<p>It's really not that bad. Labs count for 40% (I think), which is a huge boost to your grade. The average on exams was usually 90-110/150, with a standard deviation of ~20. </p>
<p>2) Go to Widenhoefer's office hours fairly frequently, especially early in the semester. Later in the semester when things get harder, he prefers to help the people that've come for help before.</p>
<p>3) Learn to write fast (or use notation). Widenhoefer would write and erase so fast I was lucky to get it all down. :p</p>
<p>4) Memorize mechanisms, perhaps with a model kit or flashcards. Widenhoefer is a nut about reaction mechanisms and electron pushing; if you understand the concepts, you'll do fine on the exam.</p>
<p>5) Keep up with the work. Do the reading before the class, and definitely do the assigned problems. </p>
<p>6) Go to the Chem 151 Help Room if you need help. I'm not sure who's running it next semester, but Roy was a big help last year.</p>
<p>7) Sign up for tutoring. Seriously, don't let your pride get in the way. Tutors get gone fast, and getting one later can cost you $. </p>
<p>8) Get a study group. Don't try to learn orgo by yourself.</p>
<p>Thanks warblers. I have a bunch of friends who will be taking orgo with Widenhoefer, so we'll have to form a study group. I'm hoping to start learning some organic chemistry stuff during the summer... nothing huge, just the intro stuff.</p>
<p>Also, are tutors initially free? I'm not familiar with the chem tutoring system.</p>
<p>As for the conversation about how much money is being wasted through skipping class... I know, I heard that a lot last year in different random conversations. The only reason I felt fine skipping chem was because I knew most of what was going on, and the opportunity cost of my going to chem was an extra 2 hours of sleep. Personally, I'm fine paying 115 dollars for some more sleep :). If the class were in the middle of the day and I was always skipping, then I would have much more of a personal dilemma (the only reason I felt fine skipping chem on fridays first semester was because the professor posted what he showed in class online, so I could go over it when I woke up).</p>
<p>Well, if you think about it, your parents are paying for your degree, not class time ... so as long as you do well it shouldn't matter if you attend class or not</p>
<p>Now, if you skip class and this hurts your grades, then it is bad, but if going to class would not really help your grades or contribute to graduating with a degree and good academic credentials, the weight of skipping is not as severe</p>
<p>The Peer Tutoring Program offers students up to twelve hours a semester of free peer tutoring in introductory-level mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, computer science, statistics, engineering, and foreign language courses. Tutoring is offered to any student who feels that he or she would benefit from it, and tutors are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Application forms are available at the Academic Resource Center (684-5917) or the Peer Tutoring Office (684-8832).</p>
<p>Also about tutors, evidently you can only get two a semester: one in Foreign Language, and one in something else... my friend tried to get an econ and stat last semester and they wouldn't let her do both</p>