Needs pep talk (on biochem & orgo)

[Verloren]

I'm a sophomore with a 3.8+ average. I've gotten all A's, but at my school, an A- is a 3.7, so that's pulled down my score a bit. But that's an average with which I am happy. Very happy.

But there are a few things that are making me unhappy. Very unhappy.

1. Biochemistry. I study my butt off and keep getting B's on the exams. I'm really not used to classes in which effort doesn't translate into the grade. I had a tough time with chem my freshman year, but I worked really hard, sought out all the resources, and pulled off an A-. Not the case this year.

2. Organic chemistry. I just got a grade for my last midterm a few hours ago. The average isn't posted yet, but I got a 49%. People keep telling me I should wait for the average to be posted, but I don't want to set myself up for false hope and subsequent disappointment.

The point is, I stink at orgo. I do the practice problems, go to help sessions, keep up, etc. But I cannot visualize the sticks and dots and I am doing poorly in the class. This exam is the first exam for which I have gotten lower than a B IN MY LIFE.

These classes are really bringing me emotionally, physically down. I'm having a tougher time focusing in class, I procrastinate a lot more at home, I've been staying up later and feeling more fatigued--I feel like the bad grades are really affecting me deep down. I know, I KNOW I should just learn from my mistakes and move on...but I still dwell on my bad grades, no matter how much I try to will myself forward.


So...
can someone give me advice on studying for biochem and orgo? Any personal stories, any pep talk that can save me from this depressive slump? I guess I'm not used to this kind of performance in my classes...and the thought of a B and a C--especially a C in orgo--on my transcript is not a warm and fuzzy one.

So please don't comment saying that I have nothing to complain about. I am genuinely distressed. 🙁

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[Verloren]

AUGH so I just found out the class average was 67 +/- 16. And if he curves to a B-, I guess I have a D?

AAGH I just want to go sleep in a cave for a hundred years

 

[tennischamp822]

.

 

[ziggydoc]

First of all, you should NEVER count on curves, which I think you already know.

Don't feel like you can't do well in these classes, because that is the first step to failure. Anyway, for Orgo, they have molecule kits that you can use and actually make the molecules, at my undergrad we were allowed to use these models in class and exams, I didn't use it much cuz they took too much time, but if you really have a tough time with visualizing it in your mind, spend the extra time and actually construct them, see how they move, and work, and maybe eventually you won't need the actual models anymore. They ususally only cost 20 bucks or so.

I am not sure why you are having a tough time with biochem, you need to memorize ALOT of info for that class, but you also need to understand the BIG picture for all the details to make sense, there are a lot of good graphs and diagrams online, use those because I am getting the feeling that you need to actually SEE how things are supposed to work to understand them.

Also, it seems that your prof for Orgo is a hardcase, from my experiences, hard teachers =/= best teachers, so during the rest of your undergrad, try finding good teachers that are fair.

Finally, make sure you are studying for the right stuff, profs ususally test either heavily on their class notes or certain sections of the book, find out from previous exams where the questions usually come from, and study that. Hard work WILL translate to doing well, you just need to know where to place that hard work.

Good luck!!

-Ziggy

 

[flip26]

Organic Chemistry is the #1 premed dream killer.

If you let it kill yours, you will be in good company.

 

[vin5cent0]

Buy some self-help books for chem. I would particularly suggest O-chem as a second language and O-chem for dummies (seriously). Both books have helped me a good deal.

Don't worry too much about o-chem. The class is hard as HELL for most people, but you won't get much sympathy on here because the average person is a god damned genius! Much like you, I struggle with it. In my class, a 70% is a B, and very few people have a B (out of about 85). It's sad when I'm jumping for joy over a 73% and people are jealous of me (literally, lab partners of mine have expressed jealousy over that).

Good luck 👍👍

 

[zetabetazeta]

1. Biochemistry. I study my butt off and keep getting B's on the exams. I'm really not used to classes in which effort doesn't translate into the grade. I had a tough time with chem my freshman year, but I worked really hard, sought out all the resources, and pulled off an A-. Not the case this year.

2. The point is, I stink at orgo. I do the practice problems, go to help sessions, keep up, etc. But I cannot visualize the sticks and dots and I am doing poorly in the class. This exam is the first exam for which I have gotten lower than a B IN MY LIFE.

