General Chem?

[EMS5]

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Thanks to the Ochem question, I need some advice as well. I am taking my principles of chem I and lab this semester. however I am sweating bullets because I failed h.s. chem and passed it the second time with a C. any advice for improving and making better habits in college chem?

 

[Disinence2]

Find a textbook/Resource that works well for you. Some schools have a free tutoring program for the 101 sciences. These are typically confidential, it might be a good idea to start off using one.

 

[Elkoshi]

Problems, problems, problems, and then more problems. No matter how well you know the material, you won't do well on the tests without practice. Try to find out what kind of problems the professor likes asking, and then search for similar ones in your textbook.

 

[DrYoda]

Do lots of practice problems and keep up with the material.


If it makes you feel slightly less worried: I barely passed HS chem and I got A's in all my college chemistries.

 

[jtimmer1]

Problems, problems, problems, and then more problems.

This is really the best way to learn gen. chem material. Do problems over and over again until you feel comfortable with them; and by comfortable, I mean able to do them in your sleep.

 

[EMS5]

Seems like the general consensus is learn by quantity. Thanks a lot guys!

 

[Phosphorus Ylide]

I agree with the above posts. Practice is key. I notice that many people are reluctant to do practice problems because of busy schedules, work, etc if the problems are not collected, but the reward will definitely be your exam scores.

Some other suggestions:

-Buy a solutions manual, if available. Many of them have detailed explanations on how to work out odd or even problems, but the concepts are very similar.

-Don't fall behind. I see students in the tutoring center who miss several sections then want to have it summarized in a one to two hour session and it just isn't feasible.

-Utilize your campus tutoring resources, if available. As mentioned, most schools have free tutoring services for G Chem, O Chem, Physics, etc.

-Visit office hours. They are very helpful if you can't seem to get a particular concept down and you have tried other resources.

-Understand the underlying concepts and use your reasoning abilities. Does this answer make sense?



Good luck 🙂


BTW, I hated chemistry in high school and recall probably doing mediocre at best in it.

 

[Van Chowder]

Dont Psych your self out. It really isn't that bad especially if you understand elementary mathematics .

 

[GoSpursGo]

I definitely think the best two things you can do is to do a ton of problems and go to office hours.

 

[EMS5]

I agree with the above posts. Practice is key. I notice that many people are reluctant to do practice problems because of busy schedules, work, etc if the problems are not collected, but the reward will definitely be your exam scores.

Some other suggestions:

-Buy a solutions manual, if available. Many of them have detailed explanations on how to work out odd or even problems, but the concepts are very similar.

-Don't fall behind. I see students in the tutoring center who miss several sections then want to have it summarized in a one to two hour session and it just isn't feasible.

-Utilize your campus tutoring resources, if available. As mentioned, most schools have free tutoring services for G Chem, O Chem, Physics, etc.

-Visit office hours. They are very helpful if you can't seem to get a particular concept down and you have tried other resources.

-Understand the underlying concepts and use your reasoning abilities. Does this answer make sense?



Good luck 🙂


BTW, I hated chemistry in high school and recall probably doing mediocre at best in it.

Yes that made a lot of sense actually. I think my main problem in high school was that I frankly didnt give 2 hoots about chemistry, and therefore didnt practice. Many thanks for the advice!

 

[chman]

I'm a firm believer, in any subject, accurate note taking is critical. By accurate notes I mean re-write directly after class into a language that you can understand. This works for just about every subject. Also, learn more than you are told to. In my experience, the difference between an "A" and a low "B" is learning the things that your professor does not ask you to. Good luck.😎

 

[VooDooo327]

Although doing a lot of problems is the best way to learn doing the wrong problems can be a waste of time. Look up old exams your specific professor has given. Take note of the format of the test, how he/she tests, what he/she tests, and how the problems are answered. A lot of people take tests knowing a lot but don't know how to answer the questions the way the professor is looking for.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Do as many problems as you can. Buy the instructors solutions manual. It comes with odd and even solutions. 😎

 

[BennieBlanco]

Thanks to the Ochem question, I need some advice as well. I am taking my principles of chem I and lab this semester. however I am sweating bullets because I failed h.s. chem and passed it the second time with a C. any advice for improving and making better habits in college chem?

Although seeking advice is great, this is a skill you need to develop on your own.

Learning different topics is essential to becoming a physician. Stay disciplined and focused, you should do fine if you read all the materials and practice repeatedly.

Gen Chem is a smaller mountain to climb on the journey to becoming a physician.

 

[Sauce1]

Buy Chemistry the Central science by brown lemay and bursten with the solutions manual. This gen. chem text book is amazing and they have a bunch of examples worked out in the chapter that really help understand the thought process in solving the problems. This was the only text book I used to study for the MCAT as well because it is so good.

 

[Baboo Bhaiya]

Thanks to the Ochem question, I need some advice as well. I am taking my principles of chem I and lab this semester. however I am sweating bullets because I failed h.s. chem and passed it the second time with a C. any advice for improving and making better habits in college chem?

I did not do great in college chemistry classes and right now, I am studying for the MCAT. Right now, I have to LEARN EVERYTHING. I would suggest you do the same. Go out of your way to UNDERSTAND the material. DO NOT just memorize to get an A in the class. I can't stress this too much. Trust me, you are going to have to learn all this chemistry before you take the MCAT - might as well do it now.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I did not do great in college chemistry classes and right now, I am studying for the MCAT. Right now, I have to LEARN EVERYTHING. I would suggest you do the same. Go out of your way to UNDERSTAND the material. DO NOT just memorize to get an A in the class. I can't stress this too much. Trust me, you are going to have to learn all this chemistry before you take the MCAT - might as well do it now.

Agreed. I am in the same spot.

The more I review and study for the MCAT, the more I realize that the absolute focus is on the WHY and the concept. You may know that atomic radius increases from left to right but you need to think about the whys of each of the rules. Then you can answer questions that are playing off the concepts but not off the memorization.