So.. which was harder..

[lastcall]

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Haha, love the word cheesily.

One word I haven't gotten used to here on SDN is the "Orgo." At my undergrad it was "O-Chem," but most people seem to have called it Orgo at their U-grads. Orgo just sounds weird and dirty. And why Orgo and not Orga? I think they both sound ridiculous, though, haha.

I heard it varies by location...I've heard of students in the East Coast using "Orgo" vs West Coast pre-meds saying "O chem." Yeah, I think it's funny to hear "Orgo" too.

 

[nevinleiby]

Haha, love the word cheesily.

One word I haven't gotten used to here on SDN is the "Orgo." At my undergrad it was "O-Chem," but most people seem to have called it Orgo at their U-grads. Orgo just sounds weird and dirty. And why Orgo and not Orga? I think they both sound ridiculous, though, haha.

Reminds me of my organic prof: "Practice safe modeling"

 

[Pony46]

Haha, love the word cheesily.

One word I haven't gotten used to here on SDN is the "Orgo." At my undergrad it was "O-Chem," but most people seem to have called it Orgo at their U-grads. Orgo just sounds weird and dirty. And why Orgo and not Orga? I think they both sound ridiculous, though, haha.

still chuckling- yea not really sure where I picked Orgo up 🙂

 

[Pony46]

Definitely physics, it's my only C so far. My professor spends all period deriving equations, without doing ANY example problems. It would be helpful if we had to derive any equations on the exam, but we don't. It's VERY difficult for me.

Ya know I felt that very same way in physics. I wanted to see the concept which was embodied in the derivation put to use in a problem by someone who was adept at the gestalt understanding of both parts of physics class.

BUT not so much. In the end he did start doing more problems for us as my class was in quiet uproar - but like Lokhtar, our prof. was much more interested in us understanding the derivation.

Funny though even when he did demonstrate problems he would never fail to add in a trick which demonstrated how derivation was key.

Awesome if you are mathy🙂 less so if your not.

I loved my bio because he expected us to understand the system, with all its glorious details supported only by profoundly insightful lectures as expansive guides- Love bio🙂 and he was another great teacher. (no HW, only tests & of course lab.)

 

[Ibn Rushd]

I enjoyed both, but physics was definitely harder. The curve in my physics classes was killer.

Physics 1: B-
Physics 2: B+
Physics 2 Lab: B
Physics 3: B+
Physics 3 Lab: B+

Organic 1: A
Organic 1 Lab: A
Organic 2: A
Organic 2 Lab: A
Organic 3: A
Organic 3 Lab: A

 

[ilovefishing]

Physics I was AWFUL, not because of the concepts but because my physics professor was more boring than watching paint dry, so I died a little inside each time I went to his class. After that I began to associate physics with him 🙁
Physics II was a lot better. My professor had great demonstrations for each concept that kept me interested (and awake).
I love O. Chem 😍 for some odd reason.

 

[Lokhtar]

Interesting point you make Lokhtar--in my college physics we werent responsible for deriving the equations themselves

On the exam, they normally don't ask you to derive it, but they do present the derivation in the lecture. They do it because they want you to know where and how the equation comes from, so if you get a hard problem, maybe you can use that derivation to understand how/why it applies, and where you can modify it to solve a problem.

In terms of studying, I ask people how much they studied for biochem, and they give a huge number. Then I ask people how much time they spent doing the problems in Physics, and its usually 1/5 of that. I think Physics is often harder than people make it out to be. They either convince themselves its too hard, or convince themselves they aren't good at math (which, even if true, can be remedied in like a week, for math thats required in Phys 1 & 2).

I've given lectures in physics before, and I always spend a lot of time on the derivations. I didn't know students hated it this much. I guess its the fault of the teachers not to explain why it's the most important part of the lecture.

 

[Rollo]

Statistically, Biochem was the toughest at my undergrad.

