Failing OChem. Feeling lost

[Rennade]

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I am currently in the last semester of organic chemistry and isn't doing too well. I can do the practice problems and understand the concepts but when it is test time, I can't seem to translate what I know into the test. I can do the practice test and old tests well when I am by myself but it's another story when it's test time. I am currently sitting at a 65% and still have a test and the final left. The highest I can get my grade is a B. However, I know the statistic is against me and want some advice on whether I should withdraw and get a W and try again next semester or try to beat the stat. Also, any advice on doing well in ochem? I do all the practice questions and have the second language book.

Thanks!!

 

[JustAPhD]

The problem seems to be that you understand what happens but you're not grasping why things happen. When you're going over the mechanisms, think about every step. Think about why the electrons flow the way they do. Think of other possibilities that the mechanism could take place and why the real mechanism is the preferential one.
Most of the time when I see a student who takes the time to study but is still struggling with OChem it's because they're trying to brute force memorize everything. They know the mechanisms in the book, but when faced with an unknown reaction, they can't reason through the problem in a logical manner because they lack the mastery of the underlying trends that govern chemistry. OChem is a language. Don't just memorize sentences and phrases, learn the words and the proper grammar.
Sign up for tutoring ASAP and go to office hours. Use the resources available to you.

 

[PHgeek123]

Buy a small white board and some dry erase markers. Then draw the heck out of it. Ochem to me requires constant practice and seeing patterns VISUALLY. that's why a white board can come in handy.

Also, sign up for tutoring and go to office hours AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. don't delay because you'll be behind!

 

[iqe2010]

Organic Chemistry as a second language by David Klein.

 

[kay815]

Buy a small white board and some dry erase markers. Then draw the heck out of it. Ochem to me requires constant practice and seeing patterns VISUALLY. that's why a white board can come in handy.

Also, sign up for tutoring and go to office hours AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. don't delay because you'll be behind!

I second this; white boards saved my life in Orgo.

 

[Allergic to Toradol]

I am a current Organic TA and do orgo research as well, even though I took orgo 1/2 just these past two semesters. Personally, I found that the solutions manual for my textbook (Klein) was the single most important resource. No joke, I did every single practice problem from each chapter, focusing most specifically on the ones I got wrong and paying close attention as to why it was wrong. I also did a lot of synthesis problems even though this wasn't a focus of the course until the last couple of weeks usually. My theory is that in order to be able to complete a synthetic pathway, you have to know all of the reactions very well and must be able to critically analyze each individual step. Hope this helps because orgo is usually dreaded, but I truly find it to be very interesting and incredibly important to a thorough understanding of biochemistry.

 

[BunnyMan17]

Make mechanism outline packets. Take a page or two for every major reaction in the pertinent chapter and write every single step with an explanation. I understand this is tedious. Once you have all your packets read them over a couple times then try to reproduce the mechanisms by reasoning your way through (i.e. not brute memorization). Once you've got that go buy a solutions manual and work your way through practice problems with the same mindset. I tutor orgo and almost all my students jump a letter grade once they do this, it really does help with your understanding of the logic behind everything.

 

[stickgirl390]

I second the idea of a dry erase board. I used mine constantly for ochem. Organic modeling kits are great too. Building the models (like legos) is an excellent way to visualize molecules/reactions. Good luck!

 

[ScottTenorman54]

The others have addressed the study strategies so I'll address the grade thing - if you withdraw, schools will generally assume you had a failing grade. If you can get a C, take the C. It won't sink you. Get the thought of taking a W out of your head, because it'll leech your motivation. I've been in the same position myself.

 

[NeedACar]

I always see people discouraging brute force memorization, but I'm going to share my brute force technique that got me an A+.

I made cue cards of the reactions (or course), but more importantly, I made tinier cue cards with things like: aldehyde, carboxylic acid, etc etc. on one side.
So that word would be the goal: "what are all the ways I can make __ an aldehyde __". On the other side, I would write down all the possible reactions leading to that molecule, multi-step or single step reactions, and then when studying, I would draw each of those.

I had another set with the reverse. Diers-Alder on one side, what are all the things I can make from this reaction (maybe with 1/2 common secondary/added reactions after it)?

