When to take Ochem I?

[snapcall]

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I'm hoping to apply next application cycle (class of 2015) and am wondering if it matters whether or not I take Ochem I over the summer of 2010 or if I take it the following fall. Even though my GPA is solid (both science and cumulative) and I haven't had much trouble with chem in the past, I have to admit that Ochem scares the [insert expletive of your choice here] out of me . That said, the word on the street at my university is that the class is slightly easier over the summer, which makes taking it then seem to be the obvious choice. However, if it actually IS easier in the summer, the adcom for my state school likely knows this (since I also go to a large public university in the same state), and might look upon it less than favorably. How much does this actually matter? Should I take it in the fall, or am I making a big deal out of nothing?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[psjlg2]

I think the only reason a class would be easier over the summer is that you aren't taking a full course load and have more time to dedicate to the subject. I personally took OChem twice, once during the fall (got a C) and once during the summer (got an A) and thought it was easier in the summer, not just because I had already taken it but because going to a class 2 hours a day 4 days a week for 4 weeks really doesn't let you forget what you learned.

If it were me I would take it this summer.

 

[PigsRock]

I didn't take OChem over the summer because I am out of state (too much $!) and my local community college didn't offer it. I would have preferred to have taken it, though, because I'm going to take second semester OChem AND biochem in the spring and I think it'll be pretty rough.

My point is to consider what other classes you'll have to take along with OChem and it might make more sense to take it over the summer. By the way, since you're from VA, VMRCVM said they don't care where you take the pre-reqs so I doubt they'd care when you take them.

 

[PrimalMU]

I took O-chem I over the summer then O-chem 2 that fall. For me, the summer class wasn't particularly easy because it was a 12 week course that met once a week, meaning you really had to make sure you manage your time and not procrastinate. Having said that, I made an A in the summer, then a B in o-chem 2 that fall.

And BTW, organic is what you make of it. It's not really that bad at all... it's bark is worse than its bite. I've come to love benzene rings and resonance structures. 🙂

 

[psjlg2]

And BTW, organic is what you make of it. It's not really that bad at all... it's bark is worse than its bite. I've come to love benzene rings and resonance structures. 🙂

OChem isn't hard material, it is just a LOT of material. If you can dedicate the time and mounds of flashcards with reactions on them , you will do great whenever you take it.

That being said, I liked benzene rings the best too, but resonance structures still irk me. I always felt like I was drowning in polar-aprotic solvents when it came to resonance hybrid this, and double bond between which carbons?

 

[tpad40]

I'm hoping to apply next application cycle (class of 2015) and am wondering if it matters whether or not I take Ochem I over the summer of 2010 or if I take it the following fall. Even though my GPA is solid (both science and cumulative) and I haven't had much trouble with chem in the past, I have to admit that Ochem scares the [insert expletive of your choice here] out of me . That said, the word on the street at my university is that the class is slightly easier over the summer, which makes taking it then seem to be the obvious choice. However, if it actually IS easier in the summer, the adcom for my state school likely knows this (since I also go to a large public university in the same state), and might look upon it less than favorably. How much does this actually matter? Should I take it in the fall, or am I making a big deal out of nothing?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

If by chance you are at UVA, then you must take it over the summer as the prof is amazing (although I think he teaches it during the year as well). I took Orgo over the summer at UVA and absolutely loved it although I generally hated chem and also did miserably at a previous attempt at Orgo I. I really liked the fast pace of the summer course, I was able to completely immerse myself in it and worked a lot over nights and weekends. And VMRCVM had no issue with the summer orgo!

 

[VeganSoprano]

Keep in mind that most vet schools require biochem and many universities consider ochem a mandatory prereq for biochem. Make sure you wouldn't be setting yourself up.

 

[snapcall]

I didn't take OChem over the summer because I am out of state (too much $!) and my local community college didn't offer it. I would have preferred to have taken it, though, because I'm going to take second semester OChem AND biochem in the spring and I think it'll be pretty rough.

My point is to consider what other classes you'll have to take along with OChem and it might make more sense to take it over the summer. By the way, since you're from VA, VMRCVM said they don't care where you take the pre-reqs so I doubt they'd care when you take them.

This is what I'd have to do if I don't take it over the summer, which is another big motivating factor for me to get it out of the way early. If the adcom doesn't care, neither do I!

Thanks so much for all the replies!

 

[rileyroo]

i was scared of OChem as well, but ended up really liking it. until i got to biochem 😉 if you have the chance to take it in the summer, that's what i would do!

 

[Lechatnoir]

I took Ochem in the summer and it moved about twice as fast as the normal class would. We had a test every week and a half and had to sit through 3 grueling hours per class.

 

[twelvetigers]

Ewwww summer ochem. Gross. 3 hours at once? Gross.

I loved biochem and hated ochem... just so you know that everyone likes different things. So don't let either one scare you. 🙂

Just take it whenever you think you can do well.

 

[ckgilabert]

i'd say "do what fits in your schedule" try to map out all the classes you have left over. you dont want to take summer school the summer before you go off into vet school.


and just to say...i HATED gen chem....but LOVED ochem. they are NOTHING alike. personally, i dont think you need to know anything from genchem to get through ochem.

good luck!

 

[eventualeventer]

Heh. I liked gen chem. Ochem and biochem were OK. I hated Ochem lab, and I still hate it now (I'm retaking Ochem 2).

I highly recommend the Organic Chemistry As A Second Language books for helping you really understand the concepts and mechanisms.

 

[snapcall]

I highly recommend the Organic Chemistry As A Second Language books for helping you really understand the concepts and mechanisms.

Thanks! I'll have to check that out.

 

[PrimalMU]

Ewwww summer ochem. Gross. 3 hours at once? Gross.

My summer class wasn't bad. My professor was awesome. He is from New York... he reminds me of Christopher Walken. 😛

 

[rileyroo]

Ewwww summer ochem. Gross. 3 hours at once? Gross.

I loved biochem and hated ochem... just so you know that everyone likes different things. So don't let either one scare you. 🙂

Just take it whenever you think you can do well.

i loved both semesters of Ochem and hate biochem. lol. my ochem lecture was 2 hours twice a week and on one of those days i had a 4 hour lab immediately after. so 6 hours of nonstop Ochem. your dream twelvetigers, right??

 

[twelvetigers]

Oh, you bet. And here I thought I had it bad with my 6:30-9:30pm labs Tuesday and Thursday the first time I took it... which means I also missed Grey's Anatomy every week...

 

[rileyroo]

which means I also missed Grey's Anatomy every week...

i would not be ok with that. my biochem class gets out just in time for me to make it home for grey's.