Should I drop Org 2?

[smileyman22336]

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Here's the situation: No excuses, and I take full responsibility.

During org 1 we ran out of time on the sn1 sn2, e1, e2 material and covered it in one class period, and took the test the following class period...so I didn't get a good grasp.

In org 2 they covered in in more depth but I was really having problems getting it and I bombed with the first test, in the 30-50 range...

Now the second test is next week over alkene reactions and nmr spectroscopy, and I am debating whether or not I should drop the class (drop date is mid november)...

I'm debating dropping the class because I feel all of the material from here on out will build upon the material from the first test, all related to radical mechanisms and reactions. I have no clue about reaction mechanisms whatsoever, and am feeling so lost...

Is there hope, or do I drop? I'm really confused. I've bought org 2 as a 2nd language for some assistance...IDK if I should bother at this point, if there's any hope catching up.

I take full responsibility. Please offer me your advice.

 

[xtsukiyox]

You've already paid for it, so I'd see it through, unless there's some seriously pressing reason not to. You'll probably pick something up that will be helpful for your next go-round.

You might also want to check out some O Chem lectures online or seek tutoring / open office hours, especially since you've identified your specific topical deficiency.

Figure out whether you can still pull the grade you want if you smash the rest of the course - if you can, throw yourself at it 200% & include the topics you didn't understand the first time, then reevaluate after the second test. If you can't, just concentrate on learning as much as you can (regardless of grade).

Find out the last date you can withdraw by yourself & with the instructor's signature, then find out what the instructor's policy about granting the signature & a "withdraw passing" is. I got lucky in that most of my teachers would just withdraw you passing if you withdrew before the final exam. And nobody will ever know whether you dropped it week 1 or week 16 by looking at your transcript. One or two Ws isn't going to cause harm (I've heard it can do so if you make a habit of it, but it doesn't seem like you're going to).

Make absolutely sure you've dropped it though... I ended up with a Calc III F on my transcript because I found out too late I hadn't done it right.

It was the policy at my college that you could stay in the lab as long as you stayed in the lecture past a certain week. You might be able to still "A" the lab, so your time will still add value to your transcript. And next semester you won't have to do everything again.

 

[chemguy79]

If you are going to drop the course, you MUST figure out why you're doing poorly AND fix it before you take the class again. You seem to know the issues that you're having, so you're off to a good start. Many students drop classes and repeat them only to suffer the same fate.

Therefore, if you don't feel that you mastered the material from Organic 1, sit in an Organic 1 lecture and try to absorb the material again. Is it time consuming? Yes. However, if you're at a large university, it's doubtful that the professor will ever notice someone sitting in the large lecture hall. Honestly, THAT is the key to your success ... finding a way to fix the deficiencies that you have in a subject and establishing a solid platform for the future.

Furthermore, reaction mechanisms are the KEY to Organic 2. For the students that I'm tutoring in Organic 1, I'm cracking the whip on SN1, SN2 mechanisms (they were on their second exam at UNC) because I want them to explain to me why things happen the way that they do. You need to memorize the basic steps of pushing electrons, but if you understand the WHY ... It makes their understanding of the material stronger when one works on E1 and E2 mechanisms. It sounds pedantic, but knowing why the OH becomes protonated when reacting with HCl is a pretty big deal because when you start working on carbonyl reactions in Organic 2 because the same general initiation step applies. Besides, when I was in graduate school, we had to memorize pKa's for 250 different functional groups as a part of our hazing ritual and I like to share the pain with undergrads. =)

Good luck!

 

[RX2020]

If you are going to drop the course, you MUST figure out why you're doing poorly AND fix it before you take the class again. You seem to know the issues that you're having, so you're off to a good start. Many students drop classes and repeat them only to suffer the same fate.

Therefore, if you don't feel that you mastered the material from Organic 1, sit in an Organic 1 lecture and try to absorb the material again. Is it time consuming? Yes. However, if you're at a large university, it's doubtful that the professor will ever notice someone sitting in the large lecture hall. Honestly, THAT is the key to your success ... finding a way to fix the deficiencies that you have in a subject and establishing a solid platform for the future.

Furthermore, reaction mechanisms are the KEY to Organic 2. For the students that I'm tutoring in Organic 1, I'm cracking the whip on SN1, SN2 mechanisms (they were on their second exam at UNC) because I want them to explain to me why things happen the way that they do. You need to memorize the basic steps of pushing electrons, but if you understand the WHY ... It makes their understanding of the material stronger when one works on E1 and E2 mechanisms. It sounds pedantic, but knowing why the OH becomes protonated when reacting with HCl is a pretty big deal because when you start working on carbonyl reactions in Organic 2 because the same general initiation step applies. Besides, when I was in graduate school, we had to memorize pKa's for 250 different functional groups as a part of our hazing ritual and I like to share the pain with undergrads. =)

Good luck!

