trouble w/ GChem

[JRock310]

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so this is DEFINITELY my WORST section.

when i was taking the GChem I and II courses i just never "got it." i had to work REALLY hard to do well in those classes and even then, i got Bs in both.

i can DO the math/calculations, my biggest problem is knowing WHAT they are asking me to do and then HOW they are asking me to do it. i am horrible at retaining gchem information and equations! most of the time when i actually look up the answer in the back of the book, i feel like an idiot because i KNEW how to set it up and how to calculate it.

i have been through destroyer one time (and did NOT do very well on them) and plan on going through it two more times before my test on 9/30.

any advice/tips/suggestions/input on this section?

it is making me VERY stressed. 🙁

 

[Chrono]

What materials have u used besides destroyer?

 

[Snowy19]

Have you gone through Chad's lectures? He breaks down chem and ochem like it's nobody's business: http://www.coursesaver.com/showthread.php?t=39

 

[JRock310]

i have gone through chad's lectures and taken notes. i have studied those notes several times, but i have a REALLY big problem retaining them. that is why i moved on to the destroyer problems, which i have gone through once (but my scores scare me). i do plan on going through them two more times and hoping it sticks. i think that is the only way for me to really "get it," because just studying notes and listening in lecture allows me to understand it for the MOMENT, but then i quickly forget.

i ESPECIALLY have trouble w/ pH stuff/calculations when it comes to me figuring out what they want me to do.

 

[Snowy19]

You might look into the Chem workbook for Dummies, then. It takes you through more basic gchem problems and has a problems based approach for teaching. Try flipping through the book and seeing if that's what you need before you buy it though.

 

[porterhouse]

Take a trip to Borders or Barnes & Noble and browse some of the study aids they have. Cliff's StudySolver for Chemistry is pretty good with a bunch of examples ranging from easy to difficult. You also might wanna check out the Examkrackers 1001 Q's for Chemistry. Similar to the Cliff's book I mentioned the problems start out very easy and gradually get harder. The main difference between the 2 is that the Cliff's book actually reviews the subject before giving problems while Examkrackers is simply just problems. Good luck and keep at it.

 

[solstice]

i have gone through chad's lectures and taken notes. i have studied those notes several times, but i have a REALLY big problem retaining them. that is why i moved on to the destroyer problems, which i have gone through once (but my scores scare me). i do plan on going through them two more times and hoping it sticks. i think that is the only way for me to really "get it," because just studying notes and listening in lecture allows me to understand it for the MOMENT, but then i quickly forget.

i ESPECIALLY have trouble w/ pH stuff/calculations when it comes to me figuring out what they want me to do.

IMO you should forget about reading more books (dummies, Ap, whatever). Your problem seems to be reinforcing what you know or just learnt. You need to do problem. From what I've heard DS is more calculations and some concept. You still have a lot of time, buy the examcrackers 1001 chemistry. you can do 100 questions and review the answers in about 2-3 hours, they are chaptered based on different subjects, so you can skip the chapter you know very well and start with those you have problem. You need to do problems, you have done enough reading and note taking.

 

[JRock310]

thank you guys for your input.

it is just REALLY stressing me out.

is the destroyer very similar to the real DAT? ive heard it is a lot harder and more calculation based. i have been through it 1.5 times and i seriously have not improved very much this second time around. i dont know WHAT it is about gchem, but i basically just suck. 🙁

i have gone through the notes i took from chad's videos AGAIN...i just am horrible at setting up the problems. ill THINK i know how to do it and then i just screw it up somehow.

my DAT is on the 30th of sept and i HAVE to take it that day because if i dont, i cant apply this cycle, and i already submitted my app. i am just really worried and not sure what to do between now and then. i DO have the MCAT 1001 qs book, would that be better than just going through destroyer another time?

 

[wantVCUdental]

I think Destroyer gen chem is a very good review, i don't think it's "hard", i think the information represented is very likely the stuff we'll see on DAT

BUT! Destroyer presents information and puts a little twist to steer you away from the answer or make you take that extra turn. I don't think those extra turns will show up on real DAT, it'll probalby straightforward.

Just make sure you know the concept and going through it a few more times will definitely help.

Best of luck 😛

 

[anteater85]

so this is DEFINITELY my WORST section.

when i was taking the GChem I and II courses i just never "got it." i had to work REALLY hard to do well in those classes and even then, i got Bs in both.

i can DO the math/calculations, my biggest problem is knowing WHAT they are asking me to do and then HOW they are asking me to do it. i am horrible at retaining gchem information and equations! most of the time when i actually look up the answer in the back of the book, i feel like an idiot because i KNEW how to set it up and how to calculate it.

i have been through destroyer one time (and did NOT do very well on them) and plan on going through it two more times before my test on 9/30.

any advice/tips/suggestions/input on this section?

it is making me VERY stressed. 🙁

I wouldn't read anymore books at this point, just do bunch of problems. Do the destroyer. I used the Kaplan it kinda helped me learn the basics but I really learned how to apply my knowledge when I did the Gchem and Ochem questions. I'm sure U'll be fine.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

just a suggestion but maybe you can try to get a more easier book that

teaches u the fundamentals in chem. the same thing happened to me with

destroyer, it turns out reading through a high school level chem book solved

everything and made it almost like magic for getting my foot in to

understanding and mastering destroyer material. i used barrons new york

state regents (high school testing) chemistry book fyi. any will do tho.

by the way your avatar looks like brittany spears

 

[JRock310]

hahaha britney spears? shes blonde though.

thanks for the suggestions, i have 2 days (AHHHH) so hopefully something will sink in. i REALLYYYY do not want to take this thing more than once.

 

[Chrono]

hahaha britney spears? shes blonde though.

thanks for the suggestions, i have 2 days (AHHHH) so hopefully something will sink in. i REALLYYYY do not want to take this thing more than once.

how have you been preparing for the math section?