I'm studying really hard but I am about to get a B. I have 3.99 GPA and I don't want any B if I can avoid it. We already had 2 mid terms and now I have 86. There is one more mid term and then final. I know its a long shot but I'm really trying not to give up. So anyone who got an A how did you prepare for your exams?
How did you get A in organic chemistry?
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How to get an A in organic chem guaranteed:
1) Read section before lecture
2) Ask intelligent questions, when you have them
3) Do problems and more problems and more problems.
Ochem is the most straight forward, logical class in terms of material of all undergrad science, in my experience. Once it clicks, you get it.
1) Read section before lecture
2) Ask intelligent questions, when you have them
3) Do problems and more problems and more problems.
Ochem is the most straight forward, logical class in terms of material of all undergrad science, in my experience. Once it clicks, you get it.
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I second the idea of tons and tons of practice problems. Get some flash cards, drill yourself on mechanisms, reactions etc. then do a crap ton of practice problems. Rinse and repeat for a couple hours every night for a week or so before a big exam. I think I sold my textbook like a month into orgo 1, I think many orgo teachers are pretty specific to a core set of reactions and the books tend to go in to an obscene amount of detail that I personally did not find helpful. Organic is a decent tester of how much random/unrelated knowledge you can quickly swallow, and then spit back up in a decently coherent fashion. Some later mechanisms do help with biochem though, so keep your chin up, keep enjoying learning, good luck!
PS: I tutored organic through college and I found for like 95% of the students that massive numbers of practice problems seriously help. Do the practice problems in your book (if you havent sold it like mine) or in MCAT prep books. The important thing to do is find connections between the random concepts and those connections come much like muscle memory does; you have to practice a lot to get that "orgo" memory down.
PS: I tutored organic through college and I found for like 95% of the students that massive numbers of practice problems seriously help. Do the practice problems in your book (if you havent sold it like mine) or in MCAT prep books. The important thing to do is find connections between the random concepts and those connections come much like muscle memory does; you have to practice a lot to get that "orgo" memory down.
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I can't agree more with what has already been said.
Initially, I was a bio major, but after taking ochem and seeing the logic and patterns that it is laced with, I switched to chemistry and have not regretted it since.
To succeed in ochem (or any chem course for that matter), it is to read the text book (at such a speed that you comprehend the material!), then do practice problems. Over and over. I spent probably 15+ hours per exam for ochem I and received a high A in the course. By the time ochem II rolled around, I was so familiar with the mechanism patterns and the motif of stability that I could read the assigned chapters the night before and ace the exam the next day.
It really is an intuitively sound course, but you have to put the time in! I also work in an ochem research lab, so knowing what the reactions mean beyond the chemical equation is also helpful for info retention.
Additionally, I would suggest getting an MCAT prep book on ochem. I find that the prep books (specifically BR and EK) explain topics in the most efficient ways I have ever seen.
Good luck!
Initially, I was a bio major, but after taking ochem and seeing the logic and patterns that it is laced with, I switched to chemistry and have not regretted it since.
To succeed in ochem (or any chem course for that matter), it is to read the text book (at such a speed that you comprehend the material!), then do practice problems. Over and over. I spent probably 15+ hours per exam for ochem I and received a high A in the course. By the time ochem II rolled around, I was so familiar with the mechanism patterns and the motif of stability that I could read the assigned chapters the night before and ace the exam the next day.
It really is an intuitively sound course, but you have to put the time in! I also work in an ochem research lab, so knowing what the reactions mean beyond the chemical equation is also helpful for info retention.
Additionally, I would suggest getting an MCAT prep book on ochem. I find that the prep books (specifically BR and EK) explain topics in the most efficient ways I have ever seen.
Good luck!
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I owned EK, BR, and TPR and I would agree and disagree with the statement above. I think EK babied their material heavily, compared to both the school's material and for the MCAT. I think BR is pretty solid all around, especially for reactions and mechanisms because they go into very nice details and have fantastic practice problems that would probably cater heavily towards your class. While I think TPR had a really solid handle on laboratory techniques and spectroscopy and stuff (NMR, chromatography etc.) if your professor is into asking those types of questions.
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Go to lecture! People ask questions there you might not have thought about.
FLASH CARDS - on all reaction types
Use this book in the beginning of the semester!: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemi...24768&sr=8-4&keywords=klein+organic+chemistry
Do as many practice questions as possible!!!!!!!!
attend TA sessions for extra practice/to ask questions
FLASH CARDS - on all reaction types
Use this book in the beginning of the semester!: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemi...24768&sr=8-4&keywords=klein+organic+chemistry
Do as many practice questions as possible!!!!!!!!
attend TA sessions for extra practice/to ask questions
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I have to agree with most of the said statements. I think practice problems are the single most important thing you can do, if possible: get your hands on some practice tests too. I think flash cards and reading the chapter might be a waste of time, you'll get faster results if you start on practice problems right away.
Practice problems everyday!! I filled up an entire not book each semester with practice problems!
Also make study guides and flash cards when you can. I found it really help to have an on going mechanisms list with all of your mechanisms drawn out.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Also make study guides and flash cards when you can. I found it really help to have an on going mechanisms list with all of your mechanisms drawn out.
Hope this helps and good luck!
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You have to do a TON of problems. I lucked out with a really good organic teacher and he always says the only way you can properly learn the material is to do the problems. He emphasized that you were not supposed to get problems right the first time and making mistakes is how you learn. Reading the book isn't worth it for organic, my professor has a great analogy he told us on the first day of class. Can you learn how to ride a bike by reading about how to ride one? No,you cant, you actually have to get on the bike and practice. Also, if you wanted to get really really good at riding a bike, you would practice a lot till you were very good. Same with Organic Chemistry. In my opinion, organic is a class that rewards effort. I don't think the material is super difficult you just have to put a LOT of work in to really understand it.
Check out his study advice page http://chm233.asu.edu/studyaids.html
Check out his study advice page http://chm233.asu.edu/studyaids.html
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+1000. I actually had an A-, but that was exactly what I did. What a sh*tty and incoherent class!
D
deleted314957
3.99? Poor baby 🙁 WAKE UP sunshine! Are you for real? You may be a bit o/c to be a doctor.
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Chemistry has always been my weak point (I got a B first semester of gen. chem and a C+ second semester). But I'm currently going through my first semester of O-chem and find the material extremely comprehensible by using David Klein's "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" to help me study.
I really love O-Chem. Everything just seemed to come to me naturally, but even when I thought it was really easy, I always did a lot of problems and studied with my friends weeks ahead of time. If there are problems you're unsure about, go to your professor and talk through them.
You can do it, I believe in you! 😀
You can do it, I believe in you! 😀
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In order for me to secure an A I actually learned the concepts instead of memorizing. This is easier than it sounds. Look at how the e-'s move in the mechanism and ask yourself "why?." Are the e- going here (for example the o on a carbonyl) bc it's really electrophilic? These are the kinds of details that I learned. This way, incase you are stumped, or memory fails, you can use your knowledge of trends to help get the right answer!! Hope this helps!! You still have a great chance being that you still have the semester to rock it!! YOU CAN DO IT!!! Kick ass and take names!
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Don't hate!
