Solid understanding in Gen Chem before Starting Organic?

[Omashu]

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In both Gen Chem I & II, I didn't do so well - C+ 🙁. I know I have retake and get A's. Should I retake them first before I start Organic?

 

[Omashu]

My plan was to retake after I completed everything first. But now I'm wondering if that would only hurt me.

 

[mastamark]

In both Gen Chem I & II, I didn't do so well - C+ 🙁. I know I have retake and get A's. Should I retake them first before I start Organic?

You could retake to get higher grades, but it won't really be a large deal for Organic. You may only have to draw back to the basic knowledge in gen chem early on in Orgo I. Some professors may revisit the more advanced stuff later in Orgo II(Acids, Bases and the like). I actually found Organic to be easier to grasp than general chemistry(just more memorization), but then again I found Gen chem easy after taking orgo. It drove some things home for me.

Good Luck

 

[VALSALVA]

In both Gen Chem I & II, I didn't do so well - C+ 🙁. I know I have retake and get A's. Should I retake them first before I start Organic?

Retake either way. My belief is that one's performance in Organic Chem. has more to do with his/her level of intelligence and ability to memorize as opposed to his/her performance in Gen Chem. Unfortunately, the same applies to Gen. Chem (with more emphasis on intelligence and less on memory) and, therefore, many people struggle with both subjects...but not everyone! Good luck!

 

[MossPoh]

I have gotten the impression that it really doesn't matter that much. They are two types of learning and so different people tend to find one easier than the other. I am not very mathematically oriented, so general chemistry is a struggle for me. My handwriting is just so bad I tend to make mistakes with numbers. I have been told organic is more of a visual/memorization type thing where brute force can trump straight intelligence. Just retake when you have the chance though.

 

[Punchap]

I didn't do well in general chemistry either -- I ended up with a B- and C+ (didn't take chemistry in high school and I let myself fall behind easily). The good news is you really don't need to know much general chemistry in order to do well for o.chem. I got A's in o.chem...a lot was memorization, but it just made more sense to me. I hope the same works for you...good luck.

 

[sexyman]

Yea I actually almost enjoyed O chem in undergrad...

but I HATED and still to HATE general chemistry, the only thing I think that helps you in Orgo from gen chem is periodic trends, lewis dot, and very basic acid/base stuff.

 

[Omashu]

...I feel little better about Ochem now....thanks to everyone's responces.

 

[Kappy1]

G-chem was math based with some memorization and some understanding of concepts. O-chem has alot of concepts and memorization (in my school I had to memorize 280 reaction conditions) with no math at all. In my school you needed to be a good puzzle solver to Organic synthesis and road maps. I think it is professor dependent for how much G-chem you will actually need to remember. I actully needed more of G-chem for bio-chem than orgo. Since you plan to retake G-Chem, do not retake it when you are taking Orgo. It will be just too much work for one semester.

 

[MaximusD]

All of chemistry sucked. Ochem sucked when I didn't keep up with it on a regular basis... so, yeah... do that.

 

[JasonUD]

GenChem is much different from OChem. I hated GenChem and loved OChem. If you know the basics you'll be fine for OChem, they'll probably even review whats needed at the beginning of each unit. I wouldn't worry.