really struggled in gen chem...tips for orgo

[ronaldo23]

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got a B and C in general chemistry, due to a variety of factors ...what are some tips to well in orgo

and is general chem performance indicative of orgo performance? (i think largely the reason i did bad was poor study habits and bad teacher)

 

[deleted103730]

I actually did the same as you in gen chem, and got A's in organics. to me, organic was all about repetition. study study study. i also bought a big markerboard so I could draw mechanisms and compounds and all that nomenclature stuff.

 

[killinsound]

orgo is totally different than gen chem (in class room settings). it's an entirely different subject. like physiology is to molecular biology.

don't worry, study hard, and you should do fine.

 

[DrMidlife]

If your ochem experience is like mine, it's going to hurt. Bad. It's going to be about humility and character development and continually picking-up-and-dusting-off-and-trying-again-and-falling-down.

I did great in genchem. Ochem handed me my ass.

What I found AFTER, GODDAMMIT, AFTER I finished ochem, is the Organic Chemistry as a Second Language books. I studied for the MCAT out of these. Holy cow do I wish I'd found them while I was in classes.

My advice: get these books, be very afraid, have a backbone, and remember what it's for: biochem prep.

Best of luck to you.

 

[RM48]

Don't worry about it. I had a friend who did awful in gen chem and then got A's in organic.

Just change your study habits now, orgo is NOT something you want to try to cram for. Goodluck!

 

[Kappy1]

Gen Chem was math and understanding concepts while organic chem. is memorization and understanding concepts. Gen. Chem. is not indicative of what will happen in Orgo. Look at it as a new beginning. Study hard and you will do well. Good Luck!!!!

 

[Rachael1285]

Yeah, orgo is really nothing like gen chem. My only advice for orgo is to not let yourself get behind. There is a LOT of material, and if you get behind at the beginning, you could suffer later. That said, learning mechanisms is really the big part of the class. If you have a good prof like I did, he/she will help you to understand how different mechanisms are related and how there are fundamental concepts/repetitive steps involved in writing mechanisms (i.e. proton shift, carbocation rearrangement, etc.) that can help you learn them. Just practice those mechanisms until you know them like the back of your hand....and watch out for one vs. two barbed arrows. 🙂

All of that said, I really liked orgo.

 

[lizz1702]

i second the notions that:

gen chem involves less concepts and more equations of the plug-and-chug variety... therefore exam cramming= possible

organic is more conceptual and about visualizing mechanisms and structures... daily study is required and makes success in the course possible.

in gen chem i crammed a lot and picked and choosed problem sets and hardly listened in lecture....organic was definitely completely different. i did most problem sets assigned and attended every lecture attentively...

and i definitely recommend the second language books too. i found this book just before my cumulative final and it helped a ton... just wished i had gotten to it at the start of the course.

 

[Oceaner]

Gen chem is more disorganized, and everything is, well general... the topics are meant to be an overview, so it's basically like a Cliff's Notes of chemistry.

For Org chem, flashcards and practice baby. They will get you through.

 

[wryandwatchful]

Learn to enjoy organic chemistry. That's my advice. If you try to resist it or put it off until the last moment, it'll turn on you and become your worst enemy. Learn the material as it comes, try to understand its applications, and ALWAYS have an eye on the bigger picture. I am a tutor for organic and that is what hangs people up the most. There is a whole lot of detail to learn and people get lost in it. It's the people who can manage the details in the context of the big picture that do well.

 

[powerful_squib]

chem is nothing like orgo... I found orgo alot easier... there is more concepts and little to no math... which I loved since I suck at math... I think that chem II was harder than orgo I. I just say know the concepts really well... get O-chem I and II as a second language by David Klien... they were seriously my o-chem bibles...lol... and you should do fine....

 

[leaftye]

For Org chem, flashcards and practice baby. They will get you through.

That's great news for me since I do very well with them.

 

[carwreck]

Learn to enjoy organic chemistry. That's my advice. If you try to resist it or put it off until the last moment, it'll turn on you and become your worst enemy. Learn the material as it comes, try to understand its applications, and ALWAYS have an eye on the bigger picture. I am a tutor for organic and that is what hangs people up the most. There is a whole lot of detail to learn and people get lost in it. It's the people who can manage the details in the context of the big picture that do well.

I 100% agree with wry. I also tutor organic and have found that the people who hope to memorize reactions through brute force are the ones who have the most trouble. Learn to build upon the reactions you learn early on. You'll see that there's a logic to the chaos.

