Rusty on High School Chem [ENDORSED]

[Giselle Simmons 2D]

You should 100% go to the step up sessions. They saved my grade. Here's the schedule.

https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/wp-content/supporting-files/Chem14A/Chem14UA_PL_ALL.pdf

[Giselle Simmons 2D]

Also, try and find a friend who's done AP or IB Chem! They are usually really good at explaining problems you may need help on. :)

[Abigail Tran 14a]

I think that redoing the chemistry modules is very helpful because it is a lot of review and forces you to do active recall after rewatching the videos instead of passive learning.

[Parinita Jithendra 2A]

I found doing the textbook problems that he assigned on the syllabus to be extremely helpful as it mirrors the style of the exams and gives you a better understanding on how to understand chemistry conceptually.

[kareena_prasad]

It's been a while since I've taken chemistry, and the pandemic didn't really help with my retention from high school chemistry. I have found that doing the textbook problems really helps with jogging your memory. Doing problems over and over again can bring back your memory.

[Jaelyn Christian 2J]

I haven't taken chem since I took it my freshman year so it is like re-learning everything all over again.

[705573518]

Utilize youtube videos! Khan academy videos are super helpful for me personally, but there are many others who post videos on general chem topics.

[105784203]

Hello, this is my first time taking a chemistry course since my senior year of high school and I am currently a second year. I was just wondering for someone who is on chem in general, what tips can I use to guide me through this 14A course?

Just do all of the readings and you will be fine.

[Claudia Longo 2J]

Hello, this is my first time taking a chemistry course since my senior year of high school and I am currently a second year. I was just wondering for someone who is on chem in general, what tips can I use to guide me through this 14A course?

I can definitely empathize with this. I would look over the outlines and target your weak topics by reading about them in the textbook. You can also watch tutorials on YouTube, access the free tutoring from Alpha Chi Sigma on Dr. Lavelle's website, and ask your TA a lot of questions. If you feel as though you're pestering your main TA, definitely reach out to some other ones.

[Tony Chen 1F]

I find Dr. Lavelle's audio-visual focus topics to be super helpful as well

[Morgan Micallef 1A]

Dr. Lavelle has been really understanding about this, starting each new section of the class (each outline) with a review of the topics you need to know from high school!

[Isabelle Kludt 2B]

Theres a lot of useful stuff on YouTube. Organic chemistry tutor is very helpful.

[Giselle Simmons 2D]

Also shoutout to Kate Santoso and Matthew their review sessions are fire.

[Isabelle Kludt 2B]

This thread has been very helpful!

[Carlie_Dorostkar_1A]

The chemistry that I took 4 years ago gave me the very basics of this class. There is a huge amount of concepts in this course and my suggestion for people starting is too keep up with the problem solving UA session and try to completely understand concepts and their problems each week.

[Sam Forster 2J]

Matthew's workshops are so incredibly goated. That man has saved me this quarter, I did well on both midterms solely due to his worksheets and textbook problems. If you ever need help during the quarter go to his workshops, highly recommend it.

[605537776]

I think the UA sessions were super helpful and Sal Khan always has your back.

[David Facio 3C]

I really recommend just being open with your TA's and Professor Lavelle and not being afraid to say what you don't understand. Attending office hours is really great if you need one on one assistance!

[Ramya_Paravastu_1H]

I definitely feel rusty too. The step-up sessions this week were really helpful for me to review and I spent some time reviewing the AP Chem videos on Khan Academy!

[Xzandalyn Kallstrom 2C]

I relate to this a lot as this is one of my first chemistry classes after online school and high school that I've taken so far. I was hoping that it would be in person so I would have the full education experience but unfortunately it is not so far and I will struggle through it alongside everyone else. The professor is doing a really goof job with review so its all coming back pretty quickly.

[Michelle Gong]

Hi!

I was rusty on high school chem when I started 14a too. What helped was going through the achieves and really trying to do everything on my own. In terms of extra material, you could watch khan academy videos/do practice exercises online! If you took AP chem and have a review book, going through those will help too :)

Good luck!

[Jessica Li 1G]

I think the most effective way to study is to do all of the listed practice problems on the syllabus for each topic. They cover all the material you should be understanding and applying when it comes to the exams. I find reviewing the answers to those textbook problems is really helpful for conceptual understanding as well.

[205705413]

I would recommend going to the step up sessions. Reading the textbook always helps to clear things up and doing practice problems solidify the concepts that you are learning.

[Esther Kim]

When I took 14A, I was super rusty on old high school chem. The modules on Lavelle's website are a genuine lifesaver to be honest

[andrea tarelo 3e]

I did not take ap chem before taking the class but was in Lavelle's chem 14a class last quarter and I have found that Khan Academy and the textbook questions are great resources for understanding the material better and putting it into practice. I also think that my PLF sessions helped a lot. If you take a plf session and did not find it that helpful, you can also try to the step up sessions that are held.

[Deivy Gonzalez 3H]

I would just go on the syllabus and figure out what are the main topics for the class. Look them up and watch different review videos on those concepts.

[Krikor_Kevranian_1F]

I would say that looking at youtube videos or channels will greatly help. I know that I used to watch videos on subjects learned in 14A to have a deeper understanding of what was going on. As well as if I was confused about something that I could watch a video on quickly. I would suggest "Ninja Nerd" and "The Organic Chemistry Tutor" for the best content review.

