<p>Right now, I'm on the typical pre-med track. I decided to go straight into Organic Chemistry first semester (since I got a 5 on AP Chem). </p>
<p>This could have been a terrible mistake. I think I will seriously end up with only a B-/C+ in this class, the class is curved to a B+, it has become more competitive since quite a few at the bottom dropped out. </p>
<p>I have to take another semester of O-Chem. I have been looking at my options for scheduling. I can either do</p>
<p>PRE-MED SCHEDULE W00T!!!!
Organic Chemistry II
Writing 20 (required for all freshman)
Intermediate Spanish
Multi-variable Calculus (am regretting not just taking this class 1st semester since I hear that second semester of Orgo is harder than first.).</p>
<p>Schedule I'd Be Happy With
Writing 20
Intermediate Spanish
Multi-variable Calculus
Psy 114 (Personality)
Intro to Economics</p>
<p>Even though the latter has five classes, the former is MORE class time!!</p>
<p>I know I also have the option of taking Organic Chemistry II over the summer or first semester sophomore year, but at that point, the class would probably get even harder. I don't think I'm going to get so hot of a grade in Orgo I anyway.</p>
<p>My intuition is telling me that I should get out of the premed track and look for something else, which means I can avoid having to take Orgo II ever! (Especially since I feel pretty certain at this point that I don't want to be a Chemistry major, there are a lot of people at Duke doing that anyway, :p)
However, there are a lot of reasons I'd want to become a doctor, but what do those who have been on the pre-med track think I should do?</p>
<p>What if I were to tell you that organic chemistry is worthless in medical school? That all that you really need to have gotten out of it is that there are some molecules that are lipid soluble and some that are water soluble?</p>
<p>Some ideas to help:</p>
<p>1) don't try to memorize reactions.
2) focus on understanding mechanisms intuitively - understand the reasoning behind WHY the electrons go certain spots, rather than just merely where they go.
3) Remember that every single reaction is always an interaction between an electrophile and nucleophile.
4) See how far the above takes you, then watch out for special circumstances that alter things - like mechanisms over a surface catalyst and stuff like that.</p>
<p>5) remember that ochem is in the pre-med track because it teaches pattern recognition. Physics is there because solving physics problems can be boiled down to process. Process and patterns are two key skills for the MCAT and for med school.</p>
<p>Don't let one class bring you and your dreams down. Treat this class as a challenge instead of a burden. Organic chemistry is the type of subject you have to work for. So that means don't cut corners, like knowing and understanding mechanisms, and be willing to put in the time and effort. Recognize what you are given and do enough practice problems that you are able to work through the entire reaction. After a while, things will look similar and you'll realize that, as Bigredmed said, there's a pattern to this madness. </p>
<p>You shouldn't let a bump in the road get you off track, unless that bump is a head-on collision with another car. Know that it only gets more difficult and complicated from this point.</p>
<p>Yeah, I jumped into Chem 151 my freshman year. It was a bad choice, in hindsight. I should've done like most Duke pre-meds and taken it over the summer. Not that it matters- I dropped my pre-vet aspirations and switched majors (I felt stifled by pre-med bio majors). </p>
<p>Warning- Math 103 can be surprisingly tough, depending on the prof (harder than 104). Think carefully before you tackle five courses.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you have the option of dropping down to Chem 23 if you're really worried about your grade...you can always take orgo later. Chem 152 is a bit of a trade off. The material is more difficult, but the mix of freshmen and sophomores (or juniors) makes it less competitive than 151.</p>
<p>I'm taking organic right now as well, and it's intimidating, but you'll be hard pressed to find people who have a "taste" for organic chemistry (although I have met some, haha). I was working in the ER yesterday and talked to a doctor about how my classes were going, and I mentioned that I was taking physics and organic. His response?</p>