CHEM 2410

I am not going to lie, I cried a lot during this course lmfao.

This is what I wish I knew going in: This class really taught me how to study. Please start reading the chapters during syllabus week. I waited, and definitely was cramming for honestly the rest of the semester. Do the in-chapter problems WHILE reading to get a better understanding of the chapter, and do this before lecture (I was not perfect at this, and was stressed later-hence crying). Try to also do the practice problems just in general so that you are studying a little bit everyday. I wish I had done that this sem and will be attempting this better in Orgo 2 as I know I'd be less stressed if I had spaced out things a bit more. There is SO much content that you cannot just cram (or you will and not do super well).

The first test is (arguably) the easiest, so please try your best to score as high as you can on it, as for me it was the thing that really held my grade over, as the other exams tend to have a lower trend as they progress (bc they get harder). Try and anki everything she says to memorize, and review content often. Orgo is really a marathon of a class if you are going for the A.

Reviewing old tests, integrated problems, office hours, going over practices in class and discussion questions are very good (and all needed) ways to study to succeed. Try not to cram for this class please, I regret my exam 2 very much because I was not keeping up with content and crammed near the end. This being said!! I obviously was not perfect with my studying and had harder dips with my exams, but I still ended up with an A in the class, so perfection is not needed, just conscious effort. This class did end up messing with my mental health this semester, and I will say with her 50% back corrections and cushion grades a B+/A- is very very do-able even if you are scoring B/Cs on her exams. The final is the big one as it has no corrections, and that can make or break your grade.

Honestly, doing practice problems AND understanding the conceptual elements of this class is the what you need to succeed. You do not have to be perfect in every exam or in studying or whatever, as there are many ways for the grades to be cushioned, but studying every day will decrease your stress by so. so. much, rather than cramming (like I did).

Me and my friends had actual nightmares about the final afterwards though hahahhahaa.
#tCFfall22

TLDR: It's organic chemistry so of course it's hard. But you will survive! I did! (barely).

Okay, let me start off by clarifying that chemistry is most definitely NOT my strong-suit. I came into this class very doubtful in my own abilities to succeed in this course, especially due to the reputation that surrounds it. I see some other reviews provided a nice breakdown of the course, so I'll skip that part. I ended this course with a B-, close to a flat out B, which I was honestly fine with. On the midterms, my grades got worse over time. I got a B on the first one with corrections, but that slowly dropped with each exam. My biggest bone to pick with this course is the drastic difference between the problems we are given to practice on, and the exams. All of the warm-up quizzes, homework, and even textbook practice problems don't really come close to the open-ended problems on the exams. The only ones that get sort of close are in Friday practices and discussions. I do think that Dr. Frantz is a good lecturer, and attending those often helped to clarify confusing topics. Many people have less appealing opinions of her teaching style, but to be honest I didn't really mind her. My advice would be to get 100's in all the other categories (homework, discussions, warm-up quizzes...) because it does offer a nice cushion. The final is nasty. The other reviews don't lie. However, it is not impossible. I spent many, many, many hours studying for it (probably like 30 hours total) because I needed to do well relatively well in order to not drop a letter grade. I succeeded in my goal, and kept my B. While taking the final, I did not feel completely helpless, but it was definitely very difficult due to the immense amount of material it covered. I do feel like if you have to take orgo 2 with Franz, you'll be better off having taken it with her first semester. It would be a culture shock to come into her class from another professor. Good luck! Orgo is just hard in general so just do your best.

I got an A in this course and I wanted to share some helpful information for those going into it. I just want to start by saying don't panic. It will all work out. I broke up the review into the course and the instructor.

The Course:
Grade breakdown:
- Clicker Questions (15%), Warmup Quizzes (5%), Homework Questions (15%), and Discussion (10%)
- 3 Midterms (30%) and Final (25%)

My advice:
- I would definitely agree that if you follow her advice that she gives you at the beginning of the semester you will do well.
- Midterms: Practice explaining why (there was typically always a question that required you to explain), do the questions at the end of the chapter, and re-do discussion questions and understand them
- Final: The final is comprehensive and covers almost every chapter from the course. I was really afraid for this final, but it turned out okay.