These classes are really bringing me emotionally, physically down. I'm having a tougher time focusing in class, I procrastinate a lot more at home, I've been staying up later and feeling more fatigued--I feel like the bad grades are really affecting me deep down. I know, I KNOW I should just learn from my mistakes and move on...but I still dwell on my bad grades, no matter how much I try to will myself forward.

Amen! I just had a biochem midterm yesterday and I think I failed it miserably! I have a 3.9 GPA but now I have no idea what I will get at the end of this quarter. I studied super hard but I still get bad grades. =(

You can buy molecular modeling. I'm not sure about your school, but for my midterm and final, my professor allowed us to use it. It really helps you to visualize the structure.

I'm very very very depressed too. I feel like I'm going farther from med school. I totally understand what you feel right now. I actually cried last night and my dad talked me through. Pressure will not go away for sure, but I guess we just have to learn how to deal with the pressure and try harder. Just imagine, medical schools will be 100 times harder than this.

Good luck! We will get through it!

 

[Verloren]

I'm very very very depressed too. I feel like I'm going farther from med school. I totally understand what you feel right now. I actually cried last night and my dad talked me through. Pressure will not go away for sure, but I guess we just have to learn how to deal with the pressure and try harder. Just imagine, medical schools will be 100 times harder than this.

Good luck! We will get through it!

I feel like I am the most stressed I have been in my entire life. I have been crying a lot lately, and my parents keep telling me that as long as I try my best, I should have no regrets. But they don't know I failed this exam...

Also I feel like I would do better in medical school because I would be studying/memorizing things in which I am interested!! Yes it would be hard, but at least I wouldn't have a constant cloud hanging over my head.

My sister (med student) complains a lot about her exams, but then I remind her I'm taking orgo and biochem and then she admits I'm in a crappier situation.

I just want to fast-forward this semester...

 

[Verloren]

Organic Chemistry is the #1 premed dream killer.

If you let it kill yours, you will be in good company.

I won't let it kill my med school dreams...but my Hopkins dream is on an iron lung right now. Pretty fast, considering I'm just a sophomore. 🙁

 

[Verloren]

I failed my first midterm freshman year (my score was so low it fell off the left end of the posted bell curve). However, by the end of the semester I was able to bring up my grade for the class to a B (damn proudest grade I've ever gotten). Just make sure you don't psyche yourself out after just one test. You'll have many more to come (more than you could ever want) and, really, one bad score (heck even two!, though you might be pushing it on these here forums >.>) doesn't matter all that much in the big scheme of things. Good luck.

Your story is inspiring! I hope I can pull up my grade to a B, too. But though I'll be ten times happier, it'll still be just the tiniest bit sad that I let orgo bring my gpa down.

And I only have two exams left!! I scored average on the first (which was worth the least out of the midterms and final), horribly on this one, and then it's the midterm and final, which are each worth the same amount as this recent one. EEK

 

[metalgirl14]

Wow, this is like the story of my undergrad career. For every single pre-med class, I would majorly bomb one of the midterms but then somehow ace the 2nd midterm and/or the final. I can't tell you how many times I felt dumb/frustrated when I was taking my pre-med classes. At my school, only the basic pre-med classes were cut throat (all of the upper level science classes I took were great!). Just get as high of a grade a possible in the basic pre-req classes then boost your GPA with other science classes.

 

[neskalee]

ignore

 

[mathgrl83]

I feel like I am the most stressed I have been in my entire life. I have been crying a lot lately, and my parents keep telling me that as long as I try my best, I should have no regrets. But they don't know I failed this exam...

Also I feel like I would do better in medical school because I would be studying/memorizing things in which I am interested!! Yes it would be hard, but at least I wouldn't have a constant cloud hanging over my head.

My sister (med student) complains a lot about her exams, but then I remind her I'm taking orgo and biochem and then she admits I'm in a crappier situation.

I just want to fast-forward this semester...

Hi there, I have been there!! Here are my tips for you:

1. Figure out a way to deal with your stress. You will never come out of this if you're so stressed that all you can think about is failure. Take 30 minutes every day, no matter how busy you are, to read a book, or take a bath, or get some exercise, anything to relax yourself and get your mind off school.

