Messing up :(

[Wakaaa]

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I transferred from a cc right after I finished freshmen year. I'm taking Orgo 1, genetics, orgo 1 lab, humanities, and a 200 elective.

I think I did really bad on my orgo test and I will get it back tomorrow so I'll know my grade for sure, but my genetics test I got the grade back (65). I thought I did really good on it and knew everything, after looking at the test and asking the teacher I figured I'd get an 87, but I got a 65... I can only get like 20 points off throughout the rest of this semester to get an A and it's going to mess up my GPA. I'm honestly depressed and don't know what to do about this.

 

[jhc83]

I am sorry to hear that. For organic chemistry, i highly recommend getting chad's videos to help out. I guarantee that you will do much much better once you watch his videos.

For genetics, you will just have to do everything to get an A in the class! This means if you have to give up time to hang out with your friends... do it. If you need to decrease the amount of sleep you get ... do that. Do whatever it takes to ace the class. It will work!


Good luck!!

 

[pinpoint212]

When you study, ask yourself, "Do I really know and understand the material or am I just reading the answer and saying I know it?"

You need to fix your study habits and try something different and more efficient. One week before the exam I would begin studying for the material. I would say that I know 80-90% of the material 2 days before the exam. Then I would go to office hours and ask for more additional help.

 

[Glimmer1991]

These classes are hard, and I know this from experience. However, they will come in VERY handy on your DAT, so make sure you learn them. It isn't the end of the world if you make an A- or a B. However, you've only had one test, so there's time to turn things around.

For organic, I believe the first test is always the hardest. It's a subject that you've never encountered before, and it's hard to know what to expect on the first test. The class gets easier as you go along. The material keeps getting harder, sure--but you just get more familiar with the format of the class and get a better feel for what is going on! My first orgo test was my worst, and I ended up with a 98 in both semesters. It's a hard class, but man, it pays off--after having a really tough (but wonderful!) teacher, I felt like I was doing a first grader's work on the OC section of my DAT.

For genetics, do lots of practice calculation problems if that's what you're struggling with. If it's the concepts, you just have to pound them out and memorize them.

I always, ALWAYS recommend going and talking to your professors before a test. Heck, my genetics teacher would basically tell me what was going to be the test if I went to his informal review sessions. "So, about topic X, what should I really focus on?" "Ah, well, I may just save that for the final. I'd focus on this instead." Professors are your friends. Don't be intimidated--in my experience, although I do go to a tiny private school, they all want to help.

Best of luck to you! I'm sure things will get better!

 

[wo5678]

I transferred from a cc right after I finished freshmen year. I'm taking Orgo 1, genetics, orgo 1 lab, humanities, and a 200 elective.

I think I did really bad on my orgo test and I will get it back tomorrow so I'll know my grade for sure, but my genetics test I got the grade back (65). I thought I did really good on it and knew everything, after looking at the test and asking the teacher I figured I'd get an 87, but I got a 65... I can only get like 20 points off throughout the rest of this semester to get an A and it's going to mess up my GPA. I'm honestly depressed and don't know what to do about this.

Do you have peer tutoring at your school? Something that always helped me was to get a study buddy. If neither of them work, hire a private tutor.

 

[Wakaaa]

Thanks a lot for the responses. The thing is if you mess up on a test at a university, you barely have that many points so it's even harder to reach for a grade.. At the university I have lab seperate so I can't use labs to help boost my grade and we don't have homework or handouts due like we did at the cc. Less points = need to work harder to get a good grade on tests/quizzes to get good grades in class..

 

[carlfusco]

Thanks a lot for the responses. The thing is if you mess up on a test at a university, you barely have that many points so it's even harder to reach for a grade.. At the university I have lab seperate so I can't use labs to help boost my grade and we don't have homework or handouts due like we did at the cc. Less points = need to work harder to get a good grade on tests/quizzes to get good grades in class..

I hear you there, I find that to be the the most stressful part of these science courses. For biochem and physio this semester, my grade is based entirely on 3 multiple choice tests. More often than not, though, your test grade matters less than how you did with respect to the rest of the class. I know teachers at my Uni like to give out A's and A-'s to the top 15% of the class, so maybe you're not alone in the lower test grades and that will work in your favor.

