Chemistry at UoM

[mikee65]

If anyone has any experience with first year chem could you please give an outline and any recommendations of preparation?

[Russ]

Learn stereochemistry before semester starts, it's the worst part of the course.

[Edmund]

I did first year chem and it covers organic, physical and inorganic chem. I'm not sure what you mean by preparation but if you attend all the lectures, tutorials and practicals, you should do well since the lecture course is at a reasonable pace.

[mikee65]

thanks guys

[jasrulz63]

I agree with Edmund, as long as you attend the classes you should be fine. I hadn't done any VCE Chemistry before this year, and in the end, I was able to keep up reasonably. I completed Fundamentals of Chemistry, was accelerated to Chemistry 2 and came out with a H2 in Chemistry 2.

I should've done a lot better too, but I was sick for a week or two during quantum chem, and never caught up after that, so I'd definitely advised going to your classes.

[dptjandra]

yeh, I didn't do Chem 1 and 2 (just Chemistry for Biomed which is just a strange amalgamation of content from both, leaving out a bit of inorganic stuff).  But I helped lots of Science kids with both subjects and got a 96 in mine - I would just be up to date with VCE Chem and maybe learn a bit about stereochemistry because for other topics it's a bit hard to separate the relevant from the irrelevant in the textbook.  Just go to lectures, keep up to date, do HEAPS of past exams, again, do not not not fall behind (easy if you just attend).  Most of revision can be done with a bit of cramming if you understand concepts as they are presented and then re-learnt closer to the exam, in my opinion.

[mikee65]

I agree with Edmund, as long as you attend the classes you should be fine. I hadn't done any VCE Chemistry before this year, and in the end, I was able to keep up reasonably. I completed Fundamentals of Chemistry, was accelerated to Chemistry 2 and came out with a H2 in Chemistry 2.

I should've done a lot better too, but I was sick for a week or two during quantum chem, and never caught up after that, so I'd definitely advised going to your classes.

sorry whats the order your supposed to do them in? Im starting BSc next yr

[Edmund]

I agree with Edmund, as long as you attend the classes you should be fine. I hadn't done any VCE Chemistry before this year, and in the end, I was able to keep up reasonably. I completed Fundamentals of Chemistry, was accelerated to Chemistry 2 and came out with a H2 in Chemistry 2.

I should've done a lot better too, but I was sick for a week or two during quantum chem, and never caught up after that, so I'd definitely advised going to your classes.

sorry whats the order your supposed to do them in? Im starting BSc next yr

Chemistry 1 followed by Chemistry 2. If you haven't done VCE Chem then you start with Fundamentals chem

[jasrulz63]

I agree with Edmund, as long as you attend the classes you should be fine. I hadn't done any VCE Chemistry before this year, and in the end, I was able to keep up reasonably. I completed Fundamentals of Chemistry, was accelerated to Chemistry 2 and came out with a H2 in Chemistry 2.

I should've done a lot better too, but I was sick for a week or two during quantum chem, and never caught up after that, so I'd definitely advised going to your classes.

sorry whats the order your supposed to do them in? Im starting BSc next yr

Chemistry 1 in semester 1 and Chemistry 2 in semester 2. If you haven't done VCE Chemistry, you start with Fundamentals of Chemistry in semester 1. From there, if you get a H1 (80+) you can choose to enroll in Chemistry 2 in semester 2. If you don't, you have to do Chemistry 1 in semester 2, then complete Chemistry 2 in the Summer term.

[mikee65]

is 80+ doable?

[Russ]

Depends on how good you are at chem.

I would say that it's harder than usual to score highly in at first year level, because a lot of it is all new and all complex

[rustic_metal]

is 80+ doable?

If you don't drink, don't go out and study like a year 12 student, then yes.

[jasrulz63]

is 80+ doable?

As long as you keep up, attend all your lectures etc. then you'll be fine. I got a 92 for Fundamentals, and I didn't study for it any more than my other subjects. I still went out and stuff, so it's not like you have to throw your social life out the window.

I found Fundamentals to Chem 2 a massive jump though. There's knowledge you need to know from VCE Chem or Chem 1 for Chem 2. (ie. there was a question in the exam about chair conformations that I had absolutely no idea about).

But you cover a fair bit of Chem 1 during Fundamentals, there's just chunks that you don't do in Fundamentals that they do in Chem 1. In retrospect, I should've done more work over the winter break to catch up what I missed, but oh well.

[mikee65]

I agree with Edmund, as long as you attend the classes you should be fine. I hadn't done any VCE Chemistry before this year, and in the end, I was able to keep up reasonably. I completed Fundamentals of Chemistry, was accelerated to Chemistry 2 and came out with a H2 in Chemistry 2.

I should've done a lot better too, but I was sick for a week or two during quantum chem, and never caught up after that, so I'd definitely advised going to your classes.

so you did fundamentals this yea right? and used vce chem as a supplement?

[mikee65]

Could someone also explain the computer aided modules? "Students with a high level of achievement in CHEM10007 Fundamentals of Chemistry may be permitted to enrol in this subject in semester 2 upon successful completion of the computer aided learning modules of CHEM10003 Chemistry 1 during the winter recess."