2. Organic chemistry is hard, I think everyone agrees with that. I took it with no curve, which was awful. But I worked problems EVERY DAY without fail. I don't think there's any way around it. I definitely agree with some other posters about getting models - definitely worth it if you're having trouble visualizing. Also, go see your teacher! I'm sure he is very familiar with the trouble that most students have and may be able to offer you some good tips on how to improve.

3. I am taking biochem right now and have been doing pretty well so far. My study habits include initially reading and taking notes on the chapter, and then before the exam, going back and reading it all over again. I also am in the habit of googling anything that is a little unclear and reading as much as I have to until I get it. Sometimes it also helps to cross-reference other textbooks (i.e. physiology) in order to better understand the big picture. Your argument about taking courses later in med school that you're actually interested in doesn't work here because you're going to have to do biochem again!

Finally - you are pretty early in your college career. You are surely going to be taking a lot of difficult courses. Don't be afraid of a B here and there. Med schools aren't necessarily looking for perfect straight A people - if they are, I'm screwed. They want people who have made mistakes and have been able to learn from them, that is what gives you character. If you get a B here and there, don't panic! It doesn't mean your dreams are over!

Good luck!

 

[pOrtEnt]

I feel like I am the most stressed I have been in my entire life. I have been crying a lot lately, and my parents keep telling me that as long as I try my best, I should have no regrets. But they don't know I failed this exam...

Also I feel like I would do better in medical school because I would be studying/memorizing things in which I am interested!! Yes it would be hard, but at least I wouldn't have a constant cloud hanging over my head.

My sister (med student) complains a lot about her exams, but then I remind her I'm taking orgo and biochem and then she admits I'm in a crappier situation.

I just want to fast-forward this semester...

For orgo, it helps a lot to be able to picture things. Get a model kit and use it. People who are naturally good at visualization think model kits are a waste of time, but I think modeling could help you a lot. It takes a big time investment at first but once you start seeing things in your head it will help.

As for medical school, remember that there will still be a cloud hanging over your head. You will go through this process again, you will have to pass classes and board exams and apply for residencies at the end. Get comfortable with the uncertainty, most everyone feels this way, you are not alone.

 

[Dr Wake N Bake]

I'm sorry that this has gotten you down Verloren. It does really suck to feel so stressed out. Perhaps you could do something fun; take a short trip; get away from it all for just a little bit. Whatever you decide, I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Global Warming]

Well it seems that you ARE a good student and that you do not need to hear anything on that subject. Why you got that score on your second exam...I cannot say exactly.

However, what I can say is that I personally received a "D" on an O Chem exam, but ended up busting my ass to receive a final grade of "A". In retrospect, that crappy feeling I had (just like you're going through now) was the best possible thing that could happen to me academically. Because I was thrown into the pool without the ability to swim, I had to learn FAST. I did in fact learn fast and became a better student as a result. You really have to this because it simply does not get any easier. IE: MCAT, medical school exams, board exams, etc. Although I do not know you, I can pretty much tell that you are smart (aiming for Hopkins) and possess the ability to still do well in this class. Don't be another pre-med that dropped medicine because of O-chem. 70% of my classmates did = /

GL! 👍

 

[argonaute]

I feel like I am the most stressed I have been in my entire life. I have been crying a lot lately, and my parents keep telling me that as long as I try my best, I should have no regrets. But they don't know I failed this exam...

Also I feel like I would do better in medical school because I would be studying/memorizing things in which I am interested!! Yes it would be hard, but at least I wouldn't have a constant cloud hanging over my head.

My sister (med student) complains a lot about her exams, but then I remind her I'm taking orgo and biochem and then she admits I'm in a crappier situation.

I just want to fast-forward this semester...

okay, it's just one test, in one class- i know you are very disappointed and don't fell real good about it-i definitely didn't after getting my first ochem II midterm back- but try to channel that into determination to fix it. While you're probably not going to get an A+, you still have lots of time to salvage your grade, and instead of being depressed, be determined to master the material. especially in ochem, where everything builds upon itself, it's pretty important to spend a LOT of time and effort to really try to learn everything. ochem is hard, and you have to worker harder to get through.

it is curious that you're taking biochem and ochem at the same time- our school, and i htink most schools, have ochem as a prerequisite, because to be honest, you won't understand biochem without ochem... but in this case it might help. i know ochem would have definitely been more interesting if you thought about the biochemical reactions in living things that are based upon the ochem principles. it definitely helps to see a subjects as interesting and a source of knowledge rather than just a hard class.

realize also you're going to be taking more ochem and bio chem, not just in college but biochem in med school too.

