Do not take OChem unless it is required.
OChem is a very difficult course. Why? Because, for most people, the way they usually study can’t really be used. Since you’ve most likely done Gen Chem I/II, and/or some kind of math, you know that 99% of the topics covered can be mastered by simply doing practice problems. This is because there’s a certain limit to how difficult/unpredictable a problem can be. (Though, to clarify, practice problems are essential to Orgo, but depending on them to master the material will only earn you a crappy grade on your exams.)
A redox reaction/titration/gas law problem given in Gen Chem I can only be so difficult. However, due to the nature of the subject, OChem can throw problems that you will never encounter in practice problems. This means that you cannot possibly anticipate what may be thrown at you in a time-constrained test setting.
Thus, OChem, unlike anything else you’ve encountered in the chemistry course sequence thus far, forces you to rely on relating the topics you’ve read (and your intuition as a chemistry student) to questions that you haven’t encountered.
There’s also the issue of visualization. Orgo is HEAVY on problems relating to 2-D drawings of molecules. We know, of course, that this is simply a representation; in reality, molecules are 3-dimensional, and topics such as electron density can only be understood if the student can effectively visualize the 3-D molecule in question. And in Orgo, you’ll also have to be able to effectively visualize the interaction between 3-D molecules. It’s molecular/electron geometry on steroids. And, as I said, all of this cannot simply be mastered with brute memorization, or doing practice problems until you pass out.
…if you decide to take Orgo, my study advice to you is this:
Understanding the theory behind the plethora of interactions learned in Orgo is key. The best way to “ace” Orgo is to do the readings, and UNDERSTAND the readings. If the book/instructor discusses a particular reaction between two molecules, you need to know why it’s happening, how it’s happening, etc.
Knowing how to APPLY the knowledge you read is equally important. Once you understand the readings/examples given, you need to build upon them. A lot of people who’ve succeeded in Orgo have different ways of doing this, but personally for me, the best way to apply the knowledge learnt is to make note cards of the most basic reactions/problems encountered, and build off of that. This way, I intrinsically understand the mechanics of the interaction/problem, and from there I can build off of the basics. What I might be saying may sound a little confusing unclear, but if you take Orgo, I think you’ll understand what I mean.
Phew, kind of went off in a rant…In any event, whatever you choose to do, hopefully I was able to somewhat demystify Orgo for you.