Preparing for Organic Chemistry

[RoadRunner17]

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Done reviewing Inorganic Chem, Physics and in the process of reading/memorizing Biology... so it's time to move onto the last part: Orgo.

What did you guys find was the best way to prepare for the Organic Chemistry portion? I last took the undergraduate courses more than three years ago, so I don't really remember very much, if anything.

So, is the Kaplan Comprehensive Review sufficient enough, or am I going to need to crack open the textbook I used in college to teach myself the mechanisms and such again, using the list of topics provided by the AAMC? Or, is EK's manual good enough for this? Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[vicinihil]

kaplan or TPR it

 

[BrokenGlass]

Done reviewing Inorganic Chem, Physics and in the process of reading/memorizing Biology... so it's time to move onto the last part: Orgo.

What did you guys find was the best way to prepare for the Organic Chemistry portion? I last took the undergraduate courses more than three years ago, so I don't really remember very much, if anything.

So, is the Kaplan Comprehensive Review sufficient enough, or am I going to need to crack open the textbook I used in college to teach myself the mechanisms and such again, using the list of topics provided by the AAMC? Or, is EK's manual good enough for this? Any suggestions are welcome.

I have a notebook's worth of O-Chem notes from the Berkeley Review class I took. That's how I am gonna attack O-Chem.

Funny you should mention this since I saved O-Chem for last too.

 

[RoadRunner17]

I'm not really sure why I chose to save Orgo for last. Maybe its because its the more 'inconsequential' science of all the sciences. Or maybe its because it's not exactly my favorite subject. But it's got to be done, and I think I'll have to spend as much time reviewing Orgo as I did for Physics.

Is it just me, or am I a little surprised by the fact that I can't find any mention of alkenes and alkynes on the official AAMC topics list? I can't imagine not having alkenes and alkynes on any test utilizing Orgo concepts. Please tell me there isn't anything else that they changed, similar to this.

 

[RoadRunner17]

I have a notebook's worth of O-Chem notes from the Berkeley Review class I took. That's how I am gonna attack O-Chem.

Funny you should mention this since I saved O-Chem for last too.

How well did you think Berkeley Review's books/lectures helped you understand the subjects? I'm considering buying some of their books but I'm reluctant to pay $20 2nd-day shipping for each pair of books that I buy, to be honest. So it's really worth it in terms of paying S&H if I buy all ten books... and I don't think I need to do that (I am thinking of buying the General Chemistry and possibly Physics books). That'd cost me $144 total; I might as well as get all ten books for $242 to get a better value.

It's also difficult to find anyone in my area who has bought copies of the Berkeley Review books, especially since I don't even live in California. So, you know, it kind of sucks that I can't get the BR books at the stores. Oh well, I'll have to splurge the money eventually if I decide BR is worth it.

So, honestly, in comparison to Kaplan's comprehensive review, how helpful are Berkeley Review's books?

 

[BrokenGlass]

How well did you think Berkeley Review's books/lectures helped you understand the subjects? I'm considering buying some of their books but I'm reluctant to pay $20 2nd-day shipping for each pair of books that I buy, to be honest. So it's really worth it in terms of paying S&H if I buy all ten books... and I don't think I need to do that (I am thinking of buying the General Chemistry and possibly Physics books). That'd cost me $144 total; I might as well as get all ten books for $242 to get a better value.

It's also difficult to find anyone in my area who has bought copies of the Berkeley Review books, especially since I don't even live in California. So, you know, it kind of sucks that I can't get the BR books at the stores. Oh well, I'll have to splurge the money eventually if I decide BR is worth it.

So, honestly, in comparison to Kaplan's comprehensive review, how helpful are Berkeley Review's books?

I am not familiar with PR and Kaplan materials. TBR materials are very thorough. Most people who take TBR class don't read the book chapters. Most people go straight to passages. If it's been a while since you took O-Chem you may want to read the chapters before doing the passages, but if the material is still fresh in your mind, going straight to passages is a better use of your time.

 

[jochi1543]

EK Orgo was my bible....though I also read through Kaplan, but thought it was too verbose and kind of scattered - I liked EK more. I don't recall having any trouble with the orgo passages/questions on the real test whatsoever, so it prepared me pretty well.

 

[Tan008]

EK orgo for me...I find it easy to follow and way more condensed that TPR or Kaplan (which are good though if you have very little orgo background)