URGENT! I need your help!

[googlygrape]

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Hi everyone!

So I know I haven't been able to post here much, but I'm in a predicament. So I am a sophmore psych major and pre-dental student at Syracuse University, and am a chem failure. My chem grades are as follows:

Chem 1: C- (adjusting to school i guess), Lab: B
Chem 2: B, Lab: A-
Ochem1: B-, Lab: B+

I definitely am going to re-take Chem 1 in the summer, but I'm currently taking Ochem 2 and am failing (after my first test). The class grades pretty much consist of 3 tests, a final, and attendance.

The problem is, would it look bad if I re-take Ochem 2 also? I looked online and Chem 1 and Ochem 2 are at the same time, so I'd have to choose one to take this summer, and the other the next. I can't take both this summer because I am an Air Force ROTC Cadet and I have boot camp this summer. Will any of these things hurt my chances of getting into dental school?

Any advice on what to do? I just feel so lost in this class. When it came time to the reactions and synthesis I've just been so lost. Any book recommendations or anything would help. Thanks so much (sorry this is a novel! haha).

 

[MaverickPreDent]

I don't think you should be giving up so soon in Ochem 2. You should try to find some help from classmates, study groups, or other sources. If you've only taken your first test then there is still an opportunity to pull your grades up. Maybe try talking to your professor and see how you can improve.

 

[DentGuy]

You might have failed your ochem test, but what's the class average for that exam? But relying on a class average/curve to boost your grade is risky and kinda slakerish.

With Ochem, it's good to read about the concepts, but the key to acing the exam is to do TONS and TONS and then even TONS more of problems. Doing a lot of problems will allow you to gauge how familiar you are with the concepts. Most students will read/make notes and then do a few problems. Then before the test, they only look back at the problems they've already done. This will work for biochem, biology, anatomy, etc. but NOT ochem. You need to be way more proactive with your problems. DO every set.

 

[velospresso]

Dentguy is spot on lots and lots of problems is the best way to go. I was in a similar boat with my ochem. I focused on notes and concepts at first and somehow squeeked out a B, next two quarters skimmed notes and concepts and did tons of arrow pushing, mechanisms and problems and finished off with 2 A's. You can turn it around its just about focussing on the right areas! good luck!

 

[vlct0ria]

You might have failed your ochem test, but what's the class average for that exam? But relying on a class average/curve to boost your grade is risky and kinda slakerish.

With Ochem, it's good to read about the concepts, but the key to acing the exam is to do TONS and TONS and then even TONS more of problems. Doing a lot of problems will allow you to gauge how familiar you are with the concepts. Most students will read/make notes and then do a few problems. Then before the test, they only look back at the problems they've already done. This will work for biochem, biology, anatomy, etc. but NOT ochem. You need to be way more proactive with your problems. DO every set.

I struggled through the organic chems and got multiple C/D/F test grades...good thing is the rest of the class did too. I ended up with a B in orgo I and a C in orgo II. I really regret not reading more and doing more practice problems because I know I could have done better. There isn't much to improving other than investing more time in it!

 

[nchrist]

if you are going to fail, much better to withdraw (if still possible). if you can scrape your way up to a C that might be better than a W. retake it and get a A or B.

i got a C in ochem 2 and 2 or 3 years later a 25 on ochem on the DAT. you really need to strive to understand and not try and scrape by with memorization. if you don't understand, read everything 3 times more.

 

[googlygrape]

Thanks for the advice everyone! i was trying to not see my first exam grade as long as possible but faced reality today and got it.

the average on the exam was a 44.4/100 and i got a 26/100

I mean thats really bad but not as bad as i thought it would be. worst ive ever done on an ochem exam but oh well. does anyone know what that may be with the curve?

my next exam is next thursday so im going to be studying tonsssss and doing tons of practice problems. thanks for all the caring advice!