Orgo Lecture/Lab Pro Tips?

[cdm3413]

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Pro tips?
Me scared.

 

[UnclePhil]

Why do people freak out about organic? It is not any harder than a soph level bio course like genetics or cell/developmental biology which one will typically take if they are applying to med school.

 

[Gnomes]

Hmmm.... well, do the things you'd do for any tough class (whatever they are for you - e.g. read the book, work extra problems, study with a friend.)

When you get to chirality, having one of those little molecule model kits is very helpful for some people.

Try to understand why the reactions happen, and how they're used; understanding this will make it easier to memorize.

Try to enjoy yourself and be interested in chemistry. Besides the fact that it is on the MCAT, there are a lot of reasons to master organic chemistry. For example, prior to taking it, I knew only one way to kill someone with potatoes, and now I know three. It's the best medical school prerequisite by far in that way.

 

[235788]

do the work and you"ll be fine. Its ok, not everyone is cut out to be a doctor 😛

 

[aSagacious]

For the lecture component:
- lot of practice problems
- study consistently, don't cram
- don't waste your money on molecular model kits

For the lab component:
- read the procedure in advance, this will help you finish faster
- do it once, do it right
- take your time
- clean your glassware thoroughly after each lab, no need to rush out of lab at the end

 

[KindofBlue]

I agree when people describe orgo as a second language; you just have to practice a lot.
Just reading the text won't get you very far. You have to do a lot of practice problems once you start learning about reactions.
There will probably be a ton of homework that will help you prepare, but if not, make sure you do them on your own (without the help of cramster or a study guide, unless you're absolutely stuck).

When it comes to MCAT the little details about rxns matter a little less and the concepts in the reading a bit more, so try not to skim too much on the reading.

For lab, I think it wasn't much more difficult than GChem. As long as you do the required reading and think about what you will be doing for the lab you'd be fine. Whenever I tried too hard so I could go home early, I usually messed up a step or two. So try not to get too anxious about finishing early. Just think ahead about what you will have to do after the current procedure you're working on. It's kind of like cooking, I would say.

 

[aSagacious]

When it comes to MCAT the little details about rxns matter a little less and the concepts in the reading a bit more, so try not to skim too much on the reading.

I agree with the above. To elaborate, here are the topics that I'd learn very well your first time through to make MCAT review less cumbersome:
- Carbonyls (sn1, sn2, e1, e2, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, etc)
- Stereochemistry (isometry, enantiomers, chiral center identification, R/S configuration)
- Markovnikov favorability of a rxn
- Electron donating (activating) and electron withdrawing (deactivating) groups (on benzene rings).

... those are a few off the top of my head, but you should check out the MCAT forum for more high yield topics.

 

[El Nino]

Although I haven't taken organic chemistry yet, I take it this upcoming fall term, why do people make it seem worse than it actually is?

I've been reading David Klein's book, and doing a ton of practice problems online. I don't find it too bad; in fact, I like it more than general chemistry. I've started chapter 8 on mechanisms, and I already have the basics down (nucleophilic attack, proton transfer and loss of leaving group, etc). Though I may have not made it to the "hard stuff."

 

[cdm3413]

Although I haven't taken organic chemistry yet, I take it this upcoming fall term, why do people make it seem worse than it actually is?

I've been reading David Klein's book, and doing a ton of practice problems online. I don't find it too bad; in fact, I like it more than general chemistry. I've started chapter 8 on mechanisms, and I already have the basics down (nucleophilic attack, proton transfer and loss of leaving group, etc). Though I may have not made it to the "hard stuff."

Please don't post here.

 

[ALMD]

Ahh I remembered scaring about ochem too but turned out my grade was higher in ochem compared to most of my bio classes. It is not that difficult if you do it right. The way I did was:

-no memorizing, always have to understanding the concept, if you can understand the concept, you can think through the whatever the problem.

-do the problems at the end of chapters. I kept the same pace as the lecture so when the prof is done with that lec, I better be done with the hw for that chapter as well. I was really hard on myself about doing practice problems and it paid off.

-Don't get behind, always on same page or ahead even better.

-of course, don't cram.

-whenever you are stuck, don't go and ask people question right away, try to think and solve it yourself first.

-For mechanism, try not to memorize too much, I emphasized on understand the reaction, try to make sense out of it, practice by writing down.