Do it forwards, but more importantly, backwards. If you can think backwards, for example:

They gave me the product of a carboxylic acid. What are the ways I know how to make a CA? Okay, so we've got (let's say 7) ways to make it. From those 7, what do I need to make those 7 reactions happen? Etc. etc.

Yes it was time consuming, but it was worth it. Learn to think backwards like a detective: a diers-alder can make X, and X can be made by a diers-alder.

You think they're the same "knowledge" but really they aren't, you need to train your brain to think in this manner

 

[Pheelz]

I've been in the same position as you my friend just two years ago. I 100% agree with Scott, throw the idea of dropping the class out the window. Don't even think about it! That messes with you to the point where you can't focus at all. Commit to the class.

Flip to the back of each chapter and just start doing the problems 1 to the last one. You'll get most of them wrong at first, but you'll learn and you'll practice. This isn't your typical biology class where you just memorize the powerpoint your proff presents and you're golden. You HAVE to actually practice the problems, everyday.

O chem was an incredible challenge for me, but at the same time, the best class I ever took. You just have to find your rhythm, because the one you have now is just not cutting it.

 

[BKNbkn]

As a previous student of Dr. David Klein, his Second Language book is high-yield and highly recommended.

As a long-time tutor of organic chemistry, I noticed most people suffer because they have poor understanding/retention of core concepts from general chemistry.

As a long-time tutor of biochemistry, I noticed most people suffer because they have poor understanding/retention of core concepts from organic chemistry.

 

[Gurby]

Get a private tutor ASAP.

I never needed a tutor to succeed at any point previously in my academic career, but for some reason I just couldn't do OChem. Bombed the first test, got a tutor, studied like a fiend, ended up with an A. It's important to be able to recognize when you need help, and not be afraid to seek it out.

 

[peridotthecat]

I always see people discouraging brute force memorization, but I'm going to share my brute force technique that got me an A+.

I made cue cards of the reactions (or course), but more importantly, I made tinier cue cards with things like: aldehyde, carboxylic acid, etc etc. on one side.
So that word would be the goal: "what are all the ways I can make __ an aldehyde __". On the other side, I would write down all the possible reactions leading to that molecule, multi-step or single step reactions, and then when studying, I would draw each of those.

I had another set with the reverse. Diers-Alder on one side, what are all the things I can make from this reaction (maybe with 1/2 common secondary/added reactions after it)?

Do it forwards, but more importantly, backwards. If you can think backwards, for example:

They gave me the product of a carboxylic acid. What are the ways I know how to make a CA? Okay, so we've got (let's say 7) ways to make it. From those 7, what do I need to make those 7 reactions happen? Etc. etc.

Yes it was time consuming, but it was worth it. Learn to think backwards like a detective: a diers-alder can make X, and X can be made by a diers-alder.

You think they're the same "knowledge" but really they aren't, you need to train your brain to think in this manner

I did something similar to this--I wouldn't quite call it brute force memorization. I organized reactions by their substrates (all the reactions with a carboxylic acid) and, separately, by their products (all the reactions that make a carboxylic acid). I focused especially on the mechanisms and extracting patterns of how electrons tend to move and did a lot of practice problems (what will these 2 reagents make or how would you synthesize this compound type things). Good luck!

 

[chemguy79]

As a previous student of Dr. David Klein, his Second Language book is high-yield and highly recommended.

As a long-time tutor of organic chemistry, I noticed most people suffer because they have poor understanding/retention of core concepts from general chemistry.

As a long-time tutor of biochemistry, I noticed most people suffer because they have poor understanding/retention of core concepts from organic chemistry.

I completely agree. I tutor 30+ students a semester in Gen Chem, Orgo and Biochem and it is a recurring cycle of shame. Doing well on old exams is great for practice, but you have to think about how the questions can be asked differently and be able to plan for those changes. Orgo requires you to not only memorize patterns, but you have to be able to decipher what could happen if the pattern changes.

Klein's textbook AND Second Language are pretty amazing because the provides valuable synthesis patterns that you don't typically seen in other Organic Chemistry textbooks.

