Organic Chem Advice

[ResoluteMike]

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I am currently taking Gen Chem 2 at the local CC College. The class runs until the end of February. The four year has O-chem starting in the middle of January. There would be about a 6 week overlap in the classes. I looked at an O-chem book and most of the chapter one material is a refresher of things I have already covered in Gen Chem 1.

How important are the last couple weeks of gen chem 2 be to O-chem? Should I wait or start bugging the hell out of the Chem Department for permission to take the classes simultaneously? I am just trying to gauge how risky this is to try based on the experience of folks who have already had the class.

 

[plp13]

I think it just depends on ur university and ability to do chemistry. I honestly struggled with all my chem courses so I had to devote a lot of time to them! Any particular reason you are rushing thru everything??

 

[Ashgirl]

I would personally say that it would depend on the particular two classes you are taking... though in general, I don't think there is much overlap (if at all). The only real topic that I encountered that was covered in both classes was acid-base stuff (organic touched on it very briefly and did a better job teaching it anyways..). I would think that you would be fine (I think I vaguely remember the first two weeks of organic learning the functional groups and starting to create/name carbon molecules, which definitely didn't overlap with the last two weeks of gen chem 2), though I suppose it would depend on your learning style and the courses being offered.

 

[DVMDream]

I don't remember what was taught in gen chem 2 or ochem really anymore...

Sorry, not a help, but shows you how much you will use the info later on in vet school. 😉

 

[ResoluteMike]

I think it just depends on ur university and ability to do chemistry. I honestly struggled with all my chem courses so I had to devote a lot of time to them! Any particular reason you are rushing thru everything??

The CC college has a really nasty habit of cancelling their O-chem classes and summer offerings at the 4 year are also unreliable, so any available class with openings is worth pursuing. I also figure my chances this coming summer are better the more classes I have completed before the applications process closes out.

 

[Meurks]

Organic chemistry seemed like a whole other subject, I'm in Ochem 2 right now, and I barely remember anything from Gen Chem except acid and base chemistry. I don't remember there being an overlap in the start of the Organic 1 semester either. Make sure you don't slack off in Orgo! I withdrew the first time, but then retook it for an A+, it's all about study skills! Best of luck 🙂

 

[Cephal0pod]

Organic and gen chem are definitely two quite different worlds-- I felt like I was learning a different language when I started orgo. The best advice anyone ever gave me for surviving organic was to invest in a mini whiteboard and use it to do reactions, mechanisms, and other problems over and over and over again. Mine was 5 bucks at Target, and it was easily one of the best purchases I have ever made.

Good luck!

 

[grrrr121]

I took o-chem 1 and gen chem 2 in the same semester. I don't feel like I was missing any information for o-chem. Good luck!

 

[ResoluteMike]

Alrighty then. Thanks guys.