I have been following your posts and you always have very productive advise. I also used your notes on alkanes nomenclature.
Do you have anything that I can use for SN1, SN2, E1, E2 reactions and also in need of chirality material
Thanks

 

[Kansas Pharmer]

If you are going to drop the course, you MUST figure out why you're doing poorly AND fix it before you take the class again. You seem to know the issues that you're having, so you're off to a good start. Many students drop classes and repeat them only to suffer the same fate.

Therefore, if you don't feel that you mastered the material from Organic 1, sit in an Organic 1 lecture and try to absorb the material again. Is it time consuming? Yes. However, if you're at a large university, it's doubtful that the professor will ever notice someone sitting in the large lecture hall. Honestly, THAT is the key to your success ... finding a way to fix the deficiencies that you have in a subject and establishing a solid platform for the future.

Furthermore, reaction mechanisms are the KEY to Organic 2. For the students that I'm tutoring in Organic 1, I'm cracking the whip on SN1, SN2 mechanisms (they were on their second exam at UNC) because I want them to explain to me why things happen the way that they do. You need to memorize the basic steps of pushing electrons, but if you understand the WHY ... It makes their understanding of the material stronger when one works on E1 and E2 mechanisms. It sounds pedantic, but knowing why the OH becomes protonated when reacting with HCl is a pretty big deal because when you start working on carbonyl reactions in Organic 2 because the same general initiation step applies. Besides, when I was in graduate school, we had to memorize pKa's for 250 different functional groups as a part of our hazing ritual and I like to share the pain with undergrads. =)

Good luck!

Now thats just mean And I thought my list of about 40 was bad.

 

[chemguy79]

I have been following your posts and you always have very productive advise. I also used your notes on alkanes nomenclature.
Do you have anything that I can use for SN1, SN2, E1, E2 reactions and also in need of chirality material
Thanks

Hey! What information do you need regarding chirality? Determining R vs. S configurations? Transition state diagrams to determine why you have inversion of configuration in SN2 reactions?

As for SN1, SN2, etc. ... I have some charts that explain the differences between the types of reactions or do you need more help with mechanisms ...

There are TONS of resources, but the more specific that you can be, the more that I can help. 🙂

 

[chemguy79]

Now thats just mean And I thought my list of about 40 was bad.

Dude ... it was friggin' ridiculous! The professor of our Advanced Organic Chemistry course would literally corner us in the hallways and ask, "What's the pKa of the most acidic proton in a malonic ester?" "What's the pKa of trifluoroacetic acid?" I'm not really a binge and purge memorizing guy, I'm big on concepts and theories, so the first 2 weeks of graduate school were pretty ridiculous.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Besides, when I was in graduate school, we had to memorize pKa's for 250 different functional groups as a part of our hazing ritual and I like to share the pain with undergrads. =)

Good luck!

Sweet Jesus. Glad I picked pharmacy!

 

[chemguy79]

Sweet Jesus. Glad I picked pharmacy!

To quote Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, "You chose ... WISELY."

 

[RX2020]

Hey! What information do you need regarding chirality? Determining R vs. S configurations? Transition state diagrams to determine why you have inversion of configuration in SN2 reactions?

As for SN1, SN2, etc. ... I have some charts that explain the differences between the types of reactions or do you need more help with mechanisms ...

There are TONS of resources, but the more specific that you can be, the more that I can help. 🙂

I feel confident with chirality however I have issues when Hydrogen (4) is on the back and when its on a wedge and confirmation is opposite..not sure if I am explaining it properly
I believe those charts would be helpful but I am not sure if you are charging for your services?
Thanks

 

[KoRuPT]

I feel confident with chirality however I have issues when Hydrogen (4) is on the back and when its on a wedge and confirmation is opposite..not sure if I am explaining it properly
Thanks

Try looking at these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?playne...layList&v=NxIOrK6wF70&list=PL6B957213153CF907 (R and S Naming)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?playne...layList&v=kds2rrjjUdQ&list=PLBB0B08D89623D7E8 (Problems)

The rest of freelanceteach's videos are on his website. He more than likely covers every topic you will do in a year of organic chemistry.

http://www.freelance-teacher.com/videos.htm#ORGANICCHEMISTRY

 

[chemguy79]

I feel confident with chirality however I have issues when Hydrogen (4) is on the back and when its on a wedge and confirmation is opposite..not sure if I am explaining it properly
I believe those charts would be helpful but I am not sure if you are charging for your services?
Thanks

Wow ... This MAY surprise you, but some people on SDN GENUINELY want to help others without expecting anything in return.

Therefore, I was asking for more information so I could find you something which will specifically help you instead of providing vague links that don't directly address your problem. There are TONS of links about chirality, but if you don't understand a specific aspect of the concept, I use the interwebs and Skynet to find an exact answer to your question.

