Gen Chem 1403 – one of the many foundational requirements on the pre-medical track. Some say the course was a hurdle and others a breeze. While even the notorious name whispered from the lips of an upperclassman may give you shivers down your spine, by knowing yourself, your studying methods, and your professor’s teaching & exam testing characteristics, you can and will succeed.
Combining our own experiences with Professors Xavier Roy & Ruben Savisky, Kate & I have formed a guide to General Chemistry. Our goal is to provide specific advice for students learning from any of the quadfecta of General Chemistry professors in the coming semester or years!
Professor Ruben Savizky
Richelle Kim (CC ’27)
- Professor Savizky likes to rearrange the order in which he teaches traditional general chemistry material. For example, for our first “celebration of knowledge,” as Savizky likes to call them, he tested our class on organic chemistry and quantum mechanics before even touching stoichiometry.
- Review notes, and utilize the Zumdahl textbook if you need a paraphrased version of Savizky’s powerpoints.
- Try to use the extra homework problems in the textbook to your advantage, but if no time is available, prioritize taking the practice exams above everything.
- Review Aktiv homework problems as extra practice problems.
- Review with friends. There may be an easier way to solve a problem - help each other.
- Ask your TA during recitation any of the questions you may have; if you have a question about something, it’s most likely that other students will have the very same.
- My key advice is to print and take the practice tests as if you are in a test setting a day or two before the test!
Professor Xavier Roy
Kate Jang (CC ’27)
- Roy teaches loosely in the order of the textbook, and he will let you know which chapters to read in advance. It is helpful to read the textbook before or after the lessons to solidify your understanding of the concepts.
- Make sure to thoroughly review the practice midterm Professor Roy provides; I recommend studying the concepts first by looking through the lecture slides and then taking the practice test.
- Before midterms, one of the TA’s will host review sessions going over all the concepts on the exam. Make sure to attend!
- Use OWLv2 for practice problems – although they are not required, it is great extra practice for the tests.
- Review the recitation teacher problem sets, even if they are not from your section – Roy posts ALL of them on Courseworks. If you are confused about a concept, ask questions during recitation.
- Remember to post on the Ed discussion board for extra credit!
- Similar to Savizky, it helps to study and practice with friends!
