I need some advice

[petlee1]

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So I got B in genchem I and I think I might get B in genchem II again. I needed an A on today's test and I didn't do as well as I could have. If I suck at genchem, is that an indicator that O chem will be hard as well. I was planning to take Honors O chem and if I can't even get A on the regular genchem, can I still do good in ochem. Also, why do we need to learn useless stuff like titrations, acid and bases??? I mean what the heck is the point? 🙁

 

[SurgeonTime]

So I got B in genchem I and I think I might get B in genchem II again. I needed an A on today's test and I didn't do as well as I could have. If I suck at genchem, is that an indicator that O chem will be hard as well. I was planning to take Honors O chem and if I can't even get A on the regular genchem, can I still do good in ochem. Also, why do we need to learn useless stuff like titrations, acid and bases??? I mean what the heck is the point? 🙁

not useless stuff

a negative attitude will never get you far in life.,

suck it up/cut the bull****/and do the work.

 

[Perseverar]

I got a B in GenChem II and pretty easily pulled an A in OChem. It seems like people who don't like GenChem usually do better in Ochem (Caveat: This has been my experience, but there are also people who don't like Chemistry at all and do poorly in all classes. There are also people who do well in all Chemistry classes they take. But some people who don't like physical chemistry enjoy organic chemistry).

I really didn't connect with the boring material in physical chem, but I loved learning how everything interacts and functions in OChem! You will be fine as long as you stay on top of the material- don't fall behind! And make sure you are on top of memorizing pka's and mechanisms, don't leave it to the last second.

 

[petlee1]

The problem is I'm good in courses that focus on memorization such as bio/psych/history. I'm getting 95% in psych right now and we covered stuff like nervous system, brain anatomy, stuff I feel like it is much more relavent to medical school than genchem. I understand all the concepts in genchme but Im not good with doing new problems that's different from the book. It's just so frustrating since I do good on the practice exam and the actual exam is different and then I panic and bomb the test..

 

[Perseverar]

Have you looked into tutoring? I bet your school has a free tutoring program- especially for chem classes! That might help, since the tutors have usually taken the class and can help prepare you for the exams.

 

[jc14]

You will be fine as long as you stay on top of the material- don't fall behind! And make sure you are on top of memorizing pka's and mechanisms, don't leave it to the last second.

This.

The material in OChem isn't too terrible conceptually... there's just a lot of it!

 

[specter]

gen chem and ochem are pretty different, mostly because ochem isn't really quantitative, which is probably why many premeds/bio majors are bothered by gen chem.

 

[searun]

So I got B in genchem I and I think I might get B in genchem II again. I needed an A on today's test and I didn't do as well as I could have. If I suck at genchem, is that an indicator that O chem will be hard as well. I was planning to take Honors O chem and if I can't even get A on the regular genchem, can I still do good in ochem. Also, why do we need to learn useless stuff like titrations, acid and bases??? I mean what the heck is the point? 🙁

Good thing you are predental. If you were premed, with that attitude, well, I would say, good luck and try something else. You realize that you are a bit of a baby, right? Medical school would probably destroy you, if you are that delicate. SWEET MOTHER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PROTECT US!

 

[FloatOn]

O chem pushes you to look at the material and study differently, but like any other class, just put in the time, do practice problems, and ask for help when you need it.

 

[IH8ColdWeath3r]

I HATED Gen Chem (but still got A's in both) and I did very well in organic. I tutor organic now and I loved the subject, and I too agree that people who don't like gen chem usually like organic, but it is a totally different ball game.

Actually, alot of stuff in gchem is relevant OP, like your blood for instance, is a buffer. I don't mean to sound condescending but you do seem way too fragile, and you are obviously a freshman or sophomore. Only by really understanding something will you be able to apply it long term.

And BTW some advice for the future if you plan on being successful, DONT TRY TO MEMORIZE OCHEM. I see bio majors every year trying to memorize organic and they all fail and end up giving up on going to med/dent school. You cannot memorize that course, and you must devote the time to really learn and UNDERSTAND IT, or else.....well you'll be one of the bio students that I mentioned above. good luck

 

[Silverman780]

To be honest first term gen chem I got a "C" in.
Partially my fault, partially the "teacher's"
I knew beforehand that chemistry wasn't my strongest area.

First "C" since fifth grade. Was I pissed? Yes.

What did I do?

I went and signed up for the next sequential chem class with another professor. "B" was my grade for that. It also looks like I am headed towards another "B" this term as well.

I'm now going to tell you what a doctor who is mentoring me told me:

"Truth be told, the entire medical school admissions process is somewhat of a joke. I tried to apply in the early 90's with a GPA sitting at about 3.00 and a fairly competitive mcat" My advisor told me that I had a snowball's chance in hell of ever being accepted into med school. She was correct, I was rejected twice, it stung. At the time I was working as an EMT, I then enrolled in paramedic school and upgraded to paramedic. I worked in that for a little over 5 years, I then retook the mcat, scored fairly well. Then re applied 6 years later and was accepted. Now today look at me I am the chief of emergency medicine. (Note: the hospital he works at is a fairly prestigious trauma center)

Do you really think that what you scored on a test during your freshman year of college should get in your way of your dream? Do you think the patients I deal with give a flying crap what i scored on a chem test in two decades ago? If that makes me a bad practitioner then call me on it. I have met a lot of brilliant med students that knew their chem and physics but absolutely lacked interpersonal skills and were unable to connect with patients. And at the end of the day thats what really matters. If you want it, chase it.