What was the hardest prerequisite?

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What was the hardest prerequisite?

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I personally think Microbiology was the hardest, but it's not a prerequisite.
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Austinj said:
My lowest grades were an A- in phys II and gen chem I. I was at like a 92.3 in gen chem I. It was one of my first science courses, so I was still getting used to it at the time. Physics II was an A- because my teacher was an dingus and made the final cumulative for the year and so difficult that the average grade was a 40. Even with the curve, still brought me down to an A-.

In spite of that, the actual concepts in organic chem I & II were the hardest to grasp and definitely required the most work. Even though I got an A both semesters, I worked harder in Orgo for that grade than any of my other prereqs. Physics II is a close second in terms of difficulty, but it doesn't require nearly the amount of time studying that orgo does.
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Every science prereq I've taken has had a cumulative final.
 
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Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Every science prereq I've taken has had a cumulative final.
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Cumulative for physics I & physics II. As in we still had to have every single physics I formula memorized even though we had already completed physics I, and there were extremely difficult physics I problems on the physics II final, even though we did not cover anything relating to physics I in physics II.

That is not the same thing as a typical final, which is cumulative for 1 semester.
 
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Austinj said:
Cumulative for physics I & physics II. As in we still had to have every single physics I formula memorized even though we had already completed physics I, and there were extremely difficult physics I problems on the physics II final, even though we did not cover anything relating to physics I in physics II.

That is not the same thing as a typical final, which is cumulative for 1 semester.
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Yup. Been there. Sucks.
 
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Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
Yup. Been there. Sucks.
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Yeah, I don't get why they think that's a good thing to do to students lol. It's just annoyingly difficult and doesn't help you learn. I ended up doing well on the MCAT, but I had to teach myself all of the physics over again. That approach did not help me learn in class.
 
Austinj said:
Yeah, I don't get why they think that's a good thing to do to students lol. It's just annoyingly difficult and doesn't help you learn. I ended up doing well on the MCAT, but I had to teach myself all of the physics over again. That approach did not help me learn in class.
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Agreed. I think it is the lazy way to force students to integrate and build on concepts, but it just ends up taking away from learning.
 
As a former chemistry TA I'm certainly biased but I found organic chemistry to be one of the most enjoyable classes I took. The most unpleasant, by far, would be both of the physics because I found them to be painfully boring. The hardest was biochemistry but only because we had a notoriously bad professor who managed to un-teach us concepts in lecture.
 
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bananafish94 said:
As a former chemistry TA I'm certainly biased but I found organic chemistry to be one of the most enjoyable classes I took. The most unpleasant, by far, would be both of the physics because I found them to be painfully boring. The hardest was biochemistry but only because we had a notoriously bad professor who managed to un-teach us concepts in lecture.
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my experience to a Tee
 
bananafish94 said:
As a former chemistry TA I'm certainly biased but I found organic chemistry to be one of the most enjoyable classes I took. The most unpleasant, by far, would be both of the physics because I found them to be painfully boring. The hardest was biochemistry but only because we had a notoriously bad professor who managed to un-teach us concepts in lecture.
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I second this. Yes, I'm a huge nerd, but I love organic chemistry. Don't get me wrong, I had to work my absolute ass off to do well, but I owe a lot of my recent academic successes to the fact that taking orgo really showed me what it takes to excel in the classroom and how to study to fit my needs. On the contrary, the only non-A I have gotten was in Bio 1 that I got a B-. My professor was brilliant and very kind, but as the Pre-Health committee chair, it was a complete weed-out class with ungodly difficult exams. I still don't think I would get an A in that class if I went back and took it after having taken all the upper level science classes I've taken now... The exams were truly that difficult. Completely unfair in my opinion, but it's whatever at this point.
 
The only pre req I got a B in was bio 101. I always did worse in the easy classes bc I thought I could slack off and not try. If a class isn't hard, I just can't make myself pay attention or even show up.

Other classes I got Bs in were calc 1, speech, music appreciation, and orientation to college.

For me, the hardest classes were the easiest ones.


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freak7 said:
I really don't understand how the answer could be anything but organic chemistry.
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I'm sure this is dependent on where you take the class and who teaches it, but as a current Orgo TA, I've realized that most freshmen "pre-med's" don't do poorly in orgo because its difficult, they just have no idea how much work it takes to do well. I assert that it is not that hard if you put in the time. Again, I'm not at all saying that it isn't more difficult at other schools or in your experiences @freak7, I'm just saying that the overwhelming majority of weed-out classes aren't because of the difficulty of the coursework, but rather because very few students are willing to work as hard as you have to in order to put your self in a reasonable chance for medical school admissions. Just my $0.02.
 
