<p>I am hearing from DS how miserable Orgo 2 is and not just for him. Grades are low after studying for close to 70 hours for exams. His prof is someone starting with a Kha or Kah, but that's all I can remember. It was a different sounding name and I was grocery shopping when he told me :)</p>
<p>Is there anyone out there that has survived this prof with any advice or suggestions? Does there end up being a curve at the end? DS did well in Orgo 1 and now is wondering if maybe he should drop Orgo 2 with the way things are going. He hates to do that, but is worried what might happen if he doesn't. Everyone he knows (B/K or not) taking this course is struggling.</p>
<p>Also, would dropping Orgo 2 affect him adversely on med school apps? Thanks in advance!!!</p>
<p>You can check him out in ourumd.com too. He doesn’t look universally like a bad guy (usually the people who respond are either really upset or are very happy, but you can get the grade distributions, which at least look reasonable.</p>
<p>Can he spend some quality time with the TAs (or get a recommendation from someone from a chem major to help tutor him)? D1 has tutored people before (starting at about this time of year) with good results, according to the people she’s helped. $30/hr maybe??? (can’t remember!) She can’t help him with Orgo , but I’m sure there are people out there who can! Hope this helps.</p>
<p>My friends had the misfortune of having the aforementioned professor, and boy oh boy, was he horrible. Not only was he completely ineffectual as a professor, (case in point, above) he gave you a completely warped view of organic chemistry. Your son probably picked him based on the grade distribution on OurUMD- BIG mistake! Tell him that grade distributions mean little at a school where cheating is rampant. </p>
<p>Don’t you think it is JUST a little weird that your B/K son is failing in an intro level organic chemistry class, when other students, the majority of whom are regular admits, or even freshman connection students, are excelling? What could be the reason behind this? You can re-read my post to get a better perspective. But for now, in order to help you pull your bright son out of the rut he is in, I would tell him to stick it out-albeit with some deft, cunning moves. </p>
<p>Tell him to get a tutor, ASAP. Call the Chemistry department and ask them for a list of qualified tutors. Second, tell him to suck it up and STUDY. Not cram, but actually study, starting a WEEK before his next exam. For the final, he should optimally start around thanksgiving break. If he does exceptionally well on his remaining exams by following these guidelines, he should be able to pull it up to a minimum of a B+, if not an A- or even an A. When my friend took it with Khachik, a 65% was an A. So you can only imagine what he learned in the class (again, case in point). But as far as this case is concerned, tell your sun to stick it out. A W is actually a F in disguise. It will destroy his chances at the most selective schools. Good luck!</p>
<p>EDIT: I just wanted to point out that this is just one example of a post that corroborates my post on how horrible UMDCP is for potential premeds. It makes me cringe to read posts like these.</p>
<p>I appreciate constructive advice, but just to clarify:</p>
<p>DS did not PICK this professor. He was what was available when it was his turn to register. We only just learned of ourumd.com. He is an intelligent, well-rounded individual that earned a full scholarship and has hit a bump in the road.</p>
<p>He does not know of anyone excelling in this class and he has friends that entered as B/K’s, regular admits and several friends who were admitted as Freshman Connection students. NONE are excelling. What makes you think ANY are excelling in this class, let alone the “majority”? </p>
<p>I know you are unhappy and it shows in your posts. Please be careful when making assumptions about students you don’t know. This is a very vulnerable time for some. I greatly appreciate helpful advice, but just being mean for the sake of being mean is just hurtful and unnecessary. I posted because I needed guidance and I’m worried. He is for the most part alone there and we are over 1,800 miles away.</p>
<p>Jewel, I don’t remember…Is your S a sophomore this year? I was just reminded not too long ago (when talking to D2 after a bad couple of days) that D1 went through a “slump” her sophomore year. The new had worn off, she started getting into some really tough classes, and she was running low on self-assurance. She got through that time, and has certainly continued to have her ups and downs. She’s gotten A’s in classes for the semester with an overall grade of 68%…and I daresay it was NOT because NO ONE in the class learned anything (as our Duke friend seems to imply), but that the tests were nearly impossible. She finally was able to get to the point in some of these classes to realize that if SHE’s having trouble in a class, that probably most everyone else is, too and she’s done what she needed to in order to pull through.</p>
<p>Again, if your son can get some additional help from someone who has been through this, he’ll probably feel like he can get back on track, and in better shape going in to the final. He should start with the TA, but not give up until he finds someone who can make it clearer for him. He’s obviously a really bright guy…maybe he doesn’t want to make Orgo2 his lifelong profession, but he’ll get through it (and will have the war stories to tell in the future).</p>
<p>Astro,</p>
<p>DS is a sophomore this year. Thanks for taking the time to post something positive and constructive. DS feels bad enough as it is, I hope he’s not reading negative posts like the previous one. He’s an excellent student, but this class is really giving him a hard time. I do know the classes are getting harder and I don’t think he’s hit a slump yet, it’s just this one class. On a personal level though, he’s hit more than a few bumps since school started.</p>
<p>The TA route was useless. He’s been there and done that already. DS still wants to review the test tomorrow, talk to the prof, and a few other profs he feels will give him good advice. A tutor is also the next step if he decides to stay in the class. He has until tomorrow to decide.</p>
<p>@Jewels, thanks for sharing … I’m in orgo1 now, and registering in a few days for spring. I’m currently taking 18 credits and since all is well, had planned to do 17 in the spring. My Dad wants me to do one less class but I didn’t see any reason to hold back. You mentioned your S did fine in orgo1, was it a BIG difference between orgo1 & 2? I’m doing great in orgo1, but if the difference is huge, … maybe I need to think about this some more …</p>
<p>plumazul,</p>
<p>That’s a LOT of hours for the spring with Orgo II!!! For DS there is a HUGE difference between Orgo I and II. He is taking 16 hours now and a couple are Honors I think and it is a lot with Orgo II. Listen to your dad. It has been very stressful for him and he is a very good student. Now he is in a very difficult position. Get through Orgo II. There is plenty of time to take a heavier load or a class or two in the summer.</p>
<p>Who is your prof for Orgo I now?</p>
<p>^ thanks for the answer. I have Ammon now and it’s great.</p>
<p>Update:</p>
<p>DS was advised to drop the course and re-take in the Spring and also to try to ace the other classes this semester with Orgo II out of the way. He was also advised to take a year off after graduation before attending med school. Apparently med schools are looking for this more and more. This would mean taking the MCAT as a senior and having more time to prepare.</p>
<p>I guess we are both relieved. Hope it all works out for the best. My thanks to those of you offering support!!</p>
<p>Your DS was given the right advice. As far as the year off, I can recommend a few things as far as what would be optimal for your DS, based on his interests. Nowadays, the ubiquity of the cookie-cutter premed with a 3.9 and 31 MCAT applying at the end of junior year has increased the competitive nature of applying to medical school. What people do in their time off can sometimes mean the difference between acceptance and rejection and or/being wait-listed. Good luck to your DS!</p>
<p>I can hear the relief from here!!! D made the decision a couple of times to drop classes from H***. She’s now taking one of them again, with a different professor. It’s still a ton of work and no walk in the park, but she’s much better prepared to handle it, and having a different professor made all the difference.</p>
<p>Oh, I am sure it will not be a walk in the park, but I spoke to DS this afternoon after posting and it warmed my heart to hear the relief in his voice. He was so worried and stressed and as a mom, I worry that he doesn’t have that familial support one needs at extreme times of stress so far away. I am also a firm believer of everything happening for a reason. Guess we’ll find out what that reason is soon enough.</p>
<p>I am glad everything worked out for your DD re-taking that course ;)</p>