How Bad is Orgo/Bio Together?

wefregegefg
Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:06:42 +0000

What’s the major difference when comparing O-Chem to Gen-Chem?
They are totally different in a lot of ways, though in both, the only way to do well is to do a TON of practice problems. That is the key to success. Gchem is a lot of math based problems, that test you r math abilities as well as knowledge of chemistry. OChem is a lot of memorizing a large volume of material, and knowing it really really well and on a fundamental level. OChem also has synthesis problems, which are hard to describe, but they are tricky, they reminded me of writing proofs for geometry if you ever did that. OChem requires no math, but you really have to know your stuff well and do a lot of practice problems. Also, if you have professor c—dens, im sorry to say this, but how well you do depends slightly on how many old tests you can get your hands on. Take it with professor T, trust me. Though, this is not the only factor, because a lot of people think old tests are going to get them an A, but you ststill have to know the material really well.

What is Gen-Chem like in terms of rigor/expectations/grading?
I thought it was pretty hard (i might have overkilled it). A lot of people say its easy, but I had never taken AP Chem, or any rigorous chem class. A lot of the kids who thought it was so easy in the beginning got manhandled so DO NOT underestimate it. It killed a lot of people. Honestly, if you’re premed, you have no choice, just take the class and study hard, theres no point in trying to figure out if you’re gonna do well, which i know you’re doing. Just know that gen chem is nowhere close to as hard as ochem/bio at the same time so its a bad sign if you don’t pull of As in that. But if you didnt do well, its fine, just step your game up!!

How difficult are the labs and subsequent write ups?
Not that bad. they take a lot of time tjme. The more effort you put in the better grade you will get. Try to pick a nice T.A but it doesnt matter since its all scaled in the end. Focus more on the tests, they matter a ton.

What is the bio like and could you comment on the testing schedules between it and O-Chem?
Bio is not the AP Bio you have done in school, so don’t think that its gonna be a piece of cake at all. Bio is harder than gen chem by far and almost as hard as orgo, or you could argue its harder (everyone I know who took both does worse in bio because its so hard to know you’re gonna get an A, whereas in orgo, if you’re on your game, you know you;ll do well. But getting on your game in orgo is hard too). The labs for bio are tough and annoying. They alternate test weeks so you won’t have a bio and orgo exam in the same week. Bio is tough. The tests are all hard, you have to memorize more than you’ve ever been used to, A LOT of memorization, and its not easy. Then genetics is extremely tricky, one of the professors has THE HARDEST TESTS you will ever take. I can’t write how tricky they were. He was notorious. you’ll know who im talking about when you take it.

How difficult is it to earn an A?
Its extremely hard. Really really hard What did you expect. Its northwestern, you’re a premed(i can tell). its gonna be harder than anything you’re used to. But its doable too. Its not impossible at all. You literally literally have to give it your all.

What are your typical days like (studying, sleep, etc)?
With bio and orgo:
I would wake up at 945am, run to class, which is at 10 (have class and lunch until 2pm but it depends on your schedule), At 2 pm go to the library, study until 7pm. Eat dinner quickly go back to the library, study until 2-4am, shower, sleep.
Some days, class would end at 10am so i would go to the library with the extra time (10am-7pm, and then after too)
I studied on Fridays/Saturdays and Sundays all day, by waking up at 9 am and literally studying all day. You have to turn your friends down a lot when they want to have fun. it sucks.
The first 2 weeks of school are a little slower, but don’t be fooled, you have to go hard from day one, because it picks up quickly.
Sometimes, (like 8 times a quarter) you have to all nighter to study everything before a test. All nightering is miserable. I had to do it more since i took 4 classes instead of underloading 3, like a lot of kids. But I underloaded my winter quatarter, it was not that much better.
During finals week, sometimes you have to do 3-4 days with about 12 hours of sleep, studying every moment you could.
A lot of kids don’t do anything besides study if you take bio and orgo, but i was on a sports team at well, so it was kind of really crazy.

And don’t think that your “natural intelligence” is going to help you. Everyone here is really smart, and the kids who think they are smarter and have to study less ALWAYS study less and then do badly, and you can never fall behind, unless you actually are a genius. Thats a big mistake people make.

Winter quarter is the hardest.

Ok, well, just to add in so i don’t sound arrogant or anything. Im not writing this to make orgo and bio sound like the scariest thing in the world. Im just trying to give you an accurate perspective on what it takes to do well here. I have friends who struggled to do well in these classes, and when you can;t perform well, it becomes really depressing, its better to go crazy and do well, than be sad and do bad, My friends never did what i tried to tell them to do, so i hope i save you and whoever else from that fate. I could only pull of A-'s barely. Its really hard. I think you both deserve to know the truth. I hope I don’t come across the wrong way. I remember before taking the class last year, I wanted to know all this stuff that I’m writing down, so I guess I’m trying to do you all a favor But here;s my advice on how to do well:

Be really studious during the first 2 weeks of every quarter, because it picks up quickly, and if you aren’t then youll fall behind fast.

For orgo/chem: you need to do a lot of practice problems, and write down everything you do

For bio: literally know everything. Its simple to study, but its a ton.

Anyways, I hope I didnt scare you all too much. Its doable, and maybe you guys will find it easier (DONT GET TOO CONFIDENT!!!). Its A LOT ALOT ALOT easier pulling off a B or B+, getting the A or A- is really hard though. And remember, if you survive this, then you are literally set to get to medical school, I think the average acceptance rate is like 80% from here. So good luck both of you. Try to have fun to keep your sanity, don’t be lame on dillo day! Wow, that was a lot of writing. i hope it wasn’t disorganized. I hope I covered every question you have, but feel free to ask more, I am glad to share. If you’re scared, if you really really want to do well, you’ll be fine! If I could (kind of) do it, you can too!!