Organic II before I?

[Green912]

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I'm anticipating getting a conditional acceptance which will require me to take 5 credits of organic. I've signed up for Organic II (3 credits) and a lab (2 credits) for the spring semester. I took organic in 1993 and don't remember a thing, but I brushed up over the summer for the MCAT. What do you think about taking II without having I? I wonder if I'll have missed too much info for it to make sense. I took biochem II last semester without taking 1 and did pretty well. Also what about the lab. Is it pretty tough or do you just show up and follow the recipe? My other option is to wait until summer I and take organic I, but it would be tough with my work schedule.

 

[Sparkles]

Well, my first instinct would be not to worry about it too much. If you have a conditional acceptance, all you really need is a "C" in both of them. Certainly you can do this. Also, if there are no other classes to worry about, I'm sure it won't be that bad. All you have to do is get through it.

The lab, for me, was mainly following a recipe with some memorization here and there. I personally hated the lab, but that was because of the teacher, and I just didn't like lab... It wasn't because it was too hard. You can most certainly handle the lab without organic1. The class will be significantly more difficult, BUT if you only need a "C", you will be just fine.

Well, there's my 2cents. Good luck to you!

 

[UCLAstudent]

I don't know if that would be a good idea... so much of what comes later in organic is based on the stuff that you would learn in Orgo I. Maybe you should look through the book before you take the class and see if it would be do-able for you. Good luck!

 

[uffda]

as far as the lab goes - you'll need a good lab partner - the ochem I lab teaches you techniques (e.g. find a melting point, do a column extraction) but ochem II expects you to use those techniques as tools while doing a more complex experiment - if you don't know how to do the simple steps, you might be handicapped in doing the full experiment - but a good lab partner could mitigate that problem.

 

[Mike59]

If I had to go back to do it again, I would not take Orgo II first. Orgo II rehashes many reagents and functional group properties, altering them for application to new reactions and functional groups. I think you would be taking a HUGE chance by taking II before I. I can see someone doing Physics II before Physics I but not Orgo.

 

[silver_eyes]

hi,
what is a conditional acceptance? and how do u go about doing that? thanks.

 

[Green912]

A conditional acceptance is when you can enter the upcoming class, as long as you complete specific requirements. In my case I would have to make up some courses before being able to start med school, but I've heard of other stipulations. For example having to complete a graduate degree (MS or PhD) prior to beginning. Getting a conditional acceptance isn't something you can really set out to get, but it's nice knowing you're in as long as you finish whatever is necessary.

 

[Jamaican MD]

Hey,

I'm curious to know how you got a conditional acceptance. I mean, did you apply and the school told you to do these things, or did you apply to a program that stipulates you have to take certain courses to be admitted? And what school?

I would NOT recommend taking Orgo II before Orgo I because Orgo I itself is challenging, and Orgo II will build upon that. If you have a chance to brush up and learn the rxns of Orgo I (free radical halogenation, sn1, sn2, e1, e2, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols) then go for it. I believe that one can do anything s/he sets his mind to, but it will he challenging. But nothing is impossible. If you decide to do it, get help from the prof right away.

Good Luck 😛

 

[latinfridley]

dont take ochem 2 before 1

 

[All-Star14]

Orgo builds upon itself (lecture by lecture, exam by exam, semester by semester); don't take Orgo I before Orgo II.

 

[pathdr2b]

Take it from a chemist, DON"T take Orgo II before ORGO I. You've got too much on the line!