 

[Rennade]

Thank you everyone for your advices! I decided to stay in the course because this is an obstacle I want to overcome or it'll spill over to my upcoming courses. I'll try to incorporate all your advices and improve.

 

[wizzed101]

Just memorize stuffs man. Know what are acids, bases, ketones, alcohols etc.... and memorize how to make ketones from acids, alcohols etc. If you are good at memorization, memorize the flow of electrons too, it will eventually make sense. Reagents are also important. Memorize the names, the abbreviation and what they are supposed to do. At the end of the day, if you don't get As you don't memorize enough because if you can, it WILL make sense.

Ex: X -----Reagent A---> ??? What is X? is it an alcohol? what is A? an oxidizing reagent? Boom ---> ketones of aldehyde. If you fail to answer this question either: you don't know what X is, you don't know what A is, or you don't know what can react with A. All are your failure to memorize enough info.

Another example: X ---?????----> Y. What is X? What is Y? If Y is an alcohol, how do you make alcohol? Reducing a ketone? How do you make ketones?.... Eventually you get to X. If you fail to answer this question either: you don't know what X is, you don't know what Y is, or you don't know how to make Y from the most pertinent reactants? All are your failure to memorize enough info.

Another example: Name X? If you fail to answer this question, you deserve to fail the course.

Those 3 are basically all that can be tested on an Ochem exam. There is nothing about Ochem that makes it fundamentally harder than say physics except you have more to memorize.

 

[theonlytycrane]

I hope you're not tested on IUPAC naming

 

[ankle_bearer80]

Ochem is a tough course and a B isn't the worst thing in the world. I've had friends who got into med school even after getting B's in Ochem. If your school offers tutoring services, go to them. The students are screened by their grades and usually they only invite people who received A's to tutor.

I just practiced questions until I felt like I was going to puke. Got an A in both semesters of Ochem. Good luck, OP.

 

[Lost In Transcription]

The others have addressed the study strategies so I'll address the grade thing - if you withdraw, schools will generally assume you had a failing grade. If you can get a C, take the C. It won't sink you. Get the thought of taking a W out of your head, because it'll leech your motivation. I've been in the same position myself.

I am going to say this advice is bad.

You can always retake a course. A C will always factor into your AMCAS application GPA...

 

[ScottTenorman54]

I am going to say this advice is bad.

You can always retake a course. A C will always factor into your AMCAS application GPA...

Yes, a W will preserve your GPA. And that illusion will last only as long as it takes for an AdComm to glance at your transcript and see the withdrawals. At which point they'll assume you were failing the course when you really weren't. Why give them reason to believe that? You can't just look at how it affects GPA to the exclusion of everything else. Besides, retaking a course to avoid a C is a bit ridiculous, not to mention a waste of time. It's a passing grade. He can move on, and show solid work in higher level chemistry courses.

 

[Lost In Transcription]

Yes, a W will preserve your GPA. And that illusion will last only as long as it takes for an AdComm to glance at your transcript and see the withdrawals. At which point they'll assume you were failing the course when you really weren't. Why give them reason to believe that? You can't just look at how it affects GPA to the exclusion of everything else. Besides, retaking a course to avoid a C is a bit ridiculous, not to mention a waste of time. It's a passing grade. He can move on, and show solid work in higher level chemistry courses.

Unless OP is not ready for upper division chemistry classes, which might be possible, due to....oh, a failing grade in Ochem.

The adcoms on here have said multiple times that a single W is fine. Or maybe two.

 

[ScottTenorman54]

Unless OP is not ready for upper division chemistry classes, which might be possible, due to....oh, a failing grade in Ochem.

The adcoms on here have said multiple times that a single W is fine. Or maybe two.

He has a good chance at a C. That's not failing. The adcoms have also said a single C is fine. Or maybe two. Heck, I just got accepted with three. My two cents, based on what he's said - he oughta go for it.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Ochem did not start to make sense for me until I buckled down and actually learned electron orbital theory.. always just glossed over the sigma and pi orbital stuff. Once I understood how to push electrons everything made sense and could be predictable. There's only a handful of rules that Ochem relies on (with exceptions of course)

Leah4Sci has some good intro tutorials covering mechanisms, concepts, trends, etc that break everything down for you carefully.