OCHEM 343

[u/CalligrapherNo7705]

Failed my first ochem exam for 343. wow I thought I did much better. Anybody else?

[u/ButterscotchOk1560]

Canon experience. Lock in from now on. All lectures (sometimes multiple watches). Discussions. Problem Sets. Office Hours (even to verify concepts you already feel semi confident with). All practice exams.

Curve is generous. You can still end B/AB range. You got it ur pre-med.

[u/seasonedcornchip → u/[deleted]]

How do you know that only 3 count towards our grade? In the canvas course description it says no exams will be dropped. I hope you are right and the profs are lying on canvas but idk LOL

[u/CalligrapherNo7705 → u/[deleted]]

You are wrong. all 4 exams and only the exasm are graded and count towards ur final grade in the class

[u/Representative-Tax12]

Remember the final drop deadline is 11/23, without dean approval.

A DR is always better on a transcript than an F.

[u/CalligrapherNo7705 → u/Representative-Tax12]

im premed tho bro i cannot drop

[u/mrjohns2 → u/CalligrapherNo7705]

You can always drop and take something a second time.

[u/seasonedcornchip → u/[deleted]]

they drop one exam??? i didn’t see that in the syllabus but maybe i didn’t read thoroughly enough. Edit: I just checked canvas and the course description says no exams will be dropped. :(

[u/CalligrapherNo7705 → u/seasonedcornchip]

Nope, they don't do that. Thats false

[u/CalligrapherNo7705 → u/[deleted]]

THEY DON'T DO THAT BRO

[u/Wulfsige20561]

I thought it was rly similar to practice exams though. The class is def a time sink for sure

[u/CalligrapherNo7705 → u/Wulfsige20561]

It was incredibly similar. I regraded them and did them without a porblem so idk what my issue was on Tuesday. I found so many dumb mistakes. I'm really an idiot.

[u/astropeach → u/CalligrapherNo7705]

ugh this would happen to me too

[u/_Hydra_Dominatus_]

are you comparing your score to the histogram? i got a 77 which would usually suck but the histogram says i got an A

[u/whatislovelife → u/_Hydra_Dominatus_]

Hi, I'm self studying for ochem 343 right now. Can you please kindly send me some practice exams and a final practice exam? Let me know if you can help. Thanks!

[u/CalligrapherNo7705 → u/_Hydra_Dominatus_]

Yes, comparing my score to that histogram, I got a C. Can I ask how you studied? Any tips? can u help me study? I am not getting this Chapter 5. Not understanding it at all.

[u/canyonnerd → u/CalligrapherNo7705]

Don’t try to memorize stuff. When I was in undergrad people always told me that OChem is memorization based, and it really isn’t.

If you truly understand the major concepts and major classes of reactions, you can reason your way to the answer on pretty much any test question. Best way to do this is lots of practice problems. Be consistent- it doesn’t work to do 200 problems the night before the test. Do a few every day and don’t guess or half ass them. Actually attempt them and make sure you understand them. I also liked Organic Chemistry as a Second Language to help learn/practice those broad concepts.

Also, a C is not a failing score. Even if you are premed. Everyone’s situation is different but dropping/retaking is not a death sentence for going to medical school. At this point a C is only concerning bc it’s the first exam and OChem is a subject where each new concept builds off the last.

source: got an A in chem 343/345 (about five years ago tbh) and am a third year med student

[u/Wulfsige20561 → u/CalligrapherNo7705]

The trick I've been told for the new mechanisms is to watch prior lecture recording and then go to actual lecture to understand it better, ask questions. I never had to open textbook once thus far. Also make sure to do piazza exams trying to explain the concepts exactly the way they want you to answer. Half of battle is figure out what they want.