Okay how hard IS organic chemistry? Is it impossible to get if you're not naturally talented in science?

Answer 1

My son and four of his friends got A's in Organic and everyone told them how brilliant they were - only 15 of 190 kids in his class got A.

This is how they did it.

They made a pact. Every day for two terms they all got up and met for breakfast. They went to the library until class and studied together, then they went to class. Then they went to the library, then class, then library, then back to the dorm to sleep.

That's it. For 14 weeks they were either asleep, eating, in class or in the library.

In the Spring term they allowed themselves to take Saturdays off. They could do that because they had gotten such a good foundation in the fall that they were way ahead of most kids in the class.

Now all five of them of them are finished their MDs or are in the last stages of working on their PhDs.

How badly do you want that A???

Answer 2

O-Chem is hard. It's one of those "weed" courses, that weed out the students that are really serious/capable about their major. I certainly dont think it's impossible if you're not very good at science type courses, it will just require more dedication. A lot of memorization, also.

I found the below listed site, that has notes, handouts, etc from a college in London. It goes through 4th year O-chem. It will atleast give you a little bit of an idea of what to expect. Good Luck! You can do it! (Yeah I know thats corny, but oh well. ;)

Answer 3

It's fairly tough, cerainly not impossible, but keep at it, and every time you learn something new study it straight away so you don't end up with piles of mechanisms that run into each other and leave you confused. Most of it is memory-based, rather than talent and there are a few ground rules for arrow pushing that will serve you well.
To excel, you need good 3D perception, to be able to envisage stereochemistry and asymmetric synthesis (you'll get to these topics when and if you need them) in addition to a good memory for names (lots of organic reactions are irrelevantly named after their discoverers).

It's a very rewarding side of chemistry

Answer 4

Really hard. Last semester half the class failed and that was organic chem 1. I dread the following courses for there are organic chem. 2 and 3. I don't know what university Jim goes to but mine doesn't grade on a curve. It's HARD. You need to memorize so many reactions, the names ,the mechanisms.
If you can visualize molecules easily you'll have less problems. I'm surviving but it's my lowest grade.

Answer 5

It's hard. . . damn hard.

MOST of it is memorization. SOME of it is visualization. It IS possible to get if you're not naturally gifted in science, but it takes lots of studying.

As hard as it is, most universities grade on a curve. It was not uncommon, when I was in college, for a 30% to be an A grade. So as hard as it was, you could miss 7 out of 10 and pass.

Answer 6

I've heard that it is really hard and that out of all your classes, that grade will be your lowest. I have to take 4 chemistries next year and are dreading it a little, but I like science. The only suggestion I have for you is to study study study!!!

Answer 7

I suppose this would depend on one's point of view, but my vote is for inorganic. Most of Gen Chem deals with inorganic chemistry. The next year of undergrad is Org Chem, which of course is more difficult. Biochem and advanced organic take it still further, although much of it is using concepts already learned. The T-REX of chemistry courses is Physical Chemistry, or P-Chem. Thermodynamics and Quantum mechanics were the two most difficult courses that I have taken period. While both of these courses dealt with both organic and inorganic molecules, it was the inorganic properties of sub-atomic particles and subsequent mathematics that defined them that was the largest obstacle. These courses are not impossible to pass, but bring you "A" game every day.

Answer 8

I've taken up general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, quantitative chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry classes and out of all these chemistry subjects, I got 1.0 (a grade of 1.0 is equivalent to 96-100 in our university) in organic chemistry and biochemistry so I don't think it's that difficult.

Answer 9

Some people is just gifted at those chemistry reactions stuffs!!envy them...LOL...for me, somehow organic chemistry was easier than physics chemistry. You know with the thermodynamics and entalpy, etc. (can't understand the basics) You really have to learn to memorize. Read a lot and read it again over and over...and over....and over....

Answer 10

If this is any indicator, I was a honors student in college. In all of my sciences I carried 4.0s, except chemistry which the best I could do was 2.0. Chemistry is like a different language, some people pick it right up and some of us mere mortals must struggle. best of luck.