Besides, I'm on a message board, if I charged for any piece of advice that I gave on here, I'd be incredibly rich ... *shifts eyes* ... or something like that.

 

[cuedee]

Here's the situation: No excuses, and I take full responsibility.

During org 1 we ran out of time on the sn1 sn2, e1, e2 material and covered it in one class period, and took the test the following class period...so I didn't get a good grasp.

In org 2 they covered in in more depth but I was really having problems getting it and I bombed with the first test, in the 30-50 range...

Now the second test is next week over alkene reactions and nmr spectroscopy, and I am debating whether or not I should drop the class (drop date is mid november)...

I'm debating dropping the class because I feel all of the material from here on out will build upon the material from the first test, all related to radical mechanisms and reactions. I have no clue about reaction mechanisms whatsoever, and am feeling so lost...

Is there hope, or do I drop? I'm really confused. I've bought org 2 as a 2nd language for some assistance...IDK if I should bother at this point, if there's any hope catching up.

I take full responsibility. Please offer me your advice.

If you will know the outcome of your second test before the deadline, then wait to withdraw. The NMR and spectroscopy test was the easiest test in organic 2. This score will not predict your performance on future exams but it could be your life jacket -- a cushion to fall on.

How are other students doing in the class? Do you know if your professor is going to curve? Have you spoken to your professor about your performance? Are you going to tutoring? Do you have a study buddy? Have you spoken with students who have already taken the course at your school? Are there homework assignments or extra credit opportunities? Are you trying to get a pretty grade (B or better), or will you accept a C and move on?

 

[xtsukiyox]

Wow ... This MAY surprise you, but some people on SDN GENUINELY want to help others without expecting anything in return.

Hey, I thought it was a fair question. Nice of you to bring your experience to bear in helping him, btw. 👍

 

[smileyman22336]

If you will know the outcome of your second test before the deadline, then wait to withdraw. The NMR and spectroscopy test was the easiest test in organic 2. This score will not predict your performance on future exams but it could be your life jacket -- a cushion to fall on.

How are other students doing in the class? Do you know if your professor is going to curve? Have you spoken to your professor about your performance? Are you going to tutoring? Do you have a study buddy? Have you spoken with students who have already taken the course at your school? Are there homework assignments or extra credit opportunities? Are you trying to get a pretty grade (B or better), or will you accept a C and move on?

I'm completely lost in the class and I fell behind because in Org 1 our class ran out of time and we didn't get to cover, addition, propagation, sublimation, and elimination reactions. Test 2 is over NMR and Alkene Rxns and to be honest, I'm doomed. I have no idea where to start, and the test is tomorrow. I was originally expecting a B in the class, now I don't even think I'll manage a C. Don't get me wrong, my lab grade is fine, I have a lab grade of an A, but lecture is mutilating me. I have a feeling I'm going to withdraw from the class and retake it, and perhaps sit in the end of sn1 and sn2 portion of lecture of an Org 1 class. I'm very panicky and I don't know what I'll do.

 

[xtsukiyox]

I have a feeling I'm going to withdraw from the class and retake it, and perhaps sit in the end of sn1 and sn2 portion of lecture of an Org 1 class. I'm very panicky and I don't know what I'll do.

Sounds like you've got a plan of attack. Here's what I'd suggest you do: take a deep breath, walk into the test tomorrow & do your honest best. If you come up to a question you have no idea the answer to, guess, but laugh because you know you're withdrawing from the class if you do poorly & there's no reason to stress.

If you can't hazard a guess, write "blue," put a smiley face and move on. 😉

Seriously, there's no reason to stress out here if you've definitively decided to withdraw. One W on your transcript isn't a big deal. Allot yourself time to study O Chem as if you were still in the class so you can kill it next time (& so you don't lose what you've already learned).

 

[chemguy79]

I'm completely lost in the class and I fell behind because in Org 1 our class ran out of time and we didn't get to cover, addition, propagation, sublimation, and elimination reactions. Test 2 is over NMR and Alkene Rxns and to be honest, I'm doomed. I have no idea where to start, and the test is tomorrow. I was originally expecting a B in the class, now I don't even think I'll manage a C. Don't get me wrong, my lab grade is fine, I have a lab grade of an A, but lecture is mutilating me. I have a feeling I'm going to withdraw from the class and retake it, and perhaps sit in the end of sn1 and sn2 portion of lecture of an Org 1 class. I'm very panicky and I don't know what I'll do.

It sounds like you have a good plan, smiley. The key thing is that you MUST learn the SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 material before Organic 2. They are incredibly important concepts. Do you have a solid professor from Organic 1 who can teach the material? If not, there are tons of links on the web where you can get the concepts taught to you. If you have a tough time finding them, I'll send you some links FOR FREE!. 😀