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Austinj said:
My lowest grades were an A- in phys II and gen chem I. I was at like a 92.3 in gen chem I. It was one of my first science courses, so I was still getting used to it at the time. Physics II was an A- because my teacher was an dingus and made the final cumulative for the year and so difficult that the average grade was a 40. Even with the curve, still brought me down to an A-.
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God your post made me cringe
 
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He was "an dingus" and I only had a 92.3 :(
 
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Ho0v-man said:
The only pre req I got a B in was bio 101. I always did worse in the easy classes bc I thought I could slack off and not try. If a class isn't hard, I just can't make myself pay attention or even show up.

Other classes I got Bs in were calc 1, speech, music appreciation, and orientation to college.

For me, the hardest classes were the easiest ones.


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same only got a B in bio 102
 
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pseud0 said:
He was "an dingus" and I only had a 92.3 :(
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It said a different word, but it got censored. "An" was correct with how I typed it. Your rudeness is uncalled for.
 
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Biochemistry was the hardest for me because my professor was very difficult, however it was not my worst grade. Physics was the hardest subject matter for me to master (most effort required).
 
I reaized why Bio was so hard for me and why I am dropping the class. I always did what I usually do to get a good grade 1. Go to class everday 2. Do all of the homework. But when I was studying the required reading I never drew any of the diagrams. I was looking back at my notes and I never drew anything. Not once. So I will continue with my premedical adventures. I will just remember to draw.
 
Austinj said:
And your crappy attitude made me cringe. Makes us even I guess.
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Get off your high horse and learn some humility. The humblebrag was overwhelming in your post. The thread is about your hardest class, not which classes you aced. I bet you have a bunch of friends.
 
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Organic I and II were tough, but definitely would put physics II above both of those. I'm an organic tutor/TA and I definitely agree that most pre-meds taking organic just don't realize how much work is required.
 
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Chem 2 was pretty terrible.

Currently taking ochem, it's pretty terrible. Ochem lab is also terrible, we just sit around waiting for the reactions to happen, then we realize we effed something up and have to repeat the procedure. Usually takes 3 hours.

I hate chemistry.
 
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idontwatchgreysanatomy said:
Get off your high horse and learn some humility. The humblebrag was overwhelming in your post. The thread is about your hardest class, not which classes you aced. I bet you have a bunch of friends.
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But his hardest class was a class he got a 92.34 in. A single A- is not acceptable :(
 
The difficulty of organic 1 is overstated; its just memorizing a few rules with a few equations and applying them. I went into it with the fear of all that is evil and left underwhelmed. Meanwhile the "Intro" to Astronomy course I took as an easy GPA booster is pushing me to the limit both conceptually and mathematically.
 
[QUOTE="ChymeofPassion, post: 18327076, member: 773365]its just memorizing a few rules with a few equations and applying them. [/QUOTE]
And then they tell you that the rule was a lie and anti-[rule] is also a rule.
 
iqe2010 said:
Chem 2 was pretty terrible.

Currently taking ochem, it's pretty terrible. Ochem lab is also terrible, we just sit around waiting for the reactions to happen, then we realize we effed something up and have to repeat the procedure. Usually takes 3 hours.

I hate chemistry.
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MCAT is gonna be fun, friend.

"A student mixes reagent A and reagent B in an aqueous solution. This causes the temperature to increase a few degrees and yields a purple compound. The student tries to replicate these findings but accidentally contaminates the solution with chemical X which yields a brown compound instead. Below is a useless chart depicting the properties of chemical X under different circumstances that's designed to make you throw away your time."

Question 1)

Based on the passage, how many powerpuff girls could be made if the remaining amount of chemical X is the limiting reactant?

A) This is the right answer to a different question.

B) This is almost correct but in a wrong way.

C) This is probably the correct answer. But you know that the test makers know that you feel good guessing C. So what if they put a trick answer here. You should probably mark this, but then change it to B at the last second before moving on.

D) None of the above. This feels pretty good because even though you know it's wrong, it's like giving the finger to the rest of the answers because you're already fed up and you got 7 more hours of this garbage.




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ORGO 2. fckkk that bullsh*t. Straight up made a C lmfaoo. thank god i don't need to know how to synthesize an alkane or whatever those chemical crap is to give chicks tit jobs when i'm a plastic surgeon

side note: how do i change my status from pre med to MD student? been accepted already
 
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Ho0v-man said:
MCAT is gonna be fun, friend.

"A student mixes reagent A and reagent B in an aqueous solution. This causes the temperature to increase a few degrees and yields a purple compound. The student tries to replicate these findings but accidentally contaminates the solution with chemical X which yields a brown compound instead. Below is a useless chart depicting the properties of chemical X under different circumstances that's designed to make you throw away your time."

Question 1)

Based on the passage, how many powerpuff girls could be made if the remaining amount of chemical X is the limiting reactant?

A) This is the right answer to a different question.

