PCAT

Started by Nottingham
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Nottingham

Accepted Pharmacy Student
15+ Year Member
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I took the PCATs in June in spite of only having taken Inorganic I and Biology I at that point. I had studied my behind off and managed to pull a 58 in biology and a 64 in chemistry. Now I've put Inorganic II behind me but I won't be taking any Ochem, A&P or Microbio classes until this fall and I sit the PCATs again August 23. My goal is to crack at least 70 on both of these sections, I know I could do better with the classes already under my belt but I want to apply for 2009 admission so I don't really have that luxury. So the studying begins again, I have Barron's PCAT, Kaplan's PCAT, Schaum's Organic Chem and Organic Chem for Dummies to back me up. I'm also going to purchase Rea's flashcards (anybody have these? Are they worth it?). My question is, what are the concepts that I HAVE to know, inside and out? I'm trying to condense all this material on my own and I would love to have a couple guidelines as to which concepts I have to focus on. Your help is appreciated 🙂
 
Even though I havent taken it yet, I would assume alot of OCHEM I is on it. Acidity, Basicity, naming compounds, stereochem, grignard reaction, etc. OCHEM has a lot of material so I'm not sure what you should really concentrate on.
 
Reactions (dehydration, hydrogenation, etc), sterochemistry... two big ones on the PCAT. Know your reactions especially, because there will be at least 6-7 questions that'll straight up ask you reactant A + B -> product.