Preparing for Organic Chemistry over the summer before taking it?

[JoyKim456]

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Summer of 2015, I have decided that I want to prepare for organic chemistry. Can you suggest any introductory, basic books for me?

 

[deleted407021]

You don't really need to, but if you like you can look at "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language".

 

[JoyKim456]

The reason I want to is because it helps me learn. It will force me to cover the basics twice.

 

[Tawantinsuyu]

Review acid base chemistry

 

[Boolean]

@J Senpai has given the suggestion that many on this forum would agree with. Organic Chemistry as a Second Language is incredibly useful.

 

[TheRhymenocerous]

Review acid base chemistry

Agreed. I think the best thing you can do is be really strong on acids and bases and bonding, so when you're learning the new material you're building on a solid foundation. It's really not that difficult as long as you really understand what's going on, which means having a really good grip on the basics.

 

[Rgvmed]

Acid Base Chemistry is pretty crucial if you actually want to understand why various steps in mechanisms are happening. I see some many premed students at my university attempt to just memorize mechanisms instead of attempting to understand the underlying process. I decided to go PT, for now anyways (always second guessing myself with acceptances pending), but really enjoyed organic chemistry. As another poster recommended, Organic Chemistry as Second Language is crucial for the first semester. There is also a book for the second semester but at that point, I feel like explaining reactions in print is cumbersome. I'd recommend the youtube channel created by the great "freelance teacher" for video series on specific mechanisms and topics. You will either love it or hate it. Succeeding into organic is incredibly satisfying.

 

[Silverflash]

@J Senpai has given the suggestion that many on this forum would agree with. Organic Chemistry as a Second Language is incredibly useful.

Agree x100, I'm convinced that it's the only reason I did well in Ochem.

 

[dxcrunner]

Be sure to know your periodic trends like acid/base, electronegativity, ionization energy, etc. Many of these trends explain the "why" behind a lot of organic chemistry.

 

[aegistitan]

I have heard many people advise against this, but I don't see why you couldn't prestudy organic chemistry.

What textbook does your school use? Find the syllabus for the class, work through the syllabus from the beginning up until around the first exam, or as far as you want to go. Make sure you do practice problems.

I'd advise against organic chemistry as a second language if you really want to learn organic chemistry, although it wouldn't hurt to get it for $4 on amazon. It's a good book, but my problem with it is that it holds many generalities that may not hold true in your class given how in depth you go. Also I actually prestudied for organic chemistry from Orgo as a second language. I didn't think it was all that helpful, although the most important points would be to just familiarize yourself with all the new ways of drawing molecules, that was very different (from genchem) at first but Orgo as a second language helped clear that up quite a bit.

If you're looking to really learn organic chemistry conceptually, you must learn molecular orbital theory. I would recommend Organic Chemistry by Clayden, Greeves, Warren for that. Start at chapter 2 and work your way up. The book does a great job at explaining every single reaction in terms of the molecular orbital interactions.

But the best method for getting an A would probably be to just use your school's own textbook, that way you're ahead of the rest of the class and you will be familiar with what they are experiencing for the first time.

 

[JoyKim456]

Thank you to everyone who replied

 

[Rgvmed]

I have heard many people advise against this, but I don't see why you couldn't prestudy organic chemistry.

What textbook does your school use? Find the syllabus for the class, work through the syllabus from the beginning up until around the first exam, or as far as you want to go. Make sure you do practice problems.

I'd advise against organic chemistry as a second language if you really want to learn organic chemistry, although it wouldn't hurt to get it for $4 on amazon. It's a good book, but my problem with it is that it holds many generalities that may not hold true in your class given how in depth you go. Also I actually prestudied for organic chemistry from Orgo as a second language. I didn't think it was all that helpful, although the most important points would be to just familiarize yourself with all the new ways of drawing molecules, that was very different (from genchem) at first but Orgo as a second language helped clear that up quite a bit.

If you're looking to really learn organic chemistry conceptually, you must learn molecular orbital theory. I would recommend Organic Chemistry by Clayden, Greeves, Warren for that. Start at chapter 2 and work your way up. The book does a great job at explaining every single reaction in terms of the molecular orbital interactions.

But the best method for getting an A would probably be to just use your school's own textbook, that way you're ahead of the rest of the class and you will be familiar with what they are experiencing for the first time.

I'd have to disagree with you here but everyone is different I suppose. I used organic chem as a second language and youtube videos (freelance teacher). Nothing else as my professor was notorious for being absolutely terrible in lecture. I scored in a very high percentile on the ACS exam and am by no means a chem god. Either way, the main thing in this class is motivation. If you're self motivated and have the ability to do well in the sciences, there is no reason you can't do well regardless of what resource you use to supplement your class.

 

[claduva94]

Please think long and hard before doing this. You only get so many summers before medical school. The gains will be small when compared to what you will lose in terms of time. This is especially true if you don't know what exactly will be covered.

 

[Doctor Dream]

Just my own two cents, but I wouldn't prep at all the summer before. I know I'm only one person, but I went into organic without studying one bit over the summer and did real well. Studying during summer to me would be overkill..

I don't think you need drop money on an extra book either. Just stay on top of the material, ask questions, STUDY, STUDY, REVIEW, AND STUDY SOME MORE. Do that stuff and you'll be fine.The class is a beast, no doubt about it. I spent more time on that class than my other 12 credits combined, but it was a lot of fun and the time I put in studying outside of class paid off and I was fine. No studying during the summer, no money spent on extra books or anything.

