What would you do? I need some help thinking this through...

[Maschka1]

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Hello everyone,

So I have a big dilemma...
I had my second class in OChem 2, today. I took first semester over a year ago and my teacher did not have the same emphasis on certain aspects as my new professor. I am in panic mode! I feel like I need to relearn a good portion of first semester. I am really worried that I may not be able to get a good grade.

So, I am considering dropping it for now ( I dont want to pull down my GPA the semester before apps go out) but there is a bit of an issue with this. On my file review for my top choice of schools, they told me to take as many upper division science credits as I could fit, between last year and this year. If I drop OCHEM it will leave me with only 4 credits of Upper division science, Gen Chem 1 (it is too old so I have to retake it-so annoying) and a math class. So, not only will I drop down to 12 credits but I will only have the one upper division science credit.

so, what do you guys think would be worse?
1. Taking only 12 credit, with 4 being upper division
2. or taking the chance that I may get a poor grade in OCHEM and pulling my GPA down.

*just a little background. I am non-trad student and trying to fix my GPA. my first degree program I had a 2.7. My post-grad work is a 3.88 and I am on track to graduate Magna cum lade if I can keep my GPA at 3.88 or higher, so a poor grade in OCHEM would destroy that possibility.

also, only 2 schools I am considering require second semester OCHEM and as I understand it, I would have until spring before matriculation to complete the pre-req. Does anyone know if this is correct for most schools??

thanks a lot I am really stressing over this!

 

[Goatherd]

Hmm--I'm having a similar problem with my second semester physics course. I'm going to stay in it, however, because it probably won't be any different if I took it at another time. If I were you I would hire a tutor and then bust my ass to finish the class. 2nd semester orgo is just a lot of reaction memorization and I barely used my first semester stuff after the first 3 weeks of class.
Your GPA is great--this one class probably won't do much to change it. And I will say that I found summer semester Orgo brutal and ended up dropping it and taking it in the fall.

 

[NStarz]

I was practically in the same situation you are in now a year ago. Took 1st semester with one professor, withdrew from the second because he was awful. Took the "awesome" professor for second semester the following spring (I took the 1st semester over the summer). Ended up with a D+ because I didn't know what he was talking about, and everyone in the class had had him the first semester. (Finally retook again and got an A-). I'm honestly not sure what I would have done differently. I'm not sure if taking another professor is an option for you, but it was the best option for me. Have you tried office hours? My GPA didn't really suffer for it, but I am worried about vet school apps. Will you get a W if you withdraw? If so, I may be more apt to try and keep going (because schools will see that you started and didn't finish with the bigger credit number of sciences). If not, I would probably drop it if I thought I couldn't do well. Definitely exhaust all options available: tutoring, office hours, orgo as second language, etc.

 

[twelvetigers]

Get a tutor and go at it with all you've got.

 

[Maschka1]

My Current GPA may be good, but my Overall is still only a 2.9. That is my worry. My past trend has been one of awesome semesters followed by really bad ones. I want to show that I can be consistent with my A's. I am worried that a C could kill any hope I have.

as far as a W, grade. If I drop it by midnight It wont show on my transcript and I can get a full refund. I dont want to be in a situation of looking at deciding between a C or a W, later on...that is my main concern.

as far as a different professor, I have been told this one is the best, but I feel like I havent a clue what the heck he is talking about! and with 15 credits plus 15 hours of drive time to get to school (a week) and running a business, I only have so much time in the week.

I wish I could just stay in the class and learn instead of worrying to the point of nausea that I may not get an A. school would be so much more enjoyable if it was that way. I certainly enjoy chemistry, but my brain seems to have misplaced key elements 😛

He says he puts a lot of emphasis on nomenclature and mechanisms. My weak points are stereochemistry, nomenclature, and resonance. I always feel like I know it really well, then I screw it up, terribly.

Maybe, instead of OCHEM, I should consider dropping Gen CHEM 1. I can take that class anywhere, even online, probably, and then I would have an extra 4 hours a week to study? hmmm...just thought of that. it would drop me to 11 credits, but 7 would be upper division...

thanks guys, I appreciate your help. I have a lot to think about.

 

[zumazoom]

Get a tutor and go at it with all you've got.

👍

 

[Minnerbelle]

Can you enroll in a different upper level science course that doesn't have org II as a pre-req?

That way, you can take more upper level courses, have a full courseload, AND not have to worry about org II if it's not necessary for you.

 

[Maschka1]

that was part of my problem this semester, my school doesnt communicate time blocks and most upper division courses are from 3-2:15 which is also the same time as my BIO class and OCHEM on their given days. It was tremendously frustrating to build a schedule, this year. As it is I am taking courses at a community college so that I could have a full load.

I guess I will just stick with it and pray that I am at least smarter then 1/2 my class (as he does grade on a curve). I just feel sick to my stomach over it.