Organic Chem Preparation & ACS

[ndemmons]

So, my university offers two levels of organic chem and both are the same except one course sequence has an extra credit hour of laboratory (focusing more on spectroscopy). I've talked to the department and the chairperson said that the lab hour(s) are the only differences. Does anyone think that would really matter to grad schools? The organic chem sequence will be either eight total semester credits or 10 (four each semeseter, or five).

Also, does anyone think ACS certification will really matter? I want to be prepared and the ACS certification program at my school is more rigorous than the non-certification program. Again, just looking to get some insight.

[anthropologygeek]

In chemistry I know it matters who Ure mentor knows. But acs only matters for the top 20 so only do that if u are sloping to top 20 schools like Texas and unc

[ndemmons]

In chemistry I know it matters who Ure mentor knows. But acs only matters for the top 20 so only do that if u are sloping to top 20 schools like Texas and unc

Ok, so ACS only matters if I'm interested in top schools? Ok.. just wondering. Thanks for your assistance.

[Eigen]

Unless there is a strong reason not to, you should make sure you're certified. If there's something specific that prevents you from doing the certified program, it won't cripple your app.... But it will certainly make it stronger if you do it.

It's a distinct benefit to applying to grad school, if nothing else it is a minimum slate of coursework that a university can count on you having. While it's more important for going into industry than to grad school, remember that the vast majority of those students you're competing against for admission and fellowships will have it.

It won't be *required* for any school that I've seen, but I would definitely recommend doing it.

The rigor will help you when you get to grad school.

As to the organic course, should you go to grad school, a lot of what you'll be doing will require spec. analysis, most of which you need to be fluent in doing on your own.

More research or lab experience always looks good on an application.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Eigen

[so47]

I mostly agree with the previous posters. Lab experience is always a plus and definitely will help your application. In my opinion, f you want to go into a PhD program, take the lab. You will be much more prepared for the lab intensive environment. Also, a lot of schools are changing what they look at in applications, instead of focusing on GPA and test scores they are looking more into lab and research experience, and the recommendations that come out of it.

As far as ACS certification goes, it is better because they will consider you a more proficient chemist if you have it. Having said that, I am attending a Top 20 school and there is at least 1 of my incoming class of 43 who is not from an ACS accredited program, but the overwhelming majority are from ACS programs. So if you have the option, I would go for the ACS, especially since your school has both options, you don't want to look like you were taking the easy route.

Hope this helps!

[l33t]

I go to a top 5 organic chem university and am not ACS certified for my BS. I will say the opposite and say it doesn't matter at all if you are ACS certified. Or at least, it matters <5%. Very little. I was not at all concerned about not being ACS certified when I applied. It was never an issue. As long as you take a fairly standard undergraduate curriculum and show good research potential...

[modpod77]

Does anyone know some good book about organic Chem?

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[chaospaladin]

Does anyone know some good book about organic Chem?

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Organic Chemistry by Jonathan Clayden, Nick Greeves, Stuart Warren, and Peter Wothers is a very good Organic Chemistry textbook.

[prolixity]

Does anyone know some good book about organic Chem?

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Butterfly Stool clearance sale going on now...

I would recommend "The art of writing reasonable organic reaction mechanisms" by Grossman. This is a mechanistic approach to understanding organic chemistry rather than a memorization-based approach.

[Eigen]

Granted, this is quite an old post- but for other people that might be looking:

Grossman's book (mentioned above) is quite good. For a book that's more on the reference end, Carey and Sundberg's Advanced Organic Chemistry two volume set is quite good.

For protecting groups, Greene's Protective Groups is a must-have reference book for a synthetic organic chemist, and Kocienski's Protecing Groups is a good companion- not so much reference, and a lot more readable. Not nearly the breadth of Greene's, however.

I also am a fan of March's Advanced Organic Chemistry. Nice reference, and has some explanations and details the others don't- mostly hard-soft acid-base theory and woodward-hoffman rules.