-For synthesis, use notecards. The way I did was writing the reactants on 1 side and the product on the other side. So when you look at the reactant side, you have to figure what the product will be and when you look at the product, you have to figure out what can be used to make it. If there are multiple ways to make a product, write all the possible ways on the same card.

-Just work really hard!!!

For lab..hmm I had a lot of accidents in lab 😀 (almost flood it) lol.

 

[El Nino]

Please don't post here.

Please use the search function next time because this topic has been discussed numerous times before.

 

[kunals]

Im taking it this fall..... i think the idea is to not go in thinking your are going to do bad

 

[deleted357625]

Please use the search function next time because this topic has been discussed numerous times before.

👍

 

[kpcrew]

Please use the search function next time because this topic has been discussed numerous times before.

except the op was probably more articulate than this joker

 

[KindofBlue]

Please use the search function next time because this topic has been discussed numerous times before.

Do you mean this topic..???

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=629872

 

[deleted357625]

taking ochem this fall, without gen chem 2

 

[ozzi22]

taking ochem this fall, without gen chem 2

😱😱

 

[aSagacious]

taking ochem this fall, without gen chem 2

You'll be fine. Apples and Oranges.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

The lecture is easy, do the practice problems and you'll be fine. The lab however, is a crazy evil b!tch which will drain you and make you have nightmares.

 

[deleted357625]

You'll be fine. Apples and Oranges.

👍👍

 

[deleted357625]

The lecture is easy, do the practice problems and you'll be fine. The lab however, is a crazy evil b!tch which will drain you and make you have nightmares.

thank god i only have lecture but im taking it with 2 NSC courses ;/

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

thank god i only have lecture but im taking it with 2 NSC courses ;/

Don't get me wrong, it is a class that requires a huge time commitment. But I think you can pull it off if you put in a sufficient amount of time and have some good friends which can help you study.

 

[deleted357625]

Don't get me wrong, it is a class that requires a huge time commitment. But I think you can pull it off if you put in a sufficient amount of time and have some good friends which can help you study.

I feel ya hopefully ill manage

 

[deleted393595]

- clean your glassware thoroughly after each lab, no need to rush out of lab at the end

You don't have to do it as long as no one's looking. Am i rite?

 

[aSagacious]

You don't have to do it as long as no one's looking. Am i rite?

No, that recommendation was quite serious. You'll thank me later, especially if you ever work in a real lab. You'd hate to find out that 3 weeks' worth of data is invalid/void because of an experimental artifact of dirty equipment/glassware.

 

[deleted393595]

Please don't post here.

And you asked for his help? At least be courteous enough to thank him.

taking ochem this fall, without gen chem 2

Best of luck. May the Force be with you.

No, that recommendation was quite serious. You'll thank me later, especially if you ever work in a real lab. You'd hate to find out that 3 weeks' worth of data is invalid/void because of an experimental artifact of dirty equipment/glassware.

I was just joking. I'd never ever pull off crap like that since it can screw up someone else's hard work or even mine. I always take extreme care to clean out the glassware I use in the lab thoroughly as a courtesy to the next person who uses it.

Do you mean this topic..???

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=629872

 

[deleted357625]

And you asked for his help? At least be courteous enough to thank him.



Best of luck. May the Force be with you.

thanks👍

 

[deleted357625]

No, that recommendation was quite serious. You'll thank me later, especially if you ever work in a real lab. You'd hate to find out that 3 weeks' worth of data is invalid/void because of an experimental artifact of dirty equipment/glassware.

yea true, you'll get incorrect data mainly because it's dirty/contaminated. Plus if you get caught you'll prob lose points for not cleaning up 😛

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

No, that recommendation was quite serious. You'll thank me later, especially if you ever work in a real lab. You'd hate to find out that 3 weeks' worth of data is invalid/void because of an experimental artifact of dirty equipment/glassware.

This is very true.

yea true, you'll get incorrect data mainly because it's dirty/contaminated. Plus if you get caught you'll prob lose points for not cleaning up 😛

No, you'll get incorrect data because your substrates will react incorrectly and give you improper % Yields and melting points. And then you'll basically want to cry when you see that your product is a cloudy white liquid with a lot of perceptitant in it and everyone else has a light yellow liquad ready for recrystallization.

