Emails sent out to students
For Chem 261
email #1 – 6/3/2013
email #2 – 6/17/2013
For Chem 263
email #1 – 6/14/2013
To CHEM 261 students
EMAIL #2 from Jennie Mayer:
JUNE 17, 2013
Students of intensive Chem 261 this summer:
1) I sent the email (see below) previously but since then the roster has changed slightly. Here it is again. A word of caution – the course moves very quickly and we cover about a chapter a day. There is an exam every morning. It’s seriously as fast and hard as you’d think. Not only that but a prelab and postlab due every day – which are both very time consuming. I’d like to make sure you understand that before coming to class next week! I do not recommend any of you do anything other than this class. Seriously!
2) I’ve updated the website to include not only the books required but a note of advice from previous students (summer 2011) and a list of topics from general chemistry to review this week in preparation for next week.
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/chemistry/summer-intensive-ochem/
3) You need Straumanis and Pavia on day 1. There is a Klein trial period of 14 days (more info on that later). It will be in your best interest to get a copy of the Klein book asap and start reading chapters 1-3 before next week. If you can’t, then at least review the topics from general chem listed on the website above.
4) Please write me back – to let me know you got this message. Check your Bellevue College email at least once a day until the quarter starts. I’ll send you some materials early. I realize many of you use bellevuecollege.edu email for registration but never check it. If you do get this message, please send a hello back to me that you’ve received it, and what your preferred email address is. Otherwise, I will make some calls starting tomorrow. This course moves so quickly that you really have to be ready for it before the quarter begins.
Thanks! Jennie
TO CHEM& 261 students
EMAIL #1 from Jennie Mayer
JUNE 3, 2013
You are receiving this email if you are on the roster for Intensive Organic Chemistry this summer at Bellevue College, CHEM& 261.
Are you really crazy enough to take a year of organic chemistry in 9 weeks (or even one quarter in 3 weeks)? It is truly a chemistry boot camp, and I hope you have nothing else scheduled in your life if you are serious about taking it!
If the answer is still “yes, I am crazy” please take a look at this website about required materials and get your materials asap since once classes start we go about a chapter a day and you won’t have time to wait for shipping: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/chemistry/summer-intensive-ochem/.
I will be sending another document soon with the syllabus and some helpful tips from students two years ago who took the course. I am teaching the first six weeks (Chem& 261 and 262). Dan Mitchell will be teaching Chem&263 (the following three weeks) this summer. You may hear from him sometime in the future before his course begins.
Just to let you know, there is a more reasonably-paced non-intensive Chem& 261 taught by Dr. Jacqueline Smits in the evenings. Please consider taking that class if you must take other classes or work this summer. Students really underestimate the challenge of the intensive schedule and some transfer to the regular 261. By the end of three weeks, you will be exhausted. By the end of nine weeks, I hope you still have a pulse.
Lastly, if you’re on the waitlist, due to space limitations in the lab, I can only overload 2 students per section with blue cards. I go strictly by the waitlist because I cannot evaluate each story (each of you I’m sure has a good reason to take the course, but I cannot judge). If you are placed on the waitlist above position 3, it’s unlikely I can accommodate you. Please start making alternate plans. The regular summer 261 course is one option – as is starting this fall and taking the year as most students do.
I’ll be sending a few more emails so I hope you are checking your Bellevue College email!
Jennie
Email #1 from Dan Mitchell
To Chem 263 Students
June 14, 2013
Greetings,
I’m sending an email out to the students who are registered for, or are on the waiting list for the intensive organic chemistry 263 course this summer (7/31-8/16, 13 days). There are 48 students registered for each course, and 2 students on the waitlists (~2 per section, or 4 total).
Some of the students registered for this intensive 263 course are not registered for the intensive 261 or 262 taught earlier in the summer. If you are ONLY taking ochem 263 intensive, then you should know that there is a second section of ochem 263, NON-INTENSIVE, in the evening (7 weeks).
I STRONGLY recommend that if you are only taking chem 263 this summer, that you sign up for the non-intensive class. There are a few reasons for this, and these are a few things everyone who is registered for the intensive courses should know:
First, ochem is hard. Intensive ochem is harder! It is not uncommon in organic chemistry courses for up to a third of the class to not continue on (or fail) any ONE particular quarter! I recall as a student starting with 300 peers in chem 261 at the UW, and having only 100 peers left by the time I graduated 263 at the end of the normal, non-intensive year. This is typical of most universities and colleges, regardless of instruction. These numbers are for NON-INTENSIVE!, intensive numbers are often worse. I remember a few years ago in intensive organic chemistry 261, only 1 student received an “A” here at BC. Organic chemistry is a challenging course, and you should position yourself for the greatest chance of success.
Second, retention for many students is better if you learn material over time. The intensive course is similar to “cramming.” If you’re taking the course for an MCAT, or DAT, etc, unless you’re taking the test right after the course ends, then you may forget a large amount of the material.
Third, organic chemistry as a series is cumulative. On day one of organic chemistry 263 I will be assuming that you know everything from organic chemistry 261 and 262 (same thing for 262 – you need to know 261 material on day 1). This includes nomenclature, mechanisms for over 35 reactions, and synthesis for over 75 reactions! It is not open book. If you’re ONLY taking ochem 263 you will want to review all of the reactions from ochem 261 and 262. I’ve attached the ochem 2 index for people in this situation (This index is subject to change – although it probably won’t change by a lot).
If you are on the waiting list for 263, your chances of getting in are not too bad. I cannot add anyone until the 2nd day of the course. Before then, the waitlist will automatically enroll people into the courses when someone drops from the normal roster (some years we’ve had 30 people move in and out of the course… other years 1-2 people). When I do add people to the course it will be based on the following priority: first, I will add students who were overflowed or enrolled into 261 or 262 (by Jennie) earlier this same summer (for continuity of the sequence). Second, I will follow the waitlist after those continuing students are first accommodated.
Jennie Mayer gave evaluations of her intensive organic chemistry students a couple of years ago (in chemistry 261). The question she asked is what advice would you give future students of this course? While there were varied responses, the overwhelming response was make sure that you allocate 6+ hours a day to working on the course (outside of class)… effectively your entire life will become this course while you are going through it. Don’t plan to do anything else.
Regards,
Dan
Last Updated January 11, 2022