The Instructor:
The big question... should you take Orgo 1 with Frantz? I would say yes for Orgo 1 specifically.
She's not perfect and has flaws like every professor, but she also has a lot of buffer grades that helps you get at least a C+/B-. The warmup quizzes are graded on completion, the clicker questions are only graded on attendance, you have drops on attendance and warmup quizzes, and they give us the answers at the end of the discussion. Also, you take 3 midterms and get 1 drop. She is a bit intimidating as a professor, but she's intelligent. Orgo 1 is the foundational course for Orgo 2 and in case you can't get Samonina in the Spring it helps to start with Frantz.

Frantz is genuinely not a nice professor at all. Most of us are taking it because we want to put in the work and understand how difficult it will be, yet she still manages to make every student in her class feel like they are unprepared and cannot obtain a good grade in the class.

Readings Monday and Wednesday are bearable, and there's quizzes due every Sunday night, Tuesday night, and Thursday night which are also pretty easy. My advice is get FULL points on every homework (due every sunday, 25 questions), every discussion, and every quiz. Really throughout the semester you must keep up on every reading and assignment or you will fall majorly behind. Another lovely thing about Frantz? Even if you have an 89.9, you get a B+. The three midterms are super challenging, but doable and the corrections allow you to get half percent back. With a drop, corrections, and 100% in all other areas, you will probably have an A before the final and feel super proud. That's what I had and was overjoyed since my twelve works of extremely hard work paid off.

Well, buckle in. The final exam will drop you at least a letter. I worked for two weeks and perfected every single topic. I did every problem in the textbook, redid every exam discussion and friday practice, and went in feeling great. Came out of it feeling mediocre but confident that I would pass with at least a 65% to obtain a B+. Received my final grade for the course and? It dropped 10%. Over one final exam (which has an incredibly low average and no corrections). Devastating because after 12 weeks of nonstop effort and good grades, one exam changes it all.

If you have to take Orgo with Frantz, you will be fine. I remember seeing messages about her before enrolling in her class and being terrified. It's doable, but prepare yourself for massive disappointment. She is not encouraging, and will constantly make you question if you should even be pre-med (or whatever STEM major you are). Her lectures are insanely fast so make sure you have notes to add to before class rather than just taking them for the first time in class. Just buckle in and prepare to work HARD. She is kind of the worst ever and patronizes every kid in her class. Don't let this class demoralize you...

This class is hard, but doable if you put in A LOT of effort. There are readings twice a week and make sure you do them and ideally also do the practice problems within each chapter. Frantz BLITZES through content so doing the readings ensures that you actually know whats going on when shes moving at mach 5 through the slides. For the exams, the biggest things to study imo are the discussion problems (which are very similar to exam questions), the practice problems at the end of each chapter (especially the integrated problems), and the in class clicker/practice questions. Exams are TRICKY. There are some questions on exams that I am sure that not even 10% of the class got right. She does not go easy on you. But at the same time, the exams are fair for the most part. Theyre difficult, but most of the material is stuff that she has gone over in class and done practice with. The hardest questions usually make you have to take concepts youve learned and apply them in different situations, so make sure you understand why stuff is happening the way its happening. Also there is a good bit of memorization, but its completely doable if you spend a little time with it.

Frantz is a good teacher when it comes to teaching content, but she makes some questionable decisions imo. Like we'll have an exam that ends at 8:30 PM and then have a reading due at 11:59 which no one does bc why would you do a reading thats not on the exam?? Its just more information than youll need to know, and then after the exam you only have a few hours to do the reading. Understandably no one does that reading, and then she gets upset in class that nobody did it. Like ?? But other than some stuff like that shes good.

