<p>Hi everyone, for those of you who have experience with this, please help me out. I took AP Chem my Junior year of high school, and I got a 5. I have the option to take Orgo as a Freshman, and since my major requires it, I will have to take it at one point or another. My main question is whether or not AP chem/General chem material is an important part of orgo. So, any advice, comments? Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s 90% different information. Orgo is a completely different ball game.</p>
<p>This is a decision best made by talking with your academic advisor freshman year, rather than trying to determine it from sources on this board while you’re in high school (I’m assuming you’re still in high school).</p>
<p>Remember that Orgo for many (most?) is a killer course, and it knocks many premeds out of med school, even premeds who got 5’s in AP Chemistry. You’d be a rare freshman in a course filled with more experienced students who often intentionally take a lighter courseload when they take Orgo. Some may have also taken it over the summer beforehand at a different college just to prepare for it. </p>
<p>I don’t know you, of course, but it sounds like Orgo would be a lot for someone in their first year at Princeton.</p>
<p>One of my friends took/is taking Orgo (it’s two semesters) and got a high A- with a reasonably heavy schedule. It’s definitely manageable for a freshman. Nothing from high school gen chem even remotely applies…</p>
<p>Orgo has very little overlap with gen chem. Perhaps the first third of the first semester is sort of related, but the course diverges after that. I took orgo as a freshman, and I’ll say this: you should shop the class to see 1) if you are comfortable with the pace of the lectures (which is the first step) and 2) how you do on the first midterm (you still have the option to drop after the first midterm). The type of thinking required for the class is a pretty unique beast. At the same time, I personally don’t see how an extra year before orgo will make you any better prepared, except perhaps make you even more rusty at chemistry. Getting a good grade is also not impossible; I got an A both semesters (while taking other challenging courses), but you need to devote a LOT of time to practice and do pretty much all 11+ practice midterms that are provided.</p>