 

[cruz21]

got a B and C in general chemistry, due to a variety of factors ...what are some tips to well in orgo

and is general chem performance indicative of orgo performance? (i think largely the reason i did bad was poor study habits and bad teacher)

i think that if you really work hard in organic then you will be fine. i don't believe that gen chem is AT ALL indicative of one's ability in organic. i know that in my case, i did pretty poorly in gen chem but ended up doing a lot better in organic. orgo is all about mechanisms and if you understand how the little arrows work and where the electrons go, you will be fine. i always thought gen chem was a lot of math problems but that goes right out the window in organic, which was really nice for me (since i don't like math).

 

[Arc]

If your ochem experience is like mine, it's going to hurt. Bad. It's going to be about humility and character development and continually picking-up-and-dusting-off-and-trying-again-and-falling-down.

I did great in genchem. Ochem handed me my ass.

What I found AFTER, GODDAMMIT, AFTER I finished ochem, is the Organic Chemistry as a Second Language books. I studied for the MCAT out of these. Holy cow do I wish I'd found them while I was in classes.

My advice: get these books, be very afraid, have a backbone, and remember what it's for: biochem prep.

Best of luck to you.

Just copped the Organic Chemistry as a Second language book at bn.com with rush shipping. Lets see how well it works.

 

[killinsound]

one important thing...

i strongly recommend against flash cards...

everytime you see a rxn, you should picture the mechanism in your head (or write it down). flash cards have a habit to force you to memorize the reactants -> products, which will not help you on exams when almost everything is concepts applied to new things.

the only thing you should be memorizing in Ochem are the reagents.

 

[SB100]

Comparing general chemistry and organic chemistry is like comparing apples and oranges. Both have very different subject material that is best learned using different methods. The one common thread between them though is practice problems. This is especially crucial in organic chemistry as you'll have to learn the steps of mechanisms, syntheses, etc.

My own personal method for organic chemistry, which proved successful for me (A's both semesters in lectures and labs) was to study the book and know it like the back of your hand. Read, re-read anything you may not understand at first, then do as many practice problems as possible. I didn't pay attention in lectures because the professors often would go on a tangent for five minutes and would say something like "this is too advanced for you" or "this won't be on the exam." Honestly, when it comes to organic chemistry, there is NOTHING on the exams that won't be covered in the book.

 

[njbmd]

Fortunately for you, organic chemistry is far different from general chemistry. I wasn't particularly "carbon-friendly" but found the course different but enjoyable. Be sure to keep up with the material and labs. Don't talk yourself out of anything (G-Chem is behind you) and think of organic as your chance to battle chemistry on a different level.

It's a start over so be ready. Seek help when you need it and again, don't get behind. Prepare for every lab and lecture and master the material by whatever study methods work for you. Organic is less dependent on math skills and more dependent on you ability to relate what you have learned in previous lectures to what you are learning in the present lectures (just like medical school!).

Good luck!

 

[hopeinternist]

there doesnt seem to be a new 2007 version of Kleins book for secod semester orgo. So if i just order orgo as a second language 2007 version, and orgo II as a second language covering second semester topics is that ok? will it still cover all the topics?

thx guys

 

[Inuranic]

I loved organic and am not a fan of gen chem.

Everything builds on itself. Strive to understand as well as memorize and you'll be OK.

 

[DRBHOOM]

just follow your normal routine, you'll know when you need to put in extra time...
also, don't let anyone tell you that it's extremely difficult.

i just finished o-chem last friday(we had the ACS final)

for the final i bought the official ACS study guide from the professor and it helped a bunch.. personally, I worked through it as the two semester progressed and at the end (about a week left until the final) I reviewed what I missed and reasoned it all out.
Also, buy the Barron's Orgocards they have about every trick that ACS employs on there, but if you don't have the ACS final then you are in the clear. (apropos, this method scored me two A+(s) in O-chem I &II)
g to you

 

[bigDee]

there doesnt seem to be a new 2007 version of Kleins book for secod semester orgo. So if i just order orgo as a second language 2007 version, and orgo II as a second language covering second semester topics is that ok? will it still cover all the topics?

thx guys

Someone answer this question. I'm wondering this as well.

Edit: Nevermind. I don't know what this post is asking lol

 

[kjoe]

Same situation I was in. I did terribly in gen chem, I still feel like I didn't learn much from it because I was so lost the entire time. Then, in organic, I earned an A in each class (our school has 3 classes because the lab is separate) and converted each class to honors because I really enjoyed it. I think that it was my favorite class I've taken so far. My advice: take it seriously, but try to enjoy it at the same time. 🙂