<p>The Orgo I class I’m taking this Summer semester doesn’t require me to be able to recall many different mechanisms on exams, nor does it cover them in lecture. It just went over what Elimination, Nucleophilic, and Substitution reactions are.
This seems contrary to what I heard before taking Orgo I: You’ll be expected to understand many different mechanisms and demonstrate them in exams.
What’s typical of Orgo I classes?</p>
<p>It depends on your professor, but you should really have gone into some detail of bimolecular and unimolecular substitution (i.e. sn2;sn1) and elimination reactions, learned reactions of alcohols and related groups, mechanisms, and synthesis. Learning to read NMR and mass spectroscopy are a plus – NMR is on the MCAT.</p>
<p>Generally, orgo 1 does indeed require you to understand a number of mechanisms and know how to synthesize molecules. You may have an easier time as you are taking the course over the summer, but the second semester of organic will rely on the foundation you have from orgo I, so you may be at a disadvantage if your class is especially easy. </p>
<p>Then again, summer is not over yet – you may be required to move much more quickly in the upcoming weeks to catch up. All in all, I wouldn’t be too worried if your class is easier than expected – it’s a good thing. Just make sure you get an A because if you don’t, you can’t complain.</p>
<p>Any orgo class worth its weight should delve fairly deeply into stereochemistry as well</p>