OChem is killing me (vent)

[LifeTake2]

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Sorry, but I just have to vent for a minute.

I have given 110% to this process, and started from behind due to a BS with an amazing 2.56 GPA 😀.

My pre-reqs have been going well, and I'm just a couple of weeks away from being done.

But I'm dying in OChem2! I have a mid C right now and it doesn't look good to improve that. I changed my studying style & amount for the last test to try and improve and I got a 39!!!!! I've never failed a test that bad in nearly 200 credit hours (I also have a Master's).

I know that OChem is hard, but I can't afford a C right now. My cGPA doesn't move noticeably regardless; but it will do nasty things to my sGPA (currently ~3.35).

Ok, done venting now, thanks.

 

[0919mmk]

Sorry, but I just have to vent for a minute.

I have given 110% to this process, and started from behind due to a BS with an amazing 2.56 GPA 😀.

My pre-reqs have been going well, and I'm just a couple of weeks away from being done.

But I'm dying in OChem2! I have a mid C right now and it doesn't look good to improve that. I changed my studying style & amount for the last test to try and improve and I got a 39!!!!! I've never failed a test that bad in nearly 200 credit hours (I also have a Master's).

I know that OChem is hard, but I can't afford a C right now. My cGPA doesn't move noticeably regardless; but it will do nasty things to my sGPA (currently ~3.35).

Ok, done venting now, thanks.

Take heart - OChem2 kills everybody. I'm guessing that your final curved grade will look much better than it does right now. Keep at it!

 

[pinkzebra]

does your school have a tutoring center you could utilize? have you gone to your professor for office hours? whenever i had an issue w a particular reaction mechanism i would make a 1:1 appointment with my professor - it helped a ton!

 

[MermaidMD]

does your school have a tutoring center you could utilize? have you gone to your professor for office hours? whenever i had an issue w a particular reaction mechanism i would make a 1:1 appointment with my professor - it helped a ton!

I second this idea--i spent about 4 hours each week stalking my poor professor in her office hours. Would not have pulled A's without it...

 

[spiderpete]

Some of it you need cold for mcat... Keto-enol, nmr/ir...

Hang in there. Perseverance thru the roughest weather will show them how tough and smart you are.

 

[sgtbrushes]

O Chem is just a freakin' bear. I'm in O Chem 2 now, and it is incredibly frustrating. I put in way more hours for the class than any other class and routinely score 20-30 points lower on the exams. Just remember, there are a lot of physicians with Bs (and probably Cs) in O Chem. You can only try your best; if you can't bring your C's up, you may have to take some more sciences to bring your BCPM up again.

 

[Inspire Aspire]

Take heart in that you are not alone. OChem 2 is killing me slowly(or quickly if my last test is any indication). We just took the second test and it will truly be a miracle if the class average is even a C. Especially considering the average for test one was like 74. And this is with a good teacher.

Keep working at it. With hard work and perseverance comes success.

 

[Lefty Doodle]

Yeah Orgo is tough. I know you are just venting, but I feel like I got a lot out of hearing how my classmates are tackling the beast, so maybe you'd like to hear what I am doing (I expect an A in the course).

I find that after each exam I realize that I studied way too much of the "why's" of the reactions and didn't practice problems I am weak on. I also don't pay enough attention to old exams because they usually scare me too much. But that robs me of understanding the format of the exam and the types of problems I need to be really good at. After my first midterm I realized I needed to work more on mechanisms and spec problems and it really paid off on the second midterm. I figured out more weaknesses that I will focus on for the final. So much of the studying you can do for that course will not help you on the exam, so make sure you are studying smart.

If you have issues with mechanisms, try the mechanisms book by Groutas. We all can do the simple mechanisms, but it gives you practice with some of the more complicated ones. It really speeded up my mechanism writing for my second midterm and left me plenty of time to puzzle out my spec problem.

You'll be fine, if you are working your butt of you will probably end up ahead of the curve and at least have a B 🙂.

 

[pinkzebra]

i also want to recommend to you "Organic Chemistry As A Second Language." there are two of them, one for each semester. they can be purchased anywhere - i got mine used from amazon.

they are seriously amazing!!! when i was having trouble understanding a concept, the books explained it VERY clearly. 🙂 definitely worth it to clarify things for the MCAT.

how you feel about ochem is how i feel about physics. ochem was a huge strength for me. physics, on the other hand, brings me to tears. my mind just does NOT wrap around it!

 

[MermaidMD]

how you feel about ochem is how i feel about physics. ochem was a huge strength for me. physics, on the other hand, brings me to tears. my mind just does NOT wrap around it!

That makes 2 of us!

 

[LifeTake2]

Thank you everyone, I know OChem is a beast, it just seems like I'm so close (MCAT on 5/20 and applying this summer) and yet this one d*** class is kicking my rear!

 

[pinkzebra]

Thank you everyone, I know OChem is a beast, it just seems like I'm so close (MCAT on 5/20 and applying this summer) and yet this one d*** class is kicking my rear!

i totally know how you feel (with physics), but you can def do it! from what i see, the ochem on the MCAT doesn't cover HALF of the stuff you've learned this year. the BS section is 80% bio and 20% ochem. what are you specifically having trouble with? reaction mechanisms? fundamental things from 1st sem? i really think you will be fine! 🙂

 

[murfettie]

OMG.. totally..
The thing that sucks way more for me is that I am already accepted.
(Somehow, I managed MCAT without orgo 2)
So I'm both suffering from severe senioritis AND the difficulty of the course itself....
I have never gotten anything lower than a B before........
Oh, I got a C for indoor soccer once. Now I got a solid sorta low C for orgo.... (sobs)
I'm definitely not getting it.

 

[Torr]

I loved physics and absolutely hated O-chem. Just couldn't get myself to enjoy it.

Anyway, take comfort in knowing the ONLY thing you have to remember for the MCAT is aldol condensation. Everything else is filler 😀.

Seriously though, just bite the bullet and try to kick ass even though it sucks. I feel your pain.

Good luck