A lot of the points that go to the final grade are gimme points, but the real make or break points are the exams. You can drop the lowest midterm which is nice, but make sure you try hard on every midterm so you have a good buffer for the final. The final is a BEAST. Its completely doable, but it combines a lot of topics from the entire semester so you really gotta know everything. The key to this class is Study Study Study. This is not a class where you can study the night before the exam and get away with it. But if you do commit to studying, you can definitely pull off a good grade. As hard as this class is, youll get through it. And you may even enjoy parts of it!

#tCFfall22

For my fellow mentally ill students:
I’m not trying to scare you or stop you from taking this class. I just want you to be as prepared as possible. I don’t care if your anxiety hasn’t been a big issue in the past. I don’t care if your previous professors have understood that sometimes you’ll miss class because you’re depressed. Frantz DOES. NOT. CARE. Get SDAC accommodations ASAP before taking this course because she’d rather watch you burn and beg for help in front of her. The only thing stopping her from completely letting her students drown is SDAC. Use those accommodations. And if you can take another professor, PLEASE take the other professor.

Pros:
- good textbook
- Frantz gives up to 50% back of missed points on test corrections
- one test is dropped
- lots of practice in class

Cons:
- 15% of your grade is iclicker/attendance
- lectures not recorded
- least accommodating professor. Frantz doesn’t care if your mom is in the hospital, you’re dealing with medication withdrawal, or you got in a car crash and are in the hospital (all real scenarios from ppl I know!)
- no test makeups (better hope you never get sick)
- insane amount of weekly assignments
- very memorization-based

Tips for success:
- download the student manual to Organic Chemistry by David Klein
- do integrated practice problems from the textbook
- if you ever need accommodations, get official documentation asap from SDAC or your academic dean
- do regular flashcards on things you need to memorize, like pka values
- DONT TAKE THIS TOO SERIOUSLY. Your health, happiness, etc are all more important than this class. Don’t go nuts

And the final? Aha… ha… ha

Yes, you have to study your butt off for Orgo. NO ONE is kidding. If you fall behind even a little bit, it will be very hard for you to catch up. But I am here to talk about Frantz. I think she is really rude. She laughed at people a couple times in class- someone asked "Will we be expected to know these values on the exam?" and she laughed. She really wants you to learn the most you can out of orgo, so she makes it really difficult so you remember the most. At this level, that is not manageable with the amount of info that is being pumped out to us. You will be SO much better trying Samonina or Chruma, which don't make you memorize as much on exams. Frantz's final was absolutely ridiculous, that I didn't even feel bad about myself after I left because it was that hard. I think Frantz caters more to E school kids and and the rest of us regulars can't keep up- but she doesn't care who you are or what your strengths are- everyone is expected to do the same.

You have to study for Orgo A LOT in general, but I think you will have better luck with literally anyone else other than Frantz.

Dr. Frantz knows her stuff and is willing and able to explain it-- she is somewhat intimidating from afar, but when you talk to her one-on-one, I found her to be extremely kind and patient.

This class definitely has a lot of work involved-- she recommends on the first day of class to read the textbook (which is a great resource!) and take handwritten notes prior to the lecture that covers those sections. In addition to notetaking, there is also a short warm-up quiz due the night before each lecture and a weekly homework that can take anywhere from 1-3 hours (albeit I go at a slower pace, YMMV). This is altogether a lot of work and assignments to keep track of, but really taking the time to learn from these will help in the course. Her lectures can help to clarify concepts/certain aspects that she may test on, but I found I got a lot more out of lecture (i.e. the in-class practice problems) when I came prepared with pre-written notes. I would not suggest solely relying on lecture for understanding the content.

As for discussions, mine typically went for an hour and a half on average, but it really depends on how much time the TA's give for the small groups to work on the problems and how long they take to review them. Discussions are mandatory, but essentially solely participation-based. It can be worth it to stay longer to work on the challenge problems with your group, but they are closed-note and the difficulty varies. Still, you potentially get extra points back on exams (?) at the end of the semester.

