How I ACED Organic Chemistry!
TLDRThe speaker dispels the myth that Gannon chemistry is an insurmountably difficult course, emphasizing that the fear is often self-inflicted. They share their personal study strategy for organic chemistry, which includes consistent nightly exposure to material through passive learning with Khan Academy, staying ahead in class, and actively reviewing mechanisms and reagents. This method not only keeps them up-to-date but also reduces stress, allowing them to excel in exams without last-minute cramming.
Takeaways
- 😀 Overcoming Fear: Organic Chemistry (O Chem) has a daunting reputation, but it is manageable with the right approach.
- 📚 Consistent Study: Studying consistently and ahead of time helps reduce stress and ensures better understanding.
- 🎥 Use of Khan Academy: Watching Khan Academy videos on relevant topics the night before lectures helps with initial exposure to the material.
- 🛌 Passive Learning: Watching educational videos passively before bed can aid in understanding and establishing a good sleep schedule.
- 📝 Multiple Exposures: Seeing the material multiple times (before the lecture, during the lecture, and after) enhances comprehension and retention.
- 📖 Homework and Reading: Doing homework and reading after lectures provides a third exposure to the material, solidifying understanding.
- 🔁 Repetition: Repeating the cycle of pre-lecture videos, in-class learning, and post-lecture homework keeps students on track and prepared.
- 🧠 Mechanism Memorization: Writing down mechanisms and reagents on a mirror or whiteboard helps with memorization through constant exposure.
- 📊 Practice Exams: Utilizing practice exams and focusing on difficult areas in the weeks leading up to the final exam boosts confidence and preparedness.
- 🏆 Consistency Pays Off: Consistent daily study habits reduce the need for cramming and lead to better overall performance in the course.
Q & A
What was the speaker's initial feeling about taking over Gannon chemistry?
-The speaker was terrified because Gannon chemistry has a stigma as being a hard class, especially for pre-med students.
Why does the speaker believe that the perception of Gannon chemistry being hard is not entirely accurate?
-The speaker believes that the perception is a self-fulfilling prophecy; students go into the class expecting it to be hard, which can lead to attributing their failures to the class's difficulty rather than their own study habits.
What study method did the speaker use to prepare for lectures in organic chemistry?
-The speaker used a method of passive learning by watching Khan Academy videos on the topic of the next day's lecture the night before, without taking notes, just to get an initial exposure to the material.
How did the speaker utilize Khan Academy for organic chemistry?
-The speaker watched entire modules on topics that would be covered in the next day's lecture, using it as a way to familiarize themselves with the material before class.
What is the benefit of watching Khan Academy videos before lectures according to the speaker?
-The benefit is that it provides the first exposure to the material in a relaxed manner, which helps in developing a good sleep schedule and reduces the stress of learning new concepts in class.
How did the speaker approach reading and homework after class?
-The speaker would read the chapter on the lecture topic and do the homework, which served as the third exposure to the material within a 24-hour period, helping to reinforce understanding.
What strategy did the speaker use to memorize mechanisms and reagents in organic chemistry?
-The speaker wrote down all mechanisms and reagents on their mirror or a whiteboard, ensuring constant exposure and reinforcement of the information.
Why is it important to stay caught up in organic chemistry according to the speaker?
-Staying caught up is crucial to avoid falling behind, which is a common problem in organic chemistry. It also reduces stress and allows for a more confident approach to exams.
What did the speaker do in the week leading up to the exam?
-The speaker focused on reviewing harder material, using old practice exams or YouTube for exam-level questions, and practicing as much as possible to reinforce their understanding.
How did the speaker prepare for the ACS exam in organic chemistry?
-The speaker used the provided practice material, doing sections and reviewing explanations for incorrect answers. They repeated the entire practice document and then did it again from the beginning to reinforce learning.
What overall study regimen did the speaker follow to manage stress and succeed in organic chemistry?
-The speaker followed a consistent regimen of passive learning at night, active studying during the day, reviewing material regularly, and staying caught up with coursework to reduce stress and ensure confidence going into exams.
Outlines
📚 Overcoming the Stigma of Organic Chemistry
The speaker begins by addressing the fear associated with Gannon chemistry, a class notorious for its difficulty, especially among pre-med students. They argue that the class isn't as hard as people make it out to be and that the stigma surrounding it is self-fulfilling, leading to poor study habits and a negative mindset. The speaker then shares their personal study method, emphasizing consistency and the use of Khan Academy for passive learning before lectures. They explain how watching videos on Khan Academy the night before a lecture helps them to be familiar with the material, making it easier to follow during class and take effective notes.
🔄 Consistent Study Habits and Multiple Exposures
The speaker continues by detailing their study routine, which involves watching Khan Academy videos passively before bed, attending lectures with a pre-existing understanding of the material, and then reinforcing this knowledge through reading and homework. They stress the importance of not falling behind in organic chemistry and how their method of repeated exposure to the material helps in staying current with the course content. The speaker also discusses a unique strategy for memorizing mechanisms and reagents by writing them on a mirror or whiteboard for daily exposure, leading up to the exam preparation where they focus on practice exams and reviewing material intensively.
📝 Effective Exam Preparation and Dealing with the ACS Exam
In the final paragraph, the speaker talks about their exam preparation strategy, which includes reviewing old homework questions, utilizing practice exams provided by professors, and focusing on understanding rather than memorization. They discuss the ACS exam, a standardized test that is part of the organic chemistry curriculum, and how they used the provided practice material to prepare for it. The speaker emphasizes the importance of doing the practice questions in sections, reviewing mistakes, and repeating the process to solidify understanding. They conclude by reflecting on the effectiveness of their study regimen, which allowed them to feel confident and prepared for exams, and they invite viewers to reach out for further advice or questions.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Stigma
💡Organic Chemistry (O chem)
💡Passive Learning
💡Khan Academy
💡Consistency
💡Multiple Exposures
💡Mechanisms and Reagents
💡Practice Exams
💡ACS Exam
💡Availability Heuristic
💡Cramming
Highlights
The speaker initially felt terrified about teaching Gannon chemistry due to its reputation as a hard pre-med class.
Dispels the myth that the class is as hard as everyone says, suggesting that the stigma around it is unwarranted.
Advises students not to attribute failures to the class being hard but to consider their study habits.
Shares personal study method for Organic Chemistry, emphasizing consistency and multiple exposures to material.
Recommends using Khan Academy as a free resource for learning with videos and practice questions.
Describes passive learning by watching educational videos before bed as a way to prepare for lectures.
Advocates for the benefits of passive learning and developing a good sleep schedule.
Details the process of watching videos, attending lectures, and doing homework to reinforce learning.
Suggests writing mechanisms and reagents on a mirror or whiteboard for constant exposure and memorization.
Stresses the importance of not falling behind in O chem and the benefits of staying caught up with the material.
Talks about reviewing homework questions without redoing them to save time and focus on understanding.
Mentions the use of old practice exams and YouTube for exam preparation and the importance of practice.
Discusses the ACS exam preparation using provided practice material and the strategy of doing and reviewing sections.
Shares the method of redoing practice questions that were initially answered incorrectly to reinforce learning.
Reflects on the confidence gained from consistent study habits and the reduced stress leading up to exams.
Concludes with the overall message that any class is manageable with wise time management and a consistent study regimen.
Provides links in the description for additional resources and study plans mentioned in the video.
Transcripts
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