One Semester Organic

[kenmc3]

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I am a sophomore at the University of Florida. UF offers a one semester organic chemistry class as an alternative to the 2 semester version. This class is part of a sequence the first class is called ?One Semester Organic Chemistry? and the second is ?Bioorganic Chemistry.? Theoretically these two courses take the place of the 3 courses needed to fulfill both Organic Chem and Biochem.

My questions are:

1)How do medical schools view this as an alternative to the normal sequence? I know for sure that the UF College of Medicine doesn?t care and they actually prefer this shorter sequence for those in their BS/MD program. But how do other medical schools view this?

2)What is recommended for the MCAT? Personally if I choose this route, I plan on taking the MCAT after the Organic class but before the Bioorganic class. I know that biochem is recommended for the MCAT but will just the Organic class suffice?

Typically I wouldn?t even be concerned about this and would take the normal sequence but I switched to pre-med after my freshman year. Also, I am a Neuroscience major and the one semester organic is recommended for my major.

Thanks 😀

 

[booradley]

First I would talk to the pre-med advisor at your school. They should know how many successful applicants from your school took the alternate courses. If that doesn't help you, I would call 3-5 admission offices of schools you will probably apply to and ask if these courses are okay.

As far as the MCAT, I wouldn't be too concerned. The O.Chem covered on it is pretty basic. It had actually been 9 years since I took O.Chem when I took the MCAT. I took the a review course and they pretty much covered everything you needed to know. I'm sure any review course or books for the MCAT would do the same. Also I only took 2 quarters of O.Chem in college, not the full year, and I still did quite well on the bio section of the MCAT (12). Luckily, I have been accepted at a school that only requires 2 quarters so I never had to take that 3rd quarter, yipee!

Accepted at USC Keck Class of 2007

 

[deleted9493]

Yes, a few schools will accept one semester of organic....coupled with a biological chemistry. The chemistry sequence that you speak of are in many instances required of those going into the health sciences (physical therapy, physician assistant) and nursing.
While they may allow this sequence at that particular medical school...it should be noted that by and large this is not the case. Organic chemistry is probably one of the most taxing courses that all premeds have to take and medical schools know that. Additionally, I think it's pretty well known that the organic/biochem. two semester series is for those applying to health science/nursing programs. All I'm saying is that it probably won't look good to most ad coms...and if I were to guess, will generally not be acceptable.
So, unless you plan to apply to this florida school alone ...I would definitely take the two semester organic. Chemistry is fun.😛

 

[K271]

Plenty of people have taken the one semester course and have gone on to gain acceptances to medical school. Chances are, if you're taking it, you will go on to take other "higher-level" chemistry courses, and so any school that may want two semesters of organic will not mind since you'll have done so.
The one drawback that I have heard from students taking the one-semester class is that there are a number of things they weren't exposed to for the MCAT. This won't be a problem though, if you do any kind of outside study for the exam. You won't need the bio-organic class to prep for the MCAT. I hope that helped....

 

[kenmc3]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

When you put it into perspective it probably doesn?t matter if your take the one semester sequence, as long as you take the bioorganic class as well ? since that would give you 2 organic classes anyway. The only problem I may run into then is applying to a school that requires Biochem. Many schools don?t ? I think there are only like 10 that do? UF is one and I know they accept the one semester sequence. Any ideas about med schools who require biochem?

 

[K271]

Since you're already taking the chemistry route, why not take CHM4207? It's the same class (theoretically) as the one down at Shands (BCH40-- .. I forget the exact class number), but the way the chemistry department teaches it is infinitely more enlightening, and if you can get Dr. Benner (I think he teaches in Spring) it'll be a hell of a lot more fun. It's not as hard of a class, either... much less information but a lot more in-depth. He also finishes up with a couple weeks of lecture on new stuff in biotechnology (which he ended up not even testing us on), and was a great diversion from the usual genetics-related information that the other biochem class does. Since the title of the class is the same for either (Introduction to Biochem), schools don't care which one you take...

 

[pillowhead]

I'm a UF grad myself, and started out taking CHM 2047, the one semester gen chem class. I would not recommend taking the one semester organic. From what I have seen, you have to devote insane amounts of time to that class, you do not learn everything you need for the MCAT, and you end up having problems with schools outside of Florida. I think the one semester organic class is great for chemistry majors planning on going to grad school for organic and doing much more advanced chemistry (like I was going to do orginally), but I do not think it is good for premeds at all. And whatever you do, don't go talk to the advisers. Whenever I asked them anything, I kid you not, I always did the exact opposite of what they said, and now I am sitting on five acceptances. I think they give horrible advice at UF and don't care about the students individual circumstances at all.

 

[THE instiGATOR]

Hey there! I've taken that sequence. Here's my input:

POSITIVES: The first half of the sequence is pretty easy. Dr. Deyrup is an awesome professor. I didn't have to memorize a single reaction mechanism, and still was/am able to reason my way through very complicated problems. He teaches organic chem in a way that supplies you with the means to approach a problem properly without having to deal with rout memorization. GREAT prof! He saves you some serious heartaches. (some people don't like this approach ... they'd rather memorize crap). If Deyrup isn't teaching it, I don't know if it is the same. He basically created the sequence, so (unless he has retired) he probably is still in control.

NEGATIVES: The second half of the sequence SUCKS!!! I have not heard of a good experience with this part (even with different professors). Dr. Richards taught my class. It was hell on earth. He HATES premeds and does everything in his power to make their lives miserable. People dropped like flies in that class. Of ~110 people, 7 made As. I earned my lowest grade in that class (C). The exams were so difficult that, during the final, SEVERAL people were crying. If you take this, you might want to avoid him. Don't know if any of the other professors are better, though.

Will it hurt you? Not at all! I received many interviews (more than I cared to attend) and was NEVER asked about this. If anything, they'll see it as a honors class (which you can indicate it as on your AMCAS app) and give you brownie points (perhaps).

Do the positives outweigh the negatives? I don't know. How solid are your grades now? Can you handle a C on your transcript? I think I'm pretty good at chem (majored in it and graduated Summa Cum Laude, despite the C) and I still bombed the class. Perhaps you are a better student than I.

Anyway, I'm in med school. My biochem class is nowhere near as difficult as the second half of that sequence is. I've currently got a high B in the class.

The decision is yours. Much power to you! You'll be a better man in the end (at least you'll be used to the rape experiences you will receive in med school at the hands of your professors). That last statement was pretty crude, but it really is the truth.

Good luck! GO GATORS!

 

[Drewel]

I'm also taking the one semester orgo at UF right now with Hudlicky. He's a good teacher but he doesn't teach us well enough to matter. I've learned most of the organic on my own through Wade's Organic Chem book (Prof Deyrup created his own 180 page book which isnt' that great). I'm really regretting not taking CHM2211 now, because of the overall benefits of this class which were mentioned in previous posts. I wish I would've come to this board before the semester started 😱

Yea, our premed advisor was horrible. She really didn't give a damn about us...maybe that's why someone replaced her a few weeks ago. Anyway, how do you think your orgo test went yesterday?