<p>So, I'm doing BME. Should I take Organic Chemistry? Our school had an abridged version of Orgo and Biochem called Applied Chem for BME. Is Orgo really hard as people say? How should I study for it?</p>
<p>Organic chemistry is a *****. I hate it. I am taking Org Chem 2 now during the summer which is a semester long class condensed into 4 1/2 weeks. My professor was a great org I teacher but he did not tone it down at all for the summer. The class meets 8-945 M-F but he added another class session on Thursday nights. So now he can teach us EVERYTHING. Great. </p>
<p>However, it is possible to earn an A or B in the class if you can study your ass off. I hate organic chemistry and I am the type that will not/cannot do something if I don’t see the point, relevance, or how it will help me reach my ultimate goals. Also, it’s almost strictly memorization. I like having formulas and being able to logically deduce things based upon what we have been taught. There are concepts and whatnot you must understand but the way he teaches it is basically memorizing every little damn thing. And he’s a stickler when he grades tests and he makes them difficult intentionally. </p>
<p>Okay I’m done venting.</p>
<p>Funny thing I hear some say the 2nd Chem (one before orgo at PSU) is worse than Orgo and visa-versa. I guess this could be compared to Calc 2 and Calc 3. I would say that if you are worried about it, find out from some people at your school as the instructor may make a big difference on how well you do in the class and learn the material.</p>
<p>I personally can’t understand why students fret SO much over o-chem. (Perhaps, all the premed students who get weeded out by it?) Sure, the sheer quantity of the material covered in a semester makes the class unforgiving to those who like to cram a night or two before the exam. However, I always felt I could just “read and understand” with ochem versus, say, a physics course where I had to think more deeply about concepts. O-chem might be a larger commitment than most classes you’ve had up to this point but if you put in the time, it’s not hard to succeed.</p>
<p>I had to take two semesters of org as a chem eng student. I didn’t find it too hard, just kind of dull. I basically memorized the basics that one has to memorized and learned/understood the reaction mechanisms and that’s about it. It should be the least of your worries in BME. The science/pre-med kids hate it though…</p>
<p>I’m the opposite. I took physics this summer as well and compared to org, I loved it. I actually liked deriving at a solution rather than majority memorizing. I guess I just like having a formula. </p>
<p>I do agree that if you study every night it’s much more manageable. But during the summer this professor is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Can anyone recommend any good/great study materials, books, guides, etc?</p>
<p>I personally never found the small paperback study guides to be all that helpful. However, if you’re looking to clarify concepts or deepen your understanding, I emphatically recommend the book by Clayden & Greeves–a bit more demanding than the typical intro book, but full of insight and incredibly well-written.</p>
<p>^Thanks a lot. </p>
<p>I’ll will look into that textbook. </p>
<p>Right now, I’m deciding whether to take the class with a better professor. Should I take for the better professor? He usually teaches in the spring. The professors in the fall are a nightmare. Although the one at night isn’t so bad, he’s just can’t teach/has an accent and attendance isn’t mandatory.</p>
<p>What do people think of the Carey text or Fox/Whitesell, Sykes, or Hornback?
Organic Chemistry by Marye Anne Fox, James K. Whitesell (ISBN 0763721972)</p>
<p>“A Guidebook to Mechanism in Organic Chemistry” and “A Primer to Mechanism in Organic Chemistry” both by Peter Sykes</p>
<p>Organic Chemistry by Joseph M. Hornback (ISBN 0534389511) </p>
<p>Is the mechanism/reaction approach much better than functional?
Also, are molecular model sets or ‘flashcards’ useful for an Organic Chemistry class?</p>
<p>Officially signed for Organic Chemistry YEKS!!! help! But I’m kind of excited. </p>
<p>I’ve gotten a copy of the Clayden book, it looks interesting but rather the order is confusing compared to our textbook. </p>
<p>Molecular model kits help out a lot. I’ve just finished the Bridge to Organic Chemistry workshop and the workshop leader was amazing. She really showed us the shape and structure and why it was so and so through the model and it helped with my understanding. </p>
<p>Also, just purchased Organic Chemistry as a Second language. Hope it helps! How long did everyone study Organic for that is, per week?</p>
<p>O-chem wasn’t that hard in my opinion. My inorganic chem class made it look like a piece of cake.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m freaking out because just learned some schools require you to keep a 3.2 to stay in the BME program. And you have to take org chem as part of the curriculum. Who gets higher than a C in org chem, except the genius kids? Feel like that course alone will keep son out of a BME major. Couple that with being in an Honors program, and we’re looking at majoring in basket weaving. Old joke.</p>
<p>^Yeah, actually I’m trying to raise my gpa so that I can get in BME. But because I’m going to take Applied Chem for BME (Orgo and Biochem), I thought if I take Organic, it’ll be like studying for one class. I hope I do good. </p>
<p>This is going to be my professor:
[George</a> John - City College of New York - RateMyProfessors.com](<a href=“http://ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=516626]George”>George John at City College of New York | Rate My Professors)</p>
<p>Organic is not all that hard if you like chemistry; however, it is just a ton of information. </p>
<p>I don’t know if they make these things anymore, but I found molecular model kits to sometimes be helpful in understanding concepts. So much of understanding chemistry is being able to visualize that which we cannot see. If you have trouble understanding reactions, those 3-D molecular models can be helpful.</p>
<p>mrego, did you say Whitesell and Fox? They teach at my school. They’re married actually. I didn’t know they wrote a book.</p>
<p>many people dont know it, but organic chemistry makes a lot of sense if you remember the basics of chemistry. You don’t really need to memorize as much as almost everyone else says. I enjoyed it, it was fun.</p>