B) This is almost correct but in a wrong way.

C) This is probably the correct answer. But you know that the test makers know that you feel good guessing C. So what if they put a trick answer here. You should probably mark this, but then change it to B at the last second before moving on.

D) None of the above. This feels pretty good because even though you know it's wrong, it's like giving the finger to the rest of the answers because you're already fed up and you got 7 more hours of this garbage.




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Click to expand...
Hahahaha the PPG reference
 
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Ho0v-man said:
MCAT is gonna be fun, friend.

"A student mixes reagent A and reagent B in an aqueous solution. This causes the temperature to increase a few degrees and yields a purple compound. The student tries to replicate these findings but accidentally contaminates the solution with chemical X which yields a brown compound instead. Below is a useless chart depicting the properties of chemical X under different circumstances that's designed to make you throw away your time."

Question 1)

Based on the passage, how many powerpuff girls could be made if the remaining amount of chemical X is the limiting reactant?

A) This is the right answer to a different question.

B) This is almost correct but in a wrong way.

C) This is probably the correct answer. But you know that the test makers know that you feel good guessing C. So what if they put a trick answer here. You should probably mark this, but then change it to B at the last second before moving on.

D) None of the above. This feels pretty good because even though you know it's wrong, it's like giving the finger to the rest of the answers because you're already fed up and you got 7 more hours of this garbage.




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This is the pure MCAT gold right here, the funniest part is that the logic involved is spot on.

For the thread, Ochem 1 & 2 ripped me a new one. The chem department prides itself on ruining the hopes of pre-meds with this class and openly admits it. Never worked so hard for a C in my life. I guess it paid off though because it made the Ochem on the MCAT a piece of cake.
 
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idontwatchgreysanatomy said:
Get off your high horse and learn some humility. The humblebrag was overwhelming in your post. The thread is about your hardest class, not which classes you aced. I bet you have a bunch of friends.
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I'm not on a high horse. My post was not an attempt to humblebrag. If anything, it was more of a sign of my own neuroticism, which I openly admit I have. I have a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, so I do pay attention to things like single percentage points. I realize they are inconsequential, but that doesn't stop me from having OCD. I've been in therapy for years to deal with it, but grades still cause me significant anxiety that's different from what most pre-meds experience due to my having OCD.

I posted because the OP mentioned that you should vote for the lowest grade you got, but I was explaining that my lowest grade was not the hardest class I had (and thus my vote did not reflect my lowest grade). People quoting my post to make fun of me was completely uncalled for. Quoting my post to point out my neuroticism doesn't make you cool. It makes you a rude person who lacks sufficient empathy. Newsflash: It's possible to read a post that irritates you without responding and insulting someone.

We're all working towards the same goal. I don't get why there is this mentality that people should poke fun at the more neurotic pre-meds. Kindness and compassion are much more valuable traits than sarcasm and rudeness.

I hope you all are proud of yourselves for your snarky comments.

Ps. I do have a bunch of friends. It's because I'm a compasssionate and friendly person who doesn't attack people because I was irritated with the way that they worded a post in an online forum.
 
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It 1000% depends on the professor and the student. Especially for biochem and physics, the same class at the same university can be very different depending on the professor. Some professors make biochem completely about memorization where the hardest questions simply ask you to recall minor details. Others just ask you complicated problems but memorization is minimal. Same with physics. Some professors ask complicated questions but give shorter exams, while others give long exams but relatively simple problems.

Everyone is different. Some people find gchem easy and ochem hard, and for others it is the opposite. You have to assess your own strengths and learning styles to figure out which subject would be the hardest for you and figure out a way to do well in it.
 
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Austinj said:
I'm not on a high horse. My post was not an attempt to humblebrag. If anything, it was more of a sign of my own neuroticism, which I openly admit I have. I have a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, so I do pay attention to things like single percentage points. I realize they are inconsequential, but that doesn't stop me from having OCD. I've been in therapy for years to deal with it, but grades still cause me significant anxiety that's different from what most pre-meds experience due to my having OCD.

I posted because the OP mentioned that you should vote for the lowest grade you got, but I was explaining that my lowest grade was not the hardest class I had (and thus my vote did not reflect my lowest grade). People quoting my post to make fun of me was completely uncalled for. Quoting my post to point out my neuroticism doesn't make you cool. It makes you a rude person who lacks sufficient empathy. Newsflash: It's possible to read a post that irritates you without responding and insulting someone.
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I have to disagree entirely. You could have presented your experience without mentioning grades. Almost everyone else has. Neuroticism or not, portraying yourself the way you do on the internet leaves you vulnerable to other's criticism. If this upsets you, then the internet is not the place for you. I am neither rude nor lack empathy because I commented on something I found distasteful that was posted by someone I've never met. Likewise, it is unfair for you to play the victim card over an internet post. No one is attacking you personally, just saying that your post was cringeworthy (surprise, it was).


