Taking both orgo and physics in the same semester, need insight!

[TreeofRoses]

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I know there have been questions similar to this asked here, but I would greatly appreciate any insight on my situation.

I am a pre-optometry student with six months of optometry related experience. I continue to shadow and gain more experience as the year goes on.

The only pre-reqs I still need for optometry school and the OAT are physics and orgo, so I'll be taking those this fall semester. In addition, I'll be taking Orgo lab and another class required for my major. That way, I'll have all my prereqs done before I start applying and take the OAT.

I wanted to know if it's doable for me, considering I struggled in gen chem and passed with C's. I also don't have a very high GPA (close to 3.0), but I'm willing to raise it and score high on the OATs.

So would anyone know if ochem is based off of gen chem, or is it unrelated? Also, would I be able to manage orgo and physics together (I'm willing to put in the time and effort everyday for both subjects).

Any insight and/or advice/tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[futuredoc331]

Gen Chem and Orgo are nothing alike. Orgo is very easy if you don't listen to all the other students about how hard they think it is. I just knocked out Orgo I and II this summer. Orgo has been my favorite course out of 150+ credit hours and was also the easiest A.

My recommendation would be to use Organic Chemistry as a 2nd Language by Klein. There are two books; the first semester topics and the second semester topics. Read the book, do what your prof. says and you'll cruise through the course.

You will need to practice orgo for a few hours a week, but if you do that it's easy.

Can't speak for taking it with physics though. I hated physics.

 

[Salmon]

I took organic chemistry and physics together for 3 quarters and I was completely fine. During that time I was also taking some upper division bio classes as well. I found that O Chem was way different than Gen chem. Just practice writing the mechanisms and reactions out. And if you're decent at algebra and trigonometry I'd say you'd be fine in physics also. I should say that I loved both subjects though.

I'd say go for it and take all those classes. Think of it as a challenge that you're overcoming to prepare for optometry school. From what I understand the course load is much heavier there. Good luck! You can definitely do it if you put in the effort.

 

[Snakedoctor1]

No one here can really tell you if you can handle it or not. You will have to decide that yourself. I wouldn't say Ochem is easy by any means, but just as anything else, if you put in the time you will most likely do well. Don't let your experiences in Gen Chem dictate how you will perform in Ochem or Biochem. If you found the material absolutely incomprehensible, then maybe there is an issue, but if it was more of a dedication issue as is sometimes common, just be prepared to put in the effort. Your GPA is fine, so this isn't really your situation, but sometimes I see these types of posts being shot down by comments like "maybe you just aren't cut out for science" or "try photography" but unlike some, I think there are very few people who really aren't capable of doing well in science classes. I think sometimes we are limited by what we think we are capable of, because of how hard something seems at first. While growing up I hated math and peanut butter. Now I've realized the genius behind both.

 

[Groucho Marx]

Don't be afraid of O-chem. It's really not that bad at all--you just have to get used to a different way of thinking. I second the notion of using Klein books. They are great. I got A's in O-chem I and II, and I really think that the little Klein books played a decent role.