Can you take biochemistry before Orgo 2?

It's generally not recommended to take Biochemistry before Organic Chemistry 2 (Orgo 2) because Biochemistry builds heavily on Orgo 1 concepts, and while some schools allow it, you'll understand molecular structures, reactions, and mechanisms much better with Orgo 2's deeper organic chemistry foundation, making Biochem easier and less stressful, though some students find Biochem manageable with just Orgo 1 if the course isn't too heavy on Orgo 2 topics.

Do I need to take orgo 2 before biochem?

At Princeton, Orgo II is a pre- or co-requisite to Biochem (MOL 345), so we would not recommend skipping it. Generally, though, it's true that schools' prerequisites are diversifying.

Can I take biochem without ochem?

We found no statistically significant differences between average biochemistry grades or grade distribution among students with or without the organic chemistry prerequisite.

Should you take biochem or ochem first?

Organic chemistry should be a prerequisite for the first course in biochemistry. You really need a basic understanding of organic chemistry to appreciate how bio-molecules are formed and how they function.

Can I take orgo and biochem at the same time?

So. . . if you have to take both courses, you'll find a way to do it, but it would be a lot better if you could separate the two. If anything, try and take ochem 1 and then take biochem concurrently with ochem 2, so you already have some background info in how organic chemistry works when you start biochem.

The Truth About Orgo | Is it that hard or are ppl just dumb | Watch This Before You Take It

Is a B+ in orgo bad for med school?

A B+ in organic chemistry (Orgo) is generally not considered bad for medical school, but it's not ideal either; while a strong overall GPA, excellent MCAT, clinical experience, and research can offset it, a B+ signals good, not excellent, performance in a key pre-med weed-out course, so focus on excelling in other sciences and demonstrating strong problem-solving skills. 

Is orgo 2 a lot harder than orgo 1?

That being said, many students find Orgo 2 to be more challenging than Orgo 1 for a few reasons. Orgo 1 usually serves as an introduction to the concepts and mechanisms of organic chemistry, providing a foundation for understanding the structures and reactions of organic molecules.

What is the fail rate for organic chemistry?

Organic chemistry has notoriously high failure rates, often cited nationally between 25% to over 50%, with many sources calling it a major "weed-out" course for pre-med and science majors due to its challenging concepts, fast pace, and demand for advanced critical thinking and visualization skills. While some universities see lower rates (around 15-20%), many struggle to get rates below 25%, though targeted programs can drastically reduce failures to under 10%.
 

Is orgo the hardest pre-med class?

The hardest course of the pre-med requirements depends on your strengths and weaknesses, but organic chemistry has a reputation for being the most difficult. In this class, you need to know the compositions and reactions of countless chemical compounds.

Which is the hardest type of chemistry?

1. Organic Chemistry: Often listed as the most difficult college chemistry class, organic chemistry focuses on carbon-based compounds, their properties, reactions, and synthesis.

Can you take the MCAT without Orgo 2?

I took MCAT before Orgo 2 and while I was in Physics 2. Self study is absolutely doable for these two. Have you taken biochem? That was much harder to self-study and, at least on my test, made up a larger percentage of the overall test.

What percent of the MCAT is biochem?

Academic disciplines:

First-semester biochemistry, 25% Introductory biology, 65% General chemistry, 5%

What is the hardest part of Orgo 2?

Spectroscopy and multi step synthesis are the hardest concepts because they require the most application of knowledge and problem solving in the course, and likely in anything students have encouraged up to that point, ochem is a rare undergraduate course that gets to applying knowledge rather than repeating knowledge ...

Is orgo 2 needed for med school?

Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry: Pre-med students need to take general chemistry (inorganic chemistry) 1 and 2 and organic chemistry 1 and 2. (Organic chemistry was ranked the most challenging prerequisite college course by pre-med students).

Is biochem good for pre-med?

Courses include physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. These help students who want to study medicine develop analytical and problem-solving skills useful for the medical school application process and future healthcare careers.

Is a 3.7 GPA bad premed?

College GPAs of Students Accepted Into Medical Schools

The mean GPA in 2025 was 3.67 for med school applicants and 3.81 for matriculants; an increase from 3.79 in 2024, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Which is the no. 1 toughest course in the world?

The top 10 hardest courses generally include:

• Medicine (MBBS/MD)
• Engineering (Aerospace, Chemical, Electrical)
• Chartered Accountancy (CA)
• Pharmacy.
• Architecture.
• Law.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN/BSc Nursing)
• Physics.

What is the #1 pre-med school in the US?

There's no single "number one" pre-med school, but Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) consistently rank at the top for pre-med programs due to exceptional advising, research, clinical access, and high medical school acceptance rates. Harvard often leads in general rankings, while JHU excels in research, Duke offers strong balance, and UPenn leverages its medical school connections.
 

Which major has the highest dropout rate?

Dropout rates by major:

STEM fields have higher attrition than non-STEM majors overall. Computer science has a 10.7% early dropout rate (among the highest) Business and engineering also show high early losses.

What is the #1 hardest AP class?

While it varies by student, AP Physics 1 is frequently cited as the #1 hardest AP class due to its low pass rates (around 47%), demanding lab work, and focus on conceptual understanding over memorization, followed closely by humanities subjects like AP U.S. History and AP English Language, and other sciences like AP Chemistry and Biology.
 

Is a B+ in chem bad for med school?

Your B grades won't keep you out of medical school…but when the time comes, I would suggest looking at D.O. Schools as well.

How many people fail in Ochem 2?

Organic chemistry is seen as one of the most difficult classes that many chemistry, biology, and pre-med students will ever have to take. Currently, the fail rate for organic chemistry across the nation is over 50%, with the course being described as the ultimate weed- out course.

Is there more Gen Chem or Orgo on MCAT?

Exam content will draw from*:

General chemistry, 30% Organic chemistry, 15%

Is biochemistry considered a difficult major?

Biochemistry is often viewed as one of the more demanding science majors due to its combination of complex chemistry, biology, and mathematics. In the U.S., biochemistry programs report a 15% higher dropout rate compared to general biology majors, reflecting the challenging coursework and high standards.