Gen Chem 2 and Orgo

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numbersloth

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My school only requires Gen Chem 1 as a pre-req for Orgo. However, in order to make my schedule work out, it looks like I'll be taking Gen Chem 2 and Orgo 1 at the same time. Has anyone done this? How manageable is it?
 
Just do the work and you will be fine. Gen chem and orgo and completely different from my experience. Orgo is not as hard as everyone says it is, but don't let that make you complacent. Put in the work to achieve A's in those classes. They are high yield on the MCAT (gen chem in particular). I took gen chem 2 during a semester of 21 credits and did fine. I took orgo during an 18 credit semester and did fine. I think that it is definitely manageable as long as you budget your time and study accordingly.
 
If those are the two hardest classes on your schedule you will be fine. I just wouldn't add much more in terms of difficult courses.
 
I think all that I ever used from gen chem 2 in organic was acid/base trends. You can learn those in a hurry though if you need.

The only thing I really needed a gen chem 2 background for was biochemistry. I wish now that I would have paid more attention... but I hated gen chem 2.
 
Anyone can do it. I did it and was a D1 athlete with a semi decent social life... follow what the teachers tell you to do at the start of the year. Go to office hours regularly, skim read the chapter before and slowly/take notes after the class, ask questions in class, do lots of practice problems. and keep a card for all the reactions in orgo.

Chem 2 is easy, orgo is as hard as you make it... it just takes time and frequency.
 
I completed orgo 2 and gen chem 2 successfully. With the exception of acid/bases, these two courses are quite different and practically independent of each other. I had a ~20 credit course load with physics 2 and some other bio classes and labs. Needless to say, it was a stressful semester. I slipped a little in gen chem 2 thinking that because it was one of my stronger subjects I didn't have to give it the attention it deserved (So wrong! I underestimated how often I needed to practice solving problems; most of my "problem-solving" attention went to physics). Lesson learned but I pulled off the semester alright!
 
Two totally different ball parks. That's from what I've heard.
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You'll be fine. I took orgo before gen Chem and I was okay.


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