 

[Youngm2194]

Heres a link to the uconn orgo site that has all the lectures for orgo 1 and 2 from 1990s until now. The professor wrote the textbook we use and is fantastic at teaching

http://orgchem.chem.uconn.edu/courses/testhome.html

 

[Hospitalized]

Khan academy lectures. 1-2 a day (10-20 minutes), paired with 15 minutes of note taking. That's about a half hour daily, and you will have a solid foundation going in. Start from the top and go to the bottom.

 

[JoyKim456]

I never enjoyed my summers in the first place. I have deep depression during the summers.

 

[67552931811]

Please think long and hard before doing this. You only get so many summers before medical school. The gains will be small when compared to what you will lose in terms of time. This is especially true if you don't know what exactly will be covered.

^ This. Seriously. Anything you do will be so minimal that by the time you are 1/4 into Orgo 1 you will think, "Welp, that was a waste of time...."

 

[JoyKim456]

Unless I self studied orgo for the entire 12 weeks of summer...

 

[67552931811]

Unless I self studied orgo for the entire 12 weeks of summer...

Fair enough. You seem to be quite motivated. For that, I commend you. I would just email the professor and ask for which book (publisher, edition #, etc.) the class will be using and for the syllabus. Then you can just split up the 12 weeks however you want. There is 0 point in using any other book than what your class will be using.

 

[kesdjmarouse]

It will force me to cover the basics twice.

 

[godawg300]

I went through organic chemistry as a second language twice before summer Ochem to self study for the mcat. Ended up with an A+ in both ochem1 and 2. Honestly Ochem is overhyped. With the amount of free online sources you could easily teach it to yourself if you wanted. With that in mind I would spend my time doing other things. I only self studied because I needed it for the mcat.

 

[grivacobae]

What I did, and it has been great, I sat in a summer lecture at my school, grant it I missed many World Cup matches
It has completely put me in front of the curve, while the first 2 test averages were in the 40s after a curve, I'm sitting at a 98 tests average of both test so far, so I would definitely advice you to sit in on a summer lecture, you don't have to study no where near as much during the summer of course, just review your notes here and there and you'll be really well off come fall class, and will really get a fundamental grasp of ochem, which is crucial if you want a high grade

 

[godawg300]

What I did, and it has been great, I sat in a summer lecture at my school, grant it I missed many World Cup matches
It has completely put me in front of the curve, while the first 2 test averages were in the 40s after a curve, I'm sitting at a 98 tests average of both test so far, so I would definitely advice you to sit in on a summer lecture, you don't have to study no where near as much during the summer of course, just review your notes here and there and you'll be really well off come fall class, and will really get a fundamental grasp of ochem, which is crucial if you want a high grade

Op can also just watch Ochem lectures online. MIT has open course ware and uc irvine actually records Ochem lectures and is open to the public. No need to waste time sitting in on a lecture if you can do it from home, although personally I always found lecture to be a waste.

 

[Lucca]

I never enjoyed my summers in the first place. I have deep depression during the summers.

This is a very worrisome statement, you should make a concerted effort at sorting this out as it could come back to cripple you later in your college or medical career.


My opinion: Don't self study over the summer. There's no point. Organic chemistry is not that hard and the opportunity cost of wasting a summer is too high. Do something interesting with your summer like research, volunteering, or some other experience. Summers are the prime time to add very heavy lines onto your resume without the pressure of having to perform in an academic environment. Studying throughout the summer will only make you more likely to burn out in the next semester. Brains need breaks. Self-studying a course you are going to take anyway is pointless 99.99% of the time, self study courses that you will never take.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Some pre-gaming can't hurt. But don't let it consume your summer. If anything, make sure to stay on top of things while you're taking the class.

 

[kraskadva]

I did some pre-gaming before orgo, since I was taking it with biochem and needed a leg up.
In a month before classes I memorized the basic functional groups, got a model kit and figured out chair conformations & stereochemistry, and Sn1/Sn2/E1/E2 mechanisms.
With just this, the whole year was a breeze, and the only other thing I really had to put serious time into studying for was memorizing reagents in 2nd semester. Otherwise, I just did the homework before the test and showed up to class. It was an easy A.
But I like chem and 3D visualizations are pretty easy for me. Your results may vary.

But really, don't spend your whole summer pre-gaming orgo. Go do something fun and relaxing. And see a therapist if you really are having depressive periods in the summer. This is not healthy and is something you should address with a professional.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I never enjoyed my summers in the first place. I have deep depression during the summers.

Didn't see this post earlier and I totally agree with @Lucca that it needs to be addressed asap. Good luck!

 

[dadocisin]

O chem is truly not super difficult if you have time. Just make sure you have time in your schedule and it will not be horrible.

 

[grivacobae]

Op can also just watch Ochem lectures online. MIT has open course ware and uc irvine actually records Ochem lectures and is open to the public. No need to waste time sitting in on a lecture if you can do it from home, although personally I always found lecture to be a waste.

That's probably better for op, but for me the teacher that gave summer lecture was same teacher i'm taking now, so i'm familiar with her expectations and tests, so not so much of a waste of time, to all his own