How do I get an A in O-chem?

How do I get an A in O-chem?

I did well in gen-chem, got As both semesters, but now I'm taking Organic Chemistry I and it's kicking my ass. I usually studied out of the book and grinded homework problems and just reviewed for 2-3 days before tests and did well, but now that strategy doesn't seem to work.

The tests are WAY more complex than the homework. While a homework question might ask for the major product of just 1-2 reagents + a solvent, the exams will ask for the major product after 5-7 reagents. Or we'll get stuff I have simply never seen before and I'll have no idea how to do it.

I don't *think* I'm a brainlet, but our class averages are around 30-40% and I'm BARELY getting higher than that, in the B range mostly when you include standard deviation.

I do like this class, at least. It's the most interesting class I have. But, goddamn, it's hard. How do I do well? The final is in 3 weeks.

Try to see the overarching mechanistic patterns reactions have in common instead of trying to memorize each individual reaction.

t. orgo tutor

Also yes ochem tends to require more effort than the first year courses. Studying more than 2-3 days in advance helps tremendously.

Also, try to understand the underlying forces or hindrances, such as electronegativity and steric effects. Understanding why a certain mechanism goes a certain way makes them easier to undertand

t. been there done that

why are you taking it?

Do problems in other orgo textbooks concurrently. Try to understand what the significance of each procedure/problem solving protocol is while doing your review problems. Start studying further in advance.

t. Succeeding in orgo

memorise it all bro
chem is just memorisation
t. physicist taking biochem to laugh at brainlets like you

Trying to decide between majoring in math (w/ a chem minor) or just straight majoring in Chem. I like chem a lot, but I also want to do well since I may want to take the MCAT and apply to med school when I graduate.

This, also visit teaching assistants or your chem help center and maybe just ask for challenge problems. Sometimes mine would go beyond our test material but nevertheless helped to get me thinking about methods to approaching problems ie identifying key steps in synthesis

Dude, it's not that hard, just grind the entire chapter text THOROUGHLY, do ALL of the in book problems, and understand the mechanisms. This is NOTHING compared to P-chem or Thermodynamics. Also, why the fuck are you waiting to study until two or three days before the exam? You should be comfortable with the material two WEEKS before the exam and you should be studying up until the exam hits your desk. You're competing with gunner-ass pre-meds (like me) who actually have to 4.0 the class in order to smash the MCAT and get into Ivy-tier med schools on top of all of the other philanthropy and leadership extra-curriculars required to remain competitive.
Read the chapter you're covering before class, do the practice problems, use outside resources like mastering organic chemistry (not Khan, he's not great) and Leah4Sci.