Every exam, half of the class FAILED. Yes, they all got Fs. And the class was always huge...maybe 40 people or so. Most people who didn't fail got Cs and Bs...and maybe one or two of us got As.

And you know what's the funny thing? Half of the people who failed every exam/class, almost all of them needed Biochem for their major requirement.

I told the prof that if this keeps happening every semester, then perhaps it's the exams itself that are at fault. The prof said that in her defense, she warned the class in the beginning and gave a list of plenty of resources to go to if the students needed help. And the prof was right...there were plenty of opportunities to get help in the class, but I guess people just gave up after failing the first 3 of 5 exams. 👎

I didn't think Biochem was THAT difficult...It was just a matter of understanding the concepts, and NOT memorizing.

 

[EricH]

I didn't think Biochem was THAT difficult...It was just a matter of understanding the concepts, and NOT memorizing.

This is a perfect example of how the class can differ, we had more memorizing than concepts in my biochem. We had to be able to draw and label every amino acid, peptide, and cycle. That was just the first test.

 

[Rollo]

This is a perfect example of how the class can differ, we had more memorizing than concepts in my biochem. We had to be able to draw and label every amino acid, peptide, and cycle. That was just the first test.

Yeah same here for the first two exams. But as soon as we started Krebs and ETC, we started getting conceptual questions. We actually had couple of clinical questions like "Pt. A came in with X enzyme deficiency...why do you think that is..." and we had to explain it using the protein structure and reaction between side chains, etc...

I thought it was pretty neat to explain the concepts though.

 

[EricH]

I thought it was pretty neat to explain the concepts though.

I agree, on our final we had a question about the enzyme deficiency that make some Asian people get drunk very quickly and stay drunk for long periods of time. I like to refer to this enzyme as the "saving your money at the bar enzyme" My professor was Irish. I remember that the last line of my answer was "That's why an Asian man should never get into a drinking contest with an Irishman" 😀

Please don't flame me, it's just a joke.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I worked my ass off for a B and a C in physics 1 and 2. I have never worked so hard in my life with such a weak return. At least until med school.

I got A's in both o-chems, and was one of the top scorers in both classes.

Having said that, I think o-chem was a much more challenging class. I just enjoyed it more, and was able to make it click. The worst thing about physics is that I knew it wasn't that hard, but I still just didn't get it the way I wanted to. I just couldn't make it click.

 

[francais7979]

PHYSICS II was harder than PHY I and Organic I and II.

Just do as many problems as possible and you'll be fine

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Haha, love the word cheesily.

One word I haven't gotten used to here on SDN is the "Orgo." At my undergrad it was "O-Chem," but most people seem to have called it Orgo at their U-grads. Orgo just sounds weird and dirty. And why Orgo and not Orga? I think they both sound ridiculous, though, haha.

Haha there was a whole thread about this in Pre-Allo. I went with "O-chem" and can't stand "Orgo." *shudders*

 

[nevinleiby]

Haha there was a whole thread about this in Pre-Allo. I went with "O-chem" and can't stand "Orgo." *shudders*

"organic" in my book. Until August, I'm probably the workaholic who would say 3 syllables over 2

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Ditto.

Your first study tip link should be made into a poster and handed out during med school orientation. 👍😎

 

[Rollo]

I agree, on our final we had a question about the enzyme deficiency that make some Asian people get drunk very quickly and stay drunk for long periods of time. I like to refer to this enzyme as the "saving your money at the bar enzyme" My professor was Irish. I remember that the last line of my answer was "That's why an Asian man should never get into a drinking contest with an Irishman" 😀

Please don't flame me, it's just a joke.

LMAO...that's funny.

Your top study tip should be made into a poster and handed out during med school orientation. 👍😎

I would just have to buy a big poster of Captain Morgan then...

 

[Chocolate Bear]

LMAO...that's funny.



I would just have to buy a big poster of Captain Morgan then...