 

[argonaute]

also, the only real way i got through ochem was to do tons and tons of practice problems. in my experience, the model kits only seemed to help with the beginning of ochem I, when you talk about structures, molecular shapes, steric hindrance and the such. later one, when ochem purely becomes the different types of reactions that can occur, really teh only way to get it is to do LOTS of problems with the syntheses, and going over reaction mechanisms.

there are some unifying themes in ochem, e.g. nucleophiles/electrophiles, and what things will change the chemical properties to make something nucleophilic/electrophilic, and if you can understand and focus on them, the mechanisms become intuitive. synthesis on the other hand....well do LOTS of problems!

 

[Verloren]

Whatever you decide, I hope you feel better soon.

Aww thanks Dr. Wake N Bake! It's only been about 5 days since I discovered my grade...and I do feel better!

 

[Verloren]

However, what I can say is that I personally received a "D" on an O Chem exam, but ended up busting my ass to receive a final grade of "A".

Although I do not know you, I can pretty much tell that you are smart (aiming for Hopkins) and possess the ability to still do well in this class. Don't be another pre-med that dropped medicine because of O-chem. 70% of my classmates did = /

GL! 👍

Your story is really inspirational. THANKS!! It's going to be quite a long shot for me to get an A, but I can definitely see myself getting a B, and I can live with that! And thanks for stroking my ego haha

And no worries about dropping medicine: I have no idea what it will take for me to give up medicine, but it won't be one class!

 

[Verloren]

it is curious that you're taking biochem and ochem at the same time- our school, and i think most schools, have ochem as a prerequisite, because to be honest, you won't understand biochem without ochem...

My school is...unique 😛

 

[vickpick]

AUGH so I just found out the class average was 67 +/- 16. And if he curves to a B-, I guess I have a D?

AAGH I just want to go sleep in a cave for a hundred years

wow that'll be a huge curve

 

[vickpick]

How are you in Orgo and Biochem at the same time? At my school, orgo is a prerequisite for biochem...

same at my school.. i call troll...!!!

 

[cbrons]

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

 

[Verloren]

same at my school.. i call troll...!!!

Um...Yes, this is really how it is at my school. I am not the only one taking biochem and ochem at the same time--a LOT of students here are doing it. If you don't have AP Chem credit and you do want to pursue a Bio major, you're stuck taking ochem and biochem at the same time.

I'm stuck with the last option because I actually want to pursue a bio major...because I like biology. Fancy that! And the only times the material for the two courses have intersected so far were when we discussed Fischer projections, cis/trans fatty acid chains and carbs. Other than that, the profs of the two classes know a TON of premeds are taking both at the same time. Our biochem prof frequently asks us how far we've gotten in ochem.

 

[CarlATHF]

Schildbach and Hill will eat your soul. Sorry, but that's just the way it is. Enjoy Schildbach's bitter cynicism and jokes in class, because it's probably the last class you'll take with him. Genetics and D.bio are more fun, genetics is all about problem solving and logic (aka fun) and D.bio is mostly interpreting experimental data (aka be smart and you're good).

Don't let Biochem and Orgo at JHU get you down. I got a B- and B in Orgo I and II respectively and I got into med school; you can too! Just study your butt off and you'll be ok.

 

[Verloren]

Enjoy Schildbach's bitter cynicism and jokes in class, because it's probably the last class you'll take with him. Genetics and D.bio are more fun, genetics is all about problem solving and logic (aka fun) and D.bio is mostly interpreting experimental data (aka be smart and you're good).

...uh after this year, that might be a problem for me JK
Wait, doesn't Schildbach teach Cell Bio, too? Yeah right now a B in biochem isn't making me worry as much as a C in orgo! haha

But sweet, I see you got into Florida! Congrats! I'd be pretty happy with getting into Maryland, so I'm going to just keep pushing but try not to worry as much...if that's possible.

My question for you: would you suggest genetics lab or dbio lab? And do you know if anyone took orgo 2 and physics 1 at the same time? That might be what I end up doing, since I want to study abroad, but I am super scared.