Hi so I'm wondering if I should take Organic Chemistry during the summer at Mac, get the grade for it. Or basically take it at another university? If so, which is the easiest university to take organic chem?

Also, should I take CHEM 2E03? Would that help before taking orgo?

Chem 2E03 is an anti-requisite to Orgo 2OA3. So if you take 2E03, you can't take the first term orgo. The difference between 2E03 and 2OA3 is that the former has tutorials and no labs, while the latter has both (bi-weekly) labs and tutorials.

But isn't 2E03 cancelled if you do orgo? So it's a win win situation right?

Originally Posted by AnnaWM

But isn't 2E03 cancelled if you do orgo? So it's a win win situation right?

You probably have to get some waiver or something. I would definitively go talk to an academic advisor before you proceed though. Even though it looks like you can talk 2E03 and then 2OA3, the last think you want is to learn that you can't. So make 100% sure you can first.

Even I'm not able to take 2E03, do you know the which university I should take at?

Originally Posted by AnnaWM

Even I'm not able to take 2E03, do you know the which university I should take at?

I took orgo during the year at McMaster, so I can't help you there. Just make sure that if you need orgo for graduate or professional school, you'll most likely need labs too.

You can take 2E03 and 2OA3. But you only get 3 credits instead of 6.

A friend of mine did it.

Yeah, if you complete Chem 2E03 and then take Chem 2OA3, you forfeit credit for Chem 2E03. Also, keep in mind that you can't take Chem 2E03 and then take Chem 2OB3.

I took chemistry 2e03 in first term of 2nd year. I am currently taking orgo 20a3 at mac and its not bad at all. But once you pass orgo 20a3, the credit for chemistry 2e03 will NOT count and the grade for that course also doesn't count in your cumulative average but it does count in the sessional average.

Originally Posted by Sameen

I took chemistry 2e03 in first term of 2nd year. I am currently taking orgo 20a3 at mac and its not bad at all. But once you pass orgo 20a3, the credit for chemistry 2e03 will NOT count and the grade for that course also doesn't count in your cumulative average but it does count in the sessional average.

Did you find that chem2E03 prepped you abit for chem20a3? I'm not a chemistry person at all and was thinking to go through the same route as you.

why is chem 2oa3 so hard during the year. last year the final exam average was something like 51%.

I heard (from a TA) that the average was more like 30-something and got curved :S

I think people largely have the mindset of "omg, orgo, it's gonna be SO HARD :|" and screw themselves over before giving the course a chance. Of course, depending on the type of person you are, that could be a good thing, because it forces you to study. It definitely requires work--you need to do practice problems and keep up with stuff, but the course isn't as difficult as people make it out to be (this is coming from someone who did NOT want to take it at all, going into second year). Like any course, if you do the work and put in some effort, you'll get a decent mark.

Originally Posted by Cassanova

why is chem 2oa3 so hard during the year. last year the final exam average was something like 51%.

Was it really that low? I don't remember the Chem 2OA3 exam being THAT hard. The 2OB3 exam was a completely different matter though, THAT was super hard XD

Originally Posted by sun.shine

Did you find that chem2E03 prepped you abit for chem20a3? I'm not a chemistry person at all and was thinking to go through the same route as you.

Yea, I think it helped since most of the material that we learned in 2e03 is the material we are learning in 2oa3 but some topics that we are covering in 2oa3 were not covered in 2e03. But overall its actualy really helping me.

Any suggestions on how to prep for Orgo 2OA3 next year? And tips on doing well, in addition to doing practice problems?