Organic chemistry at Northwestern

[PsychStudent]

I'm a post-bacc student here, and Coddens teaches our class. From other students and his c-tecs, I've heard horrible things about him, especially that it's almost impossible to get an A. Have other people heard this? Are any of the other professors (maybe in the day school) better/easier? If the class is always awful at Northwestern, are there any places in the area where you suggest taking it? Thanks so much!

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[dr2be111]

it's definitely not impossible, but you've got to work for it. i studied pretty hard, and somehow or another came out with an A.

coddens is tough, but he makes you really learn the material. when i took it, he used to pick on people randomly in class. this was good (at least for me) since it forced me to keep up with all reading and such.

he's genuinely a nice guy if you ever talk to him outside of class, he wants everyone to do well.

 

[cheesegirl]

it isn't that he's awful. it's that it's super difficult--i have heard a lot of talk about nu's chem department as having the toughest orgo sequence around. maybe that was just hype but i heard a lot of profs say that too. kids that could afford it went to harvard for summer school--where the classes were easier. if you are at nu for post bacc i would think it would look bad to go elsewhere for orgo, like why didn't you just do your post bacc elsewhere?

 

[Khanal007]

Northwestern Orgo is tough, but it's possible to get A's (I did, but with a lot of sweat and tears). I also had Coddens one quarter. One thing I can say, is after NU orgo, when I studied for the MCAT, the orgo on the MCAT was basically a joke compared to what NU makes you learn. I didn't even study for orgo on the MCAT and actually hoped for more orgo passages on the BS cause I knew I could get some easy points.

As for Coddens being nice...I think he may be nice...deep, deep down inside. He's got a rough exterior that u just gotta shrug off (esp in office hours when he seems like everything he says is scolding...he does actually want to help you though). And, he likes students, at NU he's the undergraduate chemistry advisor/coordinator, so he obviously likes to talk to students if he puts up with that role.

 

[ADeadLois]

One thing's for sure...you WILL learn the material. I have no complaints about the NU orgo sequence. The profs know their stuff and are very accessible. Yes, it's very hard and time consuming, but that's the nature of the material. I'm fairly convinced that any abrasive attitude from profs you may encounter is simply a motivating tool. If you really show a desire and persistence to learn the material and not simply to get a good grade, you'll be fine. Trust me.

 

[streetmap]

i had scheidt and nguyen for the first 2 quarters, and i really liked them. i don't necessarily need to be coddled, but he seemed rude... a lot. i am sure he's a nice guy underneath though. however, i think i'd take it with him post-bacc because the day school classes seem to be way more cut-throat (from my experience, comparing the two). just go to his office hours and spend the time, i guess. i would rather take orgo at northwestern than bio, that's for sure.

 

[jules922]

I took Coddens in the day class ... he is very helpful if you just ask. You will definitely learn a lot from him (even if your grade is a bit lower than you'd like). I took the MCAT 3 years after taking his class and didn't need to study any orgo - I remembered/understood it all that well. The slightly lower grade in his class is worth it.

 

[seraph524]

orgo is orgo is orgo

there is only so many things they can teach in an undergraduate curriculum