Organic Chemistry

[OnMyWayThere]

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My University offers two types of Orgo. I don't get which one to take. I heard Med schools accept either, but I'm not sure. If that's the case, I'd take the easier one. Does anybody have any input on whether med schools will accept both or on which one you feel is easier? Please post. Here are the courses:

Organic : A thorough study of the aliphatic and aromatic compounds of carbon, their reactions and uses. Emphasis is placed upon application of modern principles to structure, reactivity, and synthesis. The laboratory is designed to acquaint the student with organic laboratory techniques and the preparation of organic compounds.3 hours of lecture and two 3-hour laboratory periods per week.

Principles of Organic : Study of aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Special emphasis on functional groups and their reactions. Attention is given to representative compounds of interest in biology and medicine.3 lecture hours and one 3-hour laboratory per week.

Thanking you all...
J


😕

 

[IndyZX]

id go with the first one, because it will probably raise less eyebrows. but, if you are sure both will work, go for the easier one.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I'm assuming the second is only a one-semester course. Take the first.

 

[bgreet]

Definantly take the first. My college offers the two same courses and you definantly want the first. Principles is much different then regular orgo (and in most cases, due to its higher focus, much harder)

 

[canadagirl]

I'd check with an upper-year student at your school about what's REALLY easier! If all the premed people tend to take the "easier" course it could end up being more competitive and harder to get a good grade in at the end, anyways.... Or even just if that course tends to get the crummier prof.

 

[JDENTHOPEFULL]

def take the first one

 

[Skaterbabe74]

If the Principles of Organic is a one semester class I'd go with the first. If it's a two semester class as well I'd take the second since that seems to focus a bit more on the biological/medical applications. Our school has 3 separate sequences. We have an one-semester class that's taken primarily by nursing majors, and a two-semester lecture for both the chem majors, bio majors, and pre-meds. Then they divide the lab into two sections for this class. One that meets twice/week for chem majors and one that meets once a week for bio/premed majors. At our school the lab that meets twice a week is actually more fun than the once a week because you get to use more of the equipment rather than just interpretate data from the equipment.

Unfortunately for me, I have to take the once a week because the twice a week either interferes with cell bio or physics lol

Good luck!
--Jessica,UCCS

 

[DD214_DOC]

Back when I was a Chem major, I started out in the twice/week lab. You really don't want to take this one. We were required to write a prelab report (several pages) and follow the lab procedure to identify a known substance, and then take the nMR-spec of it.

The next meeting, we were to use the same procedure to identify an unknown substance (hence the name, "Comparative Organic Lab"), as well as run it through the spectroscopy machine. We then had to write a post-lab report, which was several pages as well.

Needless to say, I wasn't a chem major for very long.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Both of them are two semester courses... the Biology majors and required to take the Principles of Organic (the second one) and that's the one that they offer like 5 sections verses just 1 section for the first one. I guess that's because it's required for Bio majors.

Both are 2 semester courses... i have NO idea what to do. I appreciate all of your responses. I'm not a Bio major so either one should work. I don't know what to do. Why do they make things so difficult? I just want to get this Organic stuff outta the way!!!

 

[Skaterbabe74]

I'd take the principles of organic then since it'll cover more biological and medical applications. I personally wanted to take the two day per week lab since I'm both a chemistry and biology major and it's the more "fun" of the two labs at our school. I take it either would fit into your schedule?

And as far as JKD's comment about labs I'm already used to those sort of lab reports from my Gen Chem II class so that just depends on what sort of lab reports you're used to lol. They aren't that big a deal for me.

Our chem major one is actually more popular than the bio major one since we started this bio and chem double major but they definitely have more sections for the bio major one as well.

See which one your premed advisor suggests and which one the kids in both classes seem to prefer, which teacher is better, which lab is more fun, etc.

Good luck!
--Jessica, UCCS