 

[aSagacious]

I was just joking.

😳 Oh, I'm afraid my sarcasm detector starts to fail right around my bedtime.

 

[deleted357625]

This is very true.


No, you'll get incorrect data because your substrates will react incorrectly and give you improper % Yields and melting points. And then you'll basically want to cry when you see that your product is a cloudy white liquid with a lot of perceptitant in it and everyone else has a light yellow liquad ready for recrystallization.

lol yea i know, ive been through it

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

lol yea i know, ive been through it

Organic chem lab is the only lab where absolutely everything can and likely will go wrong. Pure sadism...

 

[deleted357625]

Organic chem lab is the only lab where absolutely everything can and likely will go wrong. Pure sadism...

Yea i heard some stories and even the prof has no idea what happened

 

[deleted393595]

😳 Oh, I'm afraid my sarcasm detector starts to fail right around my bedtime.

Haha. No problem. Happens to me all the time.

 

[gettheleadout]

Please don't post here.

Please be respectful.

 

[vitaebellaa]

-Don't put it on a pedestal. For some it is easiest of the pre-reqs depending on your school!
- Organic Chemistry as a Second Language for really nailing the crucial early concepts (e.g. resonance)
- Do a little bit each night. Make sure your problem sets are done each week.

 

[ShockDoctrine]

Organic Chemistry as a Second Language. Do it up

 

[gettheleadout]

Organic Chemistry as a Second Language. Do it up

Is it hair?

 

[jab8220]

arrows go from - to +, never the other way around!

 

[Frazier]

Diels–Alder reactions got 99 problems but a conjugated diene ain't one.

...yep, rolls right off the tongue.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Go to class and take detailed notes on the lecture. Then, as soon as you can after every lecture, rewrite and condense your notes. This was how I got an A in Orgo I. Also, the best way to remember reaction mechanisms is to just write them over and over again. Do as many practice problems as you can, especially synthesis problems. Make sure you know the reactions down pat and synthesis problems will be a lot easier!

Note that I didn't follow the same strategy for Orgo II, because I disliked my professor so much that I couldn't handle going to class. I taught the material to myself by taking notes on every chapter in the book and doing all of the practice problems assigned. Orgo II didn't teach very many new principles, just a lot of new reactions and mechanisms to remember. It's very important that you learn the fundamentals well in Orgo I--if I hadn't done this I never would have passed Orgo II.

Don't worry about lab, if it's anything like my school. The pre-labs were 100x easier than Gen Chem pre-labs, and the experiments themselves weren't terribly difficult either. Pretty easy A here.

Edit: Also, make sure you understand ENERGY, MOLECULAR STABILITY, and RESONANCE. They are all interconnected, and if you understand these concepts, you will always understand why a reaction or mechanism proceeds the way it does.

 

[NYCmedschoolapp]

Whether lecture or lab is more difficult is entirely subjective. It depends on your professors, also. My orgo lab was very easy and gen chem lab was impossible.

For orgo, do a TON of practice problems. I stopped reading the textbook after first semester. Also, I disagree with what someone said about model kits being a waste of money. It really helped me understand stereochemistry and chirality.

 

[Eric01]

Why do people get scared about organic chemistry? I don't want to sound like a know it all, but the class I found easy and straightforward. It's not like it even requires much thought, you just memorize some fundamental reactions, learn why some things are favored over others, and follow electrons.

I guess my major advice would be to read the textbook and do end of the chapter problems, just like any other class.

EDIT: although I think I had an easy professor as the other classes seemed to have more difficulty than ours.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Why do people get scared about organic chemistry? I don't want to sound like a know it all, but the class I found easy and straightforward. It's not like it even requires much thought, you just memorize some fundamental reactions, learn why some things are favored over others, and follow electrons.

I guess my major advice would be to read the textbook and do end of the chapter problems, just like any other class.

Orgo was my favorite of the pre-reqs, and I didn't find it difficult either. But it's not everyone's strong point, and for things like stereochem, you have to either "get it" already or you have to work really hard to be able to understand it. I do, however, think that some people make this class more difficult than it needs to be by trying to just memorize everything without understanding the concepts. If you understand why reaction mechanisms work the way they do, you don't really have to memorize them all--because you'll be able to figure them out if you need to.