<p>I think Liotta is teaching the freshman organic class and Soria is doing the lab. I read on CC that students recommend avoiding Liotta for organic. Is it better to wait and get a different teacher later?</p>
<p>I mean, he isn’t technically bad. He is a decent lecturer (just not engaging), and is easy so whoever should get at least a B+ in the course. The main problems are that he is relatively inaccessible (you must arrange an appointment through his secretary. It’s an annoying process and you usually have a strict time limit). If you are concerned about the material, I would try to arrange an appointment with Soria or discuss it in lab with Soria (Soria is a great teacher and will also mentor. He really cares and makes time to do so). If you want a true Emory experience for organic chemistry (and one that will over-train you for the MCAT or teach you how to truly think), your child should take Liotta for 221-Z, do well, and then step up to Weinschenk for 222 (as in, not take 222-Z, but switch over to the normal 222. Many have done it in the past and it usually works out well). You can maybe also take Weinschenk for 221, but that process may be more difficult as Weinschenk’s class is full (in fact, over full. He’s over loaded lots of people) and Soria may end up not allowing your child to take his lab (whereas he’ll allow you to take both 226 and 227 if you at least do 221-Z). You’ll want that lab as it is different from the basic level one in that you’re taking less of a “cookbook” approach and more of an investigative approach that makes sure you understand the principles behind what you do (as opposed to willy nilly copying the manual/instructions and figuring out the principles later) and Soria also integrates problem solving exercises into his lab that are good at developing scientific thought processes as well. Not to mention, the comraderie and collaboration is much higher in that lab</p>
<p>For freshmen with both Bio and Chem AP credits, and take 221z, what are they going to take in the 2nd semester? Bio142, Chem142 AND Chem 222(z)? That seems to be logistically impossible, let alone the work load.</p>
<p>Huh?! they don’t need to take 142. They just take biology 142 and 222/222-Z together. This is a common combo. I did it myself (along with so many others. Taking them together makes biology make more sense anyway). It went well (and I had Soria for orgo. and L’hernault for biology. Basically the 2 most difficult in each dept. But bio “hard” is still easy). If the person is pre-med, they can take chem 142, chem 260 w/lab, 350 (and then 355 lab) later or something (they don’t even have to take it before the med. school app. is in. As long as they are enrolled, by time of the app., then it usually flies). And if you choose to take 142, best to take it later anyway, when they’ve revamped and changed the style of the course.</p>
<p>bernie12 could you pm me? i have a couple other questions. thank you.</p>
<p>Go for it. Send me q’s via PM.</p>
<p>Bernie We can’t pm you b/c one has to have 15 posts before one can pm. We also clicked on the email connected to your name on coll. conf. and sent a message that way. But we didn’t receive a reply.</p>
<p>With emory email, we have emails from both Soria and Liotta. Can you tell us how to contact you directly b/c sending a pm is not an option for us and the “send you an email” connected to your name isn’t getting to you. We’ll be at Emory on Tues Aug 20 (in time for him to go to OE orientation trip)</p>