Taking Organic Chem without taking Intro to Chem

DermNP2Be · Nov 13, 2007

I have never heard of it being possible to take Orgo before even one Chem class! I guess you learn something new everyday. I really am having a hard time seeing taking that class without Gen Chem. You might want to check with the school that you're trying to go to in order to make sure it's ok.

mzjones6 · Nov 13, 2007

I've heard of it being done one time at my school by one person, I don't know how he got in, but he did. Unless you're really good at chemistry, I wouldn't suggest taking the orgo before the intro, unless you think you can. And if the school is going to let you waive the pre-req of the intro to get into orgo then go for it, just buckle down, because orgo is not nice. I took orgo I and II in one summer, 6 straight weeks of orgo chem, I thought I was going to die.

MikeyJ, RN · Nov 13, 2007

I don't think Intro to Chem is necessary for Organic chem. Organic chem and non-organic chem are totally different. When I took Organic Chem, I was suprised at how much prior chem knowledge was not required.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2007

I'm in organic/biochem right now. It is a massive amount of learning. I cannot imagine taking the class without an intro to chem pre-req class. I suppose it could be done if you are willing to sit in lecture and not understand much because you lack the proper foundation...then go home and self-study heaps of info. Basically, you'd be self-studying basic chem and then taking on organic at the same time. That might be a risky move if you need an A in the class to get into nursing school.

RNDreamer · Nov 13, 2007

I know people who took/ are taking both at the same time...everyone I have spoken to says that organic chem is much easier than general chem

NightOwl0624 · Nov 13, 2007

I know people who took/ are taking both at the same time...everyone I have spoken to says that organic chem is much easier than general chem

I thought it was easier than general chem as well, BUT IT WASN'T EASY!! It was completely different, and in my case, you wouldn't have had to have general chem first.

My instructor summed up about everything you needed to know from general chem in about 2 minutes on the first day. Occasionally there were things that came up in lab that he was happy to review and explain.

MB37 · Nov 13, 2007

It probably depends on when the last time you took chem was. If you're 19, and you took chem your senior year in high school, you probably still remember the basics. I haven't taken organic, only general (all that was required for my program), but depending on where I apply for CRNA I might be taking it in a few years. Have you taken any chem before? How was it? How are your math skills? If you're good at math, haven't had a prior problem with chemistry, and your school allows it, go for it. If you already think it might be too hard, it probably is.

SarasotaRN2b · Nov 13, 2007

Actually a lot of it depends on the school you are attending. Even though nursing may not require intro to chemistry for nursing, but the science department may definitely require that you have general chemistry before taking the class. Taking organic chemistry is like taking and learning a foreign language. Having taken general chemistry first will help a little with the basics. Organic chemistry has a lot mechanisms to do with acid/base and if you take general chemistry, you will be more prepared than if you didn't.

Kris

Slimlady727 · Nov 13, 2007

i took org chem 4 years after taking gen chem. (i graduated and then returned back to school for nursing). i did better in organic than gen chem and i dont remember anything from gen chem helping.

Megsd, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2007

i took org chem 4 years after taking gen chem. (i graduated and then returned back to school for nursing). i did better in organic than gen chem and i dont remember anything from gen chem helping.

ditto. took general chem in 2001, barely got a b, blocked the whole experience out of my head. took organic chem in 2006, got a high a. i didn't feel like anything from general chem (aside from very basic knowledge about bonds and maybe a few other things) really was necessary to do well.

elkpark · Nov 13, 2007

My nursing program included a year of Organic, but no intro course. We were in class with the pre-med and chemistry majors (same Org Chem course). Everyone did fine (which is not to say that it's easy!!)