Okay to take org chem lab at separate institution from lecture?

[hat]

[deleted]

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[hat]

Sorry to bump, but.. any thoughts? I have basically no perspective on this at all, so any input would help. I'd love to know whether admission committees actually care about things like this.

 

[kyamh]

I think you should try to do everything in your power to take it at the same institution. Talk to your class Dean, often they can help. Ask administrative assistants - they have all the power. There are ways around many rules and the way to get around is to start asking and being extremely nice and grateful.

At the end of the day, it's probably fine to take the lab somewhere else, but you will have to be VERY sure that the other institution is at least as difficult as yours and be prepared to explain why it made sense to make that choice. On that note, why are you making this choice? Why not taking all of Organic chemistry elsewhere and take other requirements now? In fact, you will probably be better off taking Orgo I at the same place as Orgo II because then your courses will prepare you well. The sequences may be slightly different at different institutions.

 

[kyamh]

Why not take the second semester of inorganic? If you already took one of the two courses at this school, finish the sequence.

 

[hat]

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[kyamh]

Thanks for the response kyamh. So you mean ask if I can take the lab alongside Orgo 1 instead of alongside Orgo 2? I can't take organic 2 next semester, because I am graduating in December. It may be a possibility to get an override into the lab, but I'm assuming the lab curriculum is designed to accompany orgo 2 since it is a corequisite, so I'm worried I may be behind.
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Yes, I think that if you explain the situation to you Dean they can help you work with the Registrar and get you into the lab. As far as it being a corequisite, why not shoot an email to a lab instructor or a TA if you school has them. What usually happens for Orgo II lab? Does you school only offer one semester of Orgo lab? If it offers two semesters of lab, then probably you have second semester stuff in the second semester lab.

From what I remember, the first few labs were hard for my class because we we not learning reactions at first but things like naming of compounds - stuff that labs don't really cover. In those cases, I had to study up for the labs a bit because we went over lab material before we went over the same stuff in lecture. Maybe you know an older student who can tell you if this is feasible?

I am not sure what the best solution would be - you should chat with an advisor at your school...maybe a chem department person..? - but it just seems like a bad idea academically to take a lab that is attached to a course you never took. At my school, orgo experiences (what you cover and how much) are different just based on what professor you have for lecture. I can't imagine the variability between institutions.

 

[hat]

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