Organic 2 grade: Attempt 2

[caffiene-o-holic]

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[honey0102]

Hello everyone. So I'm just looking for some solace and advice as I am currently retaking Orgo 2 and am not doing so well. I took Orgo 2 last semester but had also just started a job at the hospital, and I didn't realize what a huge time commitment that would end up being (I remember some weeks I pulled consecutive all-nighters, and then I could only get ~3 hrs of sleep/night for the rest of the week). Obviously, it was a vicious cycle, and I couldn't study nor do well, so I took a W. This semester, I started doing research in a lab (I am currently interested in pursuing an MD-PhD) and I again thought that I would have more time to commit to Chem. I am double majoring and have taken about 20 credits per semester, and being as stubborn as I was, I missed the drop date, because I thought that I really could compensate for the class's first two bad exams. I've decided that for the rest of the semesters, I will take a regular course load, but I'm afraid that I might fail this class and that it will jeopardize my chances of getting into any medical program...

I'm not entirely sure how much it can or can't affect your chances of getting into medical school. @Goro might be able to tell us more about this
In general, orgo will require some time set aside to study for it and not just that but also the right study methods-the goal is not memorizing alone but also understanding why a mechanism happens the way it does.

 

[B-Lymphocyte]

Hmmm...as you have said, you put way too much on your plate. After this semester you need to sit down and re-evaluate your schedule so that you don't get overwhelmed. For example, limit volunteering to a few hours every Saturday. Only take 15 hours a semester as you mentioned. Work in the lab maybe 15 hours a week, and devote your summer to research, ideally as a summer research program participant, that way you can get multiple letters of recommendation from different research professors.
As for orgo, talk to your professor. Try to understand what your not getting. Work as many problems as you can and try to understand the mechanisms of the reactions you learn instead of just memorizing them.

 

[CommyO]

It's not impossible. I have a friend whose Acing organic II and keeping the highest grade in the class while working 32 hours a week (and 4.0) and commuting about an hr to school.

I'm guessing the hispital job was for clinical experience or money to live? If the former, that's what gap years are for...

 

[Goro]

This by itself is not lethal....far from it

So I'm just looking for some solace and advice as I am currently retaking Orgo 2


This is not good. The second time around you should be mastering this.
and am not doing so well.

This is OK
I took Orgo 2 last semester but had also just started a job at the hospital, and I didn't realize what a huge time commitment that would end up being (I remember some weeks I pulled consecutive all-nighters, and then I could only get ~3 hrs of sleep/night for the rest of the week). Obviously, it was a vicious cycle, and I couldn't study nor do well, so I took a W.

For starters, you are making lots of bad choices. You are over-extending yourself, and you have yet to master time mgt skills, something that is vital for a med student. You are also hoping for home runs after multiple strike outs. it doesn't work that way. You're struggling in your classes and no amount of magic thinking is going to get you to ace the final.

So get out of the lab, drop down to a single major, and go directly to your school's learning or education center.

This semester, I started doing research in a lab (I am currently interested in pursuing an MD-PhD) and I again thought that I would have more time to commit to Chem. I am double majoring and have taken about 20 credits per semester, and being as stubborn as I was, I missed the drop date, because I thought that I really could compensate for the class's first two bad exams. I've decided that for the rest of the semesters, I will take a regular course load, but I'm afraid that I might fail this class and that it will jeopardize my chances of getting into any medical program...

 

[esob]

This is the classic pitfall; trying to check all the boxes (volunteering, shadowing, research, etc) while missing out on the two that will keep you out no matter what the rest of the boxes look like (GPA and MCAT). Get into a routine where you can master your classes without problem and then worry about the other check boxes after that.

 

[caffiene-o-holic]

Okay... Thank you for all of your replies. I'm actually planning on taking an additional year to fulfill my credit load (which should average to ~15 cr. per semester). If I retake the class again, do well, and finish 5 years of undergrad with a reasonable GPA (~3.8-9), could that possibly compensate for a bad grade?

 

[B-Lymphocyte]

If you end up with 3.8 GPA, that is certainly fine for medical school and MD PhD programs. In terms of your competitiveness for MD PhD, it will depend largely on your MCAT and the quality of your research experiences. It sounds like your going in the right direction. What are you double majoring in, if you don't mind me asking? Are you dead set on finishing both degrees?

 

[caffiene-o-holic]

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[B-Lymphocyte]

The longer stretch definitely will not be looked down upon. MD PhD is very competitive and the more research experience you can have the better. If you really want to study music, that's fine, just make sure you allot yourself enough time to finish both degrees, which it seems like you are planning to do. Best of luck and God's speed!

 

[Elayne1996]

Hello guys I know how complicated can be organic 2 while I was taking this class I made vídeo of my notes and help me so much to learn the material I hope it can help u as well

Hello everyone. So I'm just looking for some solace and advice as I am currently retaking Orgo 2 and am not doing so well. I took Orgo 2 last semester but had also just started a job at the hospital, and I didn't realize what a huge time commitment that would end up being (I remember some weeks I pulled consecutive all-nighters, and then I could only get ~3 hrs of sleep/night for the rest of the week). Obviously, it was a vicious cycle, and I couldn't study nor do well, so I took a W. This semester, I started doing research in a lab (I am currently interested in pursuing an MD-PhD) and I again thought that I would have more time to commit to Chem. I am double majoring and have taken about 20 credits per semester, and being as stubborn as I was, I missed the drop date, because I thought that I really could compensate for the class's first two bad exams. I've decided that for the rest of the semesters, I will take a regular course load, but I'm afraid that I might fail this class and that it will jeopardize my chances of getting into any medical program.

 

[Elayne1996]

Hello guys I know how complicated can be organic 2 while I was taking this class I made vídeo of my notes and help me so much to learn the material I hope it can help u as well

 

[MyOdyssey]

@caffiene-o-holic

Swallow your pride and take a W again in orgo 2. That’s much better than absorbing a D/F.

In either event, you’ll have to retake the class. Med schools don’t accept D/Fs in fulfillment of prerequisites.

And don’t overschedule yourself again!

 

[857770]

How did you do in the first part of Organic Chem? If you had difficulty with part 1, it may mean reviewing part 1 with a tutor. Then proceed with part 2. If you find the second portion difficult, go for more tutoring.

I would suggest doing the following:

Drop some of the commitments and focus mostly on grades.

Go through online Organic Chemistry lectures on Khan Academy.

See if the Chemistry department at your school has free tutoring services before going out and hiring one.