summer organic chem

[rainsplash]

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I hear the withdrawal rate for organic chem 1 is high in the summer. How many of you have attempted to take org 1 and been successful in obtaining a good grade? I want to try to take it before taking PCAt but im scared to death

 

[ladyrosa]

I took org chem 1 and 2 over summer 2008, along with an economics class, and A & P 1 and 2. Org chem 1 was manageable even with the intensive econ and A & P classes, but I had to drop A & P 3 to focus on org chem 2, which is in my opinion more difficult because it has much more info than org chem 1, and you need time to understand, memorize, and practice the materials.

When are you taking the PCAT? I was taking the two org chem classes before my Oct 2008 PCAT. I would recommend finishing at least org chem 1 before your PCAT 🙂

 

[rainsplash]

i wanted to take org 1 in the summer and pcat in oct but when i told a p3 students she told me that most of her friends were dropping like flies during the summer.
So i was planning to take it in the fall until i heard 3/4 of the students in my class saying they were going to register for the summer for orgo1.
I feel pressured now to take it during summer. 😱

 

[iambic]

I hear the withdrawal rate for organic chem 1 is high in the summer. How many of you have attempted to take org 1 and been successful in obtaining a good grade? I want to try to take it before taking PCAt but im scared to death

It wasn't bad but it is fast-paced and you do have to keep up with material every day.

 

[Storm90]

If I had the option I would have taken it over the summer. I think the main reason people drop out is because summer courses are very intensive and require a lot of effort, and organic requires a lot of effort to start off with. I did it through correspondence (self-taught), and did well (A- in Orgo 1, A in Orgo 2), so it's not impossible to do well on it. You just need to be able to do the work.

 

[stlouis79]

i got by just fine. got A-, B+, and A for org chem 1, org chem 2, and the lab, respectively. They were all taken in the same summer.Didnt even have to work that hard. Really depends on your professor.

 

[Kirbypuff]

I got an A & B on I & II. My professor curved, so second term was killer because the bottom of the class had flunked out. I studied twice as hard for Orgo II. I think Orgo I is worth taking, but II was freakin hard. I always wished I had more time to study for Orgo II.

 

[RAMPHARMD]

Summer O-chem = BAD idea!!!!!!

I don't know what kind of profs/lectures/labs/exams you other guys had, but O-chem has been the the one of the most difficult series of courses I have ever been exposed to. I couldn't imagine cramming all the material I have learned into a period 1/3 of the duration of two regular semesters. Even if you do manage to pull off satisfactory grades, how well do you think you will retain the information?

In my opinion, you should stick to your PSYC, HIST, GOVT, ECON, (insert utter-waste-of-time course title here) pre-reqs during the summer, not courses relative to material you will see on the regular basis in pharmacy school.

 

[RAMPHARMD]

I took org chem 1 and 2 over summer 2008, along with an economics class, and A & P 1 and 2.

You are a beast!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rainsplash]

how many hours did most of you dedicate to studying and lab outside of the classroom for orgo 1? If i decide to take it I will only stick to one class😕

 

[bluesickle]

I took Orgo II during the summer and I was so glad that I didn't work also because studying for that class was a full-time job. I had to study extra hard towards the end (when everyone starts to get lazy) because of that damn ACS final.

 

[Sparda29]

I have a weird story about Organic Chem. I took it for the 1st time in Fall 06, ended up taking a UW. Again in Spring 07, got a D.

So I went to take Orgo II in Summer I 07, failed that class. So then I retook Orgo I in Summer II 07 and got an A. Took Orgo II in Fall 07 got a B.

For the PCAT, it is good to have taken Orgo I.

 

[dahopeful]

You can do what I'm doing, and sit in on the class. That way you are familiar with the professor and course work when the summer rolls around.

 

[iambic]

how many hours did most of you dedicate to studying and lab outside of the classroom for orgo 1? If i decide to take it I will only stick to one class😕

There is no magic number. It's different for every person. Just be prepared to deal with an avalanche of work in a short period of time. If you can pick up concepts quickly you should have no problem.

I studied maybe 1-2 hours a day and worked part-time but I also had a good professor and remembered everything in class (I have somewhat of an eidetic memory when it comes to visual concepts so it was easier for me).

 

[Sparda29]

When I succeeded in Organic Chem, my strategy was to go to a Starbucks right after the lecture ended and do all the problems in the chapter that was just covered.

 

[rainsplash]

You can do what I'm doing, and sit in on the class. That way you are familiar with the professor and course work when the summer rolls around.

yea i thought about doing this but my schools seems a lil strict. don't know if it will be allowed

 

[soap]

Summer O-chem = BAD idea!!!!!!

I don't know what kind of profs/lectures/labs/exams you other guys had, but O-chem has been the the one of the most difficult series of courses I have ever been exposed to. I couldn't imagine cramming all the material I have learned into a period 1/3 of the duration of two regular semesters. Even if you do manage to pull off satisfactory grades, how well do you think you will retain the information?

In my opinion, you should stick to your PSYC, HIST, GOVT, ECON, (insert utter-waste-of-time course title here) pre-reqs during the summer, not courses relative to material you will see on the regular basis in pharmacy school.

I totally agree. Also check with your pharm school of choice if its ok. Some pharm schools "recommend" not taking math/science in the summer. When I contacted the adviser for one of my schools, they told to stick with full semesters for math and science classes. With that said, I do understand your position.
As dahopeful posted, try to sit in with the Ochem class at your school now. Talk with the professor rather than admissions. Explain your situation and most would agree to it. Take the summer class only if you can work hard/learn fast.