I hope you all are proud of yourselves for your snarky comments.
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And that right there folks, is called irony
 
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I think Organic Chemistry I had the most new material for me. Of course, my orgo professor was crazy and occasionally snuck in some p-chem. He was the only professor I have ever known to give an orgo exam where a calculator was useful.
 
Organic chem just never clicked with me. Org1 was decent but I purposely took the the nicest/most laid back professor in the department and it was still rough. I took org2 with a pretty stern professor who was also my mentor in an organization so of course she judged me a bit harder. I crawled through that class but so did everybody else. By the end, we took our final, she curved it until the highest grade in the class was passing. Let that soak in....the HIGHEST grade....to PASSING
 
So I loved ORGO got A's in both. B- in chem 1, bio1 +2, and B/C. Yes it's possible! Orgo was the best science I ever took in my life. Bio 1+2 was a waste of time. Chem was cool but sometime hard to interpret. Upper level bio is where you learn the real Bio, aka genetics, microbio, immuno etc. I got A- in all of those btw. It depends alot of your prof and intent to actually work hard/do well.
 
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I never minded organic chemistry actually and even worked as a TA for orgo 1 and 2. My hardest classes by far were physics courses.
 
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Physics, without a doubt!!! I really struggled to understand the relationship between the concepts and the formulas and ultimately gave up and just did the plug and chug method- which gave me good grades but I still felt like I was constantly struggling. My professor was terrible and I hated our textbook too. Oh I am soooo glad I never have to take it again!
 
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Calc based physics, both semesters were the hardest classes for me.

Orgo I and II were easier that Bio I for me. Idk why people hate Orgo so much.


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libahli said:
Physics, without a doubt!!! I really struggled to understand the relationship between the concepts and the formulas and ultimately gave up and just did the plug and chug method- which gave me good grades but I still felt like I was constantly struggling. My professor was terrible and I hated our textbook too. Oh I am soooo glad I never have to take it again!
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Did you take calc based or algebra based?
 
pseud0 said:
What? I don't think you understand how Organic Chemistry works.

Your exam question will be "Please synthesize X compound starting with X compound and whatever reagants you want"

your answer will look something like this
9fcc94a49e0e6c58079dabde67700fe7.jpg
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Wait.... can't you just use lithium aluminum hydride to turn an amide into an amine?
 
I got a C in Bio 1, B- in Bio 2, and an A in Bio 3 but a 129 on the B/B section of the MCAT..

Orgo A, B, B+

Bio 1 was a straight weed out course at my school, class average was 67% each midterm and final. I did poorly because I was a freshman and tried to just cram the night before midterms =(
 
Different depending on who you are. I have a very active mind's eye and so I found OChem to be pretty compatible with my way of thinking. OTOH, I absolutely hated physics. All the mathy stuff I hate, none of the cool physiology stuff, and to top it off one of the professors "required" a 2.8 gpa from the class and then made it slightly too easy, necessitating curving down all the students. I knew someone with a 92% in that class who ended up with a B-.
 
UNMedGa said:
Different depending on who you are. I have a very active mind's eye and so I found OChem to be pretty compatible with my way of thinking. OTOH, I absolutely hated physics. All the mathy stuff I hate, none of the cool physiology stuff, and to top it off one of the professors "required" a 2.8 gpa from the class and then made it slightly too easy, necessitating curving down all the students. I knew someone with a 92% in that class who ended up with a B-.
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Is curving prereq courses common? I haven't taken them all yet, but of the ones I have (bio, chem, physics), only one of them was curved.
 
pseud0 said:
What? I don't think you understand how Organic Chemistry works.

Your exam question will be "Please synthesize X compound starting with X compound and whatever reagants you want"

your answer will look something like this
9fcc94a49e0e6c58079dabde67700fe7.jpg
Click to expand...
LoveBeingHuman:) said:
Wait.... can't you just use lithium aluminum hydride to turn an amide into an amine?
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freak7 said:
NOBODY KNOWS
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the reaction isn't a simple reduction, because the carbonyl carbon is lost as carbon dioxide. this means a rearrangement/degradation reaction took place. a simple reduction with LiAlH4 would result in an amine with the total number of carbon atoms unchanged.

then again, i don't remember much chemistry, so i defer to the chemistry professor @aldol16
 
Lawper said:
the reaction isn't a simple reduction, because the carbonyl carbon is lost as carbon dioxide. this means a rearrangement/degradation reaction took place. a simple reduction with LiAlH4 would result in an amine with the total number of carbon atoms unchanged.

then again, i don't remember much chemistry, so i defer to the chemistry professor @aldol16
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I was under the impression that @aldol16 was solely capable of synthesizing aldols...
 
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