Finally, the tests-- I personally found the midterms to be a lot fairer than I was expecting going into them. If you understand the content well enough to explain it to classmates, you should be in good shape. I found that the best resources to prepare were study groups, her recommended problems, reading through notes, and looking over discussion/in-class/homework questions. They're generally free-response, so make sure you know your stuff versus relying on recognition. If she says that you should know something (e.g. pKa values), make sure you know them! Test corrections are life-saving and worth doing! The final was a lot more challenging than anticipated, relies on concepts learned throughout the semester that you may not have used in a while, and there are no test corrections/curves. #tCFfall2021

All of the other reviews about this class are pretty accurate. Expect to have to do a ton of work if you want to do well. The readings before class are not optional. You need to do them every time to succeed. It is difficult to get an A in this class but very easy to pass. The test corrections are clutch, and they basically ensure that you won't fail the class if you put in effort. I really liked Frantz, and I learned a lot in this class. This class is probably harder to get an A in than the other orgo professors, but you are going to learn more. I would still recommend taking Frantz since orgo 2 is much harder than orgo 1, and you'll get a better foundation from Frantz than the other professors. 45% of the grade is an easy 100%, and 30% are from the midterms (which have test corrections). The final was very challenging, but I still ended up getting an A in the class. My biggest piece of advice would be to do every single extra recommended problem in the back of the book and to BUY THE ANSWER KEY! Once I did this, my grades and understanding improved a ton. Hard work will pay off in this class!

I'm going to preface this by saying that I have never written a course forum review before, but I felt it necessary given that most of the current reviews on this page are not the most accurate representation of the class. The class is structured with 3 midterms (each 10%, corrections to get half points back), clicker and homework questions (45%, easy to get full points), and the final (25%, no corrections). I think our class averages for the midterms were 73, 65, and 53 (before corrections) and the final was probably around a 50. My advice is to do all the assigned readings for the week on the weekend prior to going to class. This will give you a better understanding and allow you to remember the information better. I studied for about an hour each day before lecture as if we were getting quizzed on the info (which worked for me but might not be necessary for everyone). My goal was to be comfortable with the information before seeing it in lecture. However, you should be studying daily just because of the sheer amount of information. There is a lot of memorization, but try to understand why things happen because it makes it easier to remember. Pay special attention to problems during discussion (similar level of difficulty to exam). To prepare for exams I would do all the recommended textbook problems she assigns and do ALL the integrated problems. There is usually a problem or two on each exam that is pulled straight from the integrated problems. I would study the new information daily and start studying for exams 1-2 weeks in advance by doing a ton of practice problems. The reviews on this page make the final out to be impossible. This gave me so much stress and anxiety leading up to the exam. It is very long and tedious, but the problems are no harder than the problems you have been doing all year (still around the difficulty as integrated problems). My mistake was taking other course reviews to heart and thinking that this is an impossible class. It is not. You have to be willing to put in a lot of work, but I promise the constant studying and hard work pays off in the end. A lot of people would procrastinate and wait until the last minute to study which I do not recommend. I was a little discouraged with my midterm grades (without corrections a 82, 73, and 80) as I didn't think they reflected how much I worked/how much I knew. However, being able to learn from your mistakes with test corrections is really helpful. I was able to score around a 88 on the final so succeeding in this class is definitely possible.

On to Frantz. I think she gets a lot of unnecessary hate. Her exams are tough but fair. Her class is super interesting but can be overwhelming if you do not prepare. My big complaint is that she introduces new content (for the next exam) on exam week, which I found a little inconsiderate. However, I firmly believe she gives you all the tools necessary to succeed. Other reviews make it seem like she is never available for help. That is not true, I would say she is very available. She holds office hours, and says that we can always email her to schedule time for help or to just talk about life/things in general.

Succeeding in orgo is about you. Everyone will have a different experience, and different study techniques work better for different people. My main piece of advice is to keep a positive mindset. I have always been someone that has to work twice as hard as others to keep up, so this class gave me a lot of anxiety and imposter syndrome. I wish I enjoyed the class a little more and didn't worry as much. Keep working hard, learn from your mistakes and adjust study habits if necessary, and try to enjoy the information and I promise everything will work out in the end!