[Leily Garcia 1C]

Hi! Yeah, I’m also having the same problem with 14B and struggled even with 14A. Honestly, best you can do is watch YouTube videos (that’s how I mostly figured out stuff) and ask your classmates. Most of the ones I’ve met are even friendly enough to tutor outside of class. Best of luck!

[005517427]

I know that the step up sessions are very helpful as well as the videos on Lavelle's website!

[305568482]

I am rusty as well, how are you doing with the relearning and memorization of concepts?

[Sydney_Hoang_Dis1B]

I remember there was something in high school about q = mcat, but I also remember something about q = -mcat. Whenever I try to search it up, only MCAT related posts come up? Can someone help me by elaborating on this or let me know if I'm making this up in my head? Thanks!

[Sara Dolmo 2J]

There are many videos on youtube that help with chemistry topics and they even give example questions!

[Linette Ocegueda 3D]

I am also very rusty, I haven't taken a chem class since my first quarter at UCLA, however I find that looking at the organic chemistry tutor on YouTube helps me learn better than the textbook. IM not a person that likes to read and I usually like hearing people explain concepts to me so I find that more useful. I also try to look online for practice problems.

[505801516]

I would say that doing as many practice problems as you can is the most helpful. Professor Lavelle posts textbook ones each week, and I've found these to be super useful! I would also say to watch ANY optional video/explanation he posts, they are always helpful. And when in doubt, go to the step-up sessions, office hours, and any other form of extra help that is offered. Lavelle, the TAs, and the LAs are all super helpful and willing to help you learn. You aren't supposed to know everything about chemistry yet, and Lavelle structures his class to be the most helpful in learning and starting from ground 0.

[Frankie Xu 2H]

As someone who did not do AP Chem or IB Chem, learning everything for scratch was very hard for me but I found it very helpful to attend the UA sessions and workshops as I had more practice with applying the concepts.

[Kirsten Yu 2K]

The Audio-Visual Focus-Topics are super helpful if you're feeling rusty. Don't worry, you're not the only one--I took 14a last fall, and before that, the last time I learned chemistry before that was my sophomore year of high school

[Marisol Meneses 2C]

I recommend Youtube videos! Looking up any topic you have trouble on. I also think study groups with people is really effective in learning the material. I would recommend doing practice problems the most as studies have shown that this is really effective in learning. Additionally, recall studying! Try to remember as much as you can on a piece of paper and then go back to the original material and see what you don't remember.

[Rhea Jain 2I]

Any professor for 14A assumes you have prior knowledge and will very very briefly review the basics, but not much, as they don't have much time to teach new material. Therefore, if you know you struggled or are rusty on high school chemistry material, I highly recommend using popular academic YouTube channels such as Crash Course or Organic Chemistry Tutor to teach you the foundational concepts in-depth. Also, attend UA and TA sessions, they're really helpful and doing a ton of practice problems will help solidify your knowledge.

[faith14B]

Hello! Here is what I would do!

I would first watch 2 youtube videos covering the topic. Then I would read the pages in the textbook. I would do the examples in the textbook. Then I would watch how to solve the type of problems from that topic on youtube. then I would go back to the textbook and try the problems and correct the answers!

[305925136]

I took Honors Chemistry 4 years ago, in high school, and my teacher was not very helpful, nor informative. My chemistry knowledge is very small, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips or advice. Thanks!

[Luke_Dreyer 2F]

Having taken AP Chemistry the modules do a really good job of going over each topic and the videos are great if you're looking for deeper explanations. Khan Academy also has a lot of practice problems if you're looking for more pratice or actual questions.

[Giselle Covarrubias 3B]

thank you everyone for the suggestions! I haven't taken chem since my sophomore year of high school. I find watching youtube videos to help and also Khan Academy !

[Isabelle Huerta 2I]

A program that I find really helpful is AAP (Academic Advancement Program). They have PLF sessions which are led by undergraduate students. They are free and very helpful tutoring sessions that happen twice a week. I highly recommend looking into this program if you haven't already.

[Sydney Kim 3L]

Hi! I took AP chemistry my junior year of high school. I would suggest reviewing old AP Chemistry notes as well as reviewing Khan Academy chemistry videos.

[Katie L 2I]

Hi! I also shared similar nervousness about my high school chem experience - I took AP chem junior year but it was all during COVID. I ended up taking CHEM 17 here my first quarter as a review and better foundation, and it was pretty good help for boosting my confidence. The modules from Professor Lavelle are also helpful.

[Katie L 2I]

On this topic, for those who have taken this class 14A (or even difficult chemistry classes before), how do you feel is the best method to learn chemistry? What aspect of this class do you feel was most helpful? (modules, reading the textbook, doing practice problems)?

[105907609]

I am having the same trouble and here is what I have found to help. Review slides before class so you do not have to spend time jotting super fast as Lavelle is talking. Attend the step up sessions and also read the textbook to freshen up! Starting from the beginning is very helpful.

[gabby_15]

It's also been a minute since I last took chemistry! I would say that being organized about all the material is very important. taking organized notes during lectures and on the book has always been helpful for me! Also, I would say to attend as many step up sessions as possible. In general, I would just say to keep on top of your studies and when you feel like you are unsure about a topic, go in for help and clarification!