LOL I meant the top one of the links. Not the *best* one. 🙄

 

[rotatedline]

I worked my ass off for a B and a C in physics 1 and 2. I have never worked so hard in my life with such a weak return. At least until med school.

I got A's in both o-chems, and was one of the top scorers in both classes.

Having said that, I think o-chem was a much more challenging class. I just enjoyed it more, and was able to make it click. The worst thing about physics is that I knew it wasn't that hard, but I still just didn't get it the way I wanted to. I just couldn't make it click.

Exactly my experience.

 

[Rollo]

LOL I meant the top one of the links. Not the *best* one. 🙄

Hmm...I see..a typo...somebody already started on their afternoon shots of the Captain...

 

[bioman2006]

.

 

[drumboy]

On the first day of physics, my professor "tactfully" told students that some people just "get it," and some people don't. "There are some of you who will study for 10 or 12 hours a week, and still won't get an A. There are some of you who will probably feel like class time is a waste, and you will get an A with no problem." I felt like physics was much easier than any of my other science classes and spent a relatively small amount of time getting As. (and as a result I was a TA in the physics homework lab for a year, much easier than when I did research).

On the flip side, I spent no less than 20 hours a week when I took my O-chem lab to barely pull out an A. (I did take it during summer term however, so I completed it in 7 weeks) MUCH more time intensive class, and required MUCH more effort on my part.

I would say that Physics is either in you or it isn't, and the time spent studying it has a small impact on one's overall understanding of it. O Chem is "difficult," but much more value, improvement, and understand can come from the time you spend studying it. It's not intuitive, there is a lot of memorization, and it requires a lot of time to "get it." The method for solving physics problems seems intuitive for me, but for those who don't find it that way, studying for extended periods of time can seem futile.

 

[Lokhtar]

I would say that Physics is either in you or it isn't, and the time spent studying it has a small impact on one's overall understanding of it.

Completely disagree. I think people who think they don't get it despite studying a lot are not studying the right way: e.g, problems. Problems by the truckload.

Physics 1 & 2 have no difficult concepts. The problem comes from when people try to study physics like they study biology (e.g, reading and memorizing).

 

[RoadtoMed]

Hi,

I am signing up for my schedule of Fall 2009. I am currently enrolled in a 7 yr BS/DO program so it's kinda hectic trying to squeeze in all the required courses in addition to courses that would be good for med school in general.

This semester I was going to take Organic I (I've taken it before) and Molecular Biology. I figured I can concentrate well on the two with a few other GEs thrown in. But Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy is offered ( a 5 credit course, 3 hrs including lab two times a week). Everyone is saying that it's really good for med school. I can't drop Orgo or Molecular cuz they are pertinent to the track I'm in, so I have to take CVA along with those two.

I wanted to know how helpful CVA is for med school and if I can get by without taking it and instead taking something like Animal Physiology or Human Anatomy next semester.

 

[nlax30]

Organic by FAR. Loved physics.

 

[coffeeeandtea]

I agree, on our final we had a question about the enzyme deficiency that make some Asian people get drunk very quickly and stay drunk for long periods of time.

apparently, it also signals a risk for esophageal cancer :\

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/health/research/21alcohol.html?_r=1&em

p.s. i also agree with Lokhtar, physics is not just a "you get it or you don't" thing, you get a better understanding of it when you do a lot of practice problems or you find an explanation that works better for you. case in point, i'd taken honors physics in high school, physics for engineers in college, but it wasn't until i took an MCAT review class that i FINALLY understood it. haha it took me a while, but i got there eventually 😛

 

[Dissected]

Physics 1 & 2 have no difficult concepts. The problem comes from when people try to study physics like they study biology (e.g, reading and memorizing).

Thats a good point

 

[MUBiomed]

Orgo I and II were definitely easier than phsyics imo. Physics I was a breeze, but physics II I could not get my mind around. It didn't help that I had the department chair. Each of his tests had 4 questions.....3 tests per semester +final......no quizzes or homework......no formula/sheets....no graphing calcs......=death