As for the next few tests - the people above have great suggestions. The most helpful study tactic I have is studying EARLY and studying OFTEN. You don't need to put in crazy long hours the day before a test if you've prepared consistently throughout the weeks preceding the test. Go home after each lecture and review for a while, then go to the professor in person to clarify anything you're hazy on. www.khanacademy.org and Chad's videos can also be helpful for Orgo. My key to success in orgo I and II was doing all the problems at the back of the assigned textbook.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Wakaaa]

My friends got an 87 and 90. Not sure about the other 6. Probably high B's mid A's...

 

[Blue87Fiero]

I failed an orgo test also. Orgo is a tough subject but once you start to get it I feel like everything falls together.

This is how I did good in orgo. I was talking about my score (the test I failed) with one of the students after class and he said he was usually in the library on sunday afternoon studying. I started to show up and the kid was super smart and helped me out a ton. He was a big reason I rocked the rest of orgo and got and A-.

So find a really smart student to study with.

Good luck

 

[Wakaaa]

I failed an orgo test also. Orgo is a tough subject but once you start to get it I feel like everything falls together.

This is how I did good in orgo. I was talking about my score (the test I failed) with one of the students after class and he said he was usually in the library on sunday afternoon studying. I started to show up and the kid was super smart and helped me out a ton. He was a big reason I rocked the rest of orgo and got and A-.

So find a really smart student to study with.

Good luck

Thanks, my genius sisters in my class lol. She skipped a year in middle school so she's in my grade now.

 

[carlfusco]

Thanks, my genius sisters in my class lol. She skipped a year in middle school so she's in my grade now.

Haha what a beast. At least you've got a personal tutor whenever you need one.

 

[Wakaaa]

Haha what a beast. At least you've got a personal tutor whenever you need one.

Yes, I'm thankful for having her. I don't think I'd be near where I currently am without her.

 

[Wakaaa]

Ok guys. I did just as bad on my second orgo test.. I am going to try to get the C, but if I don't what do you guys think I should do? Take a c or d and move onto orgo 2 and then take it during the summer again or drop orgo 1 now and take it in the summer or next semester at cc? I hate my life right now lol

 

[predentalguy20]

Ok guys. I did just as bad on my second orgo test.. I am going to try to get the C, but if I don't what do you guys think I should do? Take a c or d and move onto orgo 2 and then take it during the summer again or drop orgo 1 now and take it in the summer or next semester at cc? I hate my life right now lol

I would drop that **** really quick. From what I am seeing here its not even a guarantee that you'll get a C. It's kind of bad that you drop orgo to take it at CC but it sure is hell a lot better if you can get an A at the CC then a C or D at the university. I did all my orgo classes at CC and still got a 21 on the orgo section on the DAT.

 

[telemonster]

Go ahead and drop. Not a huge deal, but be able to explain in the future (after you make a decent grade in ochem 1 & 2) what you learned from the experience.

In the future, not kidding, lightly skim the textbook just for the outline of what you will cover in class. Once you're in class, write down all the pertinent information and PAY ATTENTION. Then that day (don't wait) type up your notes, highlight, make flash cards, whatever you like. Just reinforce the material. Finally, of you still aren't grasping something, pair your notes with your textbook and compare the two to see what is troubling you. Continue to do this, with practice problem as needed.
And after each exam, review all the questions to see why you got them right or why you got them wrong.

 

[Wakaaa]

Thanks guys. I will think about it. Will I be getting two W's if I drop orgo and lab? Because that would suck!! Or would it be obvious that one lead to another due to being a requirement.

 

[Dent4GA]

This is going to be the art of figuring out how you study best. Something that will be tested over and over once you are in d-school. Figuring it out early on will make your life a lot easier when you are getting 20x the amount of material in just a few days. From my experience, dropping classes can be a very hard decision. I would recommend possibly only dropping one class, and utilize the extra time to get the best grade possible in the other class. Just so you know, just one grade on your application is not going to keep you out of d-school. I had to learn the hard way and dig myself out of a hole from the beginning of my college career. Best of luck to you!

 

[Wakaaa]

I appreciate it. Thanks