Good study guides for organic chem

[Arrode]

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After reading all the scary stories about how hard organic chem is I thought I'd ask the post-bacc students this: Did any of you use any sort of study guide or get help to pass the classes? I really want to make sure I get As in all my post-bacc classes and these classes are the ones I fear the most.

(Also physics, I suppose, since physics wasn't ever my strong point)

 

[LaughingGas]

After reading all the scary stories about how hard organic chem is I thought I'd ask the post-bacc students this: Did any of you use any sort of study guide or get help to pass the classes? I really want to make sure I get As in all my post-bacc classes and these classes are the ones I fear the most.

(Also physics, I suppose, since physics wasn't ever my strong point)

Success to ochem is making flashcards, understand how mechanisms work and other concepts then you are set. Practice is essential. Once you understand, you can see the patterns.

 

[deleted248403]

Practice problems

Then find more practice problems

 

[Arrode]

Thanks for the advice. 🙂

 

[betterlate]

Thanks for the advice. 🙂

I whole-heartedly agree. Practice problems is the way to go. If your textbook comes with a solution manual, get it. (Assuming that that's copacetic w/ the prof; the solutions manual was one of the recommended textbooks for the class I took.) Do the problems in the text and check your answers. If you get something wrong and don't understand why, follow up with the prof. Then practice some more.

Orgo was one of my favorite postbacc classes. I'd never taken chemistry in my life - including high school, one of those weird things about switching schools halfway through - before postbacc, and then I took gen chem and orgo in the same year. I was scared of it beforehand, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

 

[Enzyme1]

Taking Gen chem 1 along with Orgo 1? That seems very drastic..are you suggesting we can do this if we have no knowledge of chem going in when taking them concomitantly

 

[deleted248403]

Orgo was one of my favorite postbacc classes. I'd never taken chemistry in my life - including high school, one of those weird things about switching schools halfway through - before postbacc, and then I took gen chem and orgo in the same year. I was scared of it beforehand, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Taking Gen chem 1 along with Orgo 1? That seems very drastic..are you suggesting we can do this if we have no knowledge of chem going in when taking them concomitantly

I think betterlate might have misspoken or we misunderstood what was said.

I don't think its advisable (or allowed) to take GC1 concurrently with Orgo 1 - only way to do both in both 1-yr would be if someone did GC#1 in the spring, GC#2 in the summer, and Orgo #1 in the fall or something to that extent.

 

[betterlate]

I think betterlate might have misspoken or we misunderstood what was said.

I don't think its advisable (or allowed) to take GC1 concurrently with Orgo 1 - only way to do both in both 1-yr would be if someone did GC#1 in the spring, GC#2 in the summer, and Orgo #1 in the fall or something to that extent.

robflanker is correct - I took GC 1 and 2 in the summer, then Orgo 1 and 2 in the Fall and Spring respectively. I definitely do NOT recommend taking orgo w/o taking gen chem.

 

[Moki]

Agree with the above re practice problems. I found this book helpful for the bigger picture: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Second-Language-Translating/dp/0471272353

Can't remember if I also picked up the part II book . . . . .

 

[elusiveCHILD]

Organic Chemistry As A Second Language 👍👍👍👍

The reason why I love it so much is it because it doesn't force you to regurgitate the information but makes sure you UNDERSTAND why you move electrons a certain way and etc. It was VERY helpful to me!

 

[betterlate]

Organic Chemistry As A Second Language 👍👍👍👍

The reason why I love it so much is it because it doesn't force you to regurgitate the information but makes sure you UNDERSTAND why you move electrons a certain way and etc. It was VERY helpful to me!

I'll third that recommendation - it's a phenomenal set of books (I used it for gen chem, too).

 

[deleted248403]

Overall advice - you cannot cram for Orgo; i'm sure you've heard that but you really can't. There is no memorization - its all conceptual

It would be tough to learn all the concepts the night before the exam.

Do some orgo everyday and you'll be fine.

I didn't follow this advice, and did not do so hot the first time I took Orgo. Secondtime around, I swallowed my pride and listened - and dominated it.