Students struggle with classes all the time, especially premeds. Our topics are difficult and we usually take more credit hours than the normal college student due to all the classes required for science degrees and the prerequisites needed for medical school that don’t fall into our major. On top of that, medical schools like to see at least 16 credits per semester of school so they know you can handle multiple difficult classes at once. So there are probably two possible reasons you clicked on this particular blog post about the hardest premed classes…
- You are finishing up your gen eds or about to enter college as a premed wondering “what class should I freak out about?”
- You are struggling with one or more of your premed classes asking yourself if you are actually med school material.
First of all, there is no need to stress yourself out before you even start with any of the classes. Trust me, diving into anxiety mode won’t be beneficial in the slightest, and your mental health will thank you for just taking it one step at a time.
However, there are definitely some classes that get a bad reputation among premeds. Among the hardest premed classes, and the most hated, is organic chemistry. Not only do premeds complain about this class, it is ranked as the number 1 hardest class in college by many institutions.
But I will also dive into a few other collectively scorned classes and give you valuable tips on how you can get through them with more ease, so that they aren’t getting in the way of your med school dream.
This post is all about the hardest premed classes.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
List of Hardest Premed Classes
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is commonly referred to as a “weed-out” class for premeds, since so many people change their major when they get to this class. But why? What is so different about this class? Organic chemistry is the study of structures, reactions, and synthesis of carbon containing compounds. This is not something that has been included in previous classes. Most biology classes build on each other, but organic chemistry is the first of its kind so it can easily feel like starting from scratch.
Another difficult part about organic chemistry is the amount of information you need to learn. It is very content heavy, and unfortunately you have to understand one concept to understand the next. Therefore, understanding the big picture in this class is crucial so that you don’t get stuck along the way.
Another reason this course is often considered the hardest, is because most premeds don’t have an interest in chemistry. Stereotypically, we like biology and anatomy where we get to learn about human cells and diseases, not about the resonance structure of a random compound you might never see again, unless you are pursuing an MD/PhD.
So if organic chemistry is not one of those things that inherently excites you (I know that for most students it’s NOT), you will be glad when the test scores show all the hard work was worth it. This topic is not touched much after the MCAT is over, and patients will not be asking you how to synthesize benzene; however, it is still an important class and one you should try to get a good grade in.
5 Study Tips for Organic Chemistry
Studying organic chemistry does not work the same as for biochemistry or other courses. You can definitely do practice problems or use anki cards for definitions you don’t understand but analysis and understanding of the material is the way to succeed. You are probably thinking, “ok she just said a lot of things that aren’t going to work, so what will?”
Preparing through the textbooks
Read the chapter or topic before attending the lecture, and make sure to write down some key concepts. This is also a great opportunity to write down any questions you have about the chapter and ask them later if they are not already covered in the lecture.
Taking notes during lecture
Also make sure to take notes during the lecture – by balancing quality and quantity though. If the professor is drawing examples make sure to not only copy the illustration but write the explanation the professor gave while drawing on the whiteboard. Such details can be so valuable when you review your notes later on for practice.
On the other hand, making notes for every single comment the professor makes will leave you easily overwhelmed afterwards. Anything you find particularly hard to understand? Something the professor stresses over and over again? Perfect examples of important notes!
Practice problems from the textbook
If possible, try to do the practice problems from the textbook on the same day that you sat through the associated lecture. The first time you do these problems for each chapter, you will probably get some wrong but don’t worry. Read the textbook’s explanation of the right answers and make sure you understand why you got something wrong. If you don’t understand why a question is wrong, go to office hours. Then in the next 1-2 days after revisiting your notes, try those practice problems again and celebrate any improvements (or find out which topics to tackle in more depth).
Not sticking? Reach for additional chemistry resources
No matter how many practice problems you do, sometimes a concept is still hard to grasp and your professor may not be making sense either. So now what do you do? Go for some other resources out there to hear a new explanation and get a different perspective on how to approach a problem. For example, watch videos from The Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube that relate to your personal questions.
When we don’t understand a topic, we are quick to blame. Sometimes we blame ourselves, other times we blame the professor. However, most of the time no one is to blame. The way you reason through problems might not be the same way your professor is explaining them. The Organic Chemistry Tutor videos are made for this scenario and are a great free resource.
Turn organic chemistry into visuals
If you are a visual learner, finding ways to better understand organic chemistry can be tricky at first, since a bunch of lines on a page doesn’t always make sense because you can not visualize it. To remedy that, you can purchase a physical organic chemistry model kit from your university bookstore or online.
There is also a free option though! You can go to the website MolView, enter compounds from your lecture or homework and it will show you a 3D animation of the compound. This website allows you to rotate the molecule and color code specific bonds. It is a great resource to better visualize compounds.
Are there any other difficult premed classes?
Of course! While everyone has their own set of “hardest premed classes” there are some other courses that collectively challenge premed students, and for good reason. General chemistry, physics, and biochemistry can also be quite difficult, so let’s dive into them!
General Chemistry
This is usually the first chemistry class you will take in college. This can be a jarring transition because you have only had high school chemistry and it was probably a couple years prior. General chemistry lectures usually have hundreds of students in them so it can be difficult to ask questions in class or talk to your professor after. It is also very math-heavy and that may be good or bad depending on your own personal strengths.
The best way to succeed in this class is to complete practice problems as much as possible. You can use textbook problems or look up some on google (there are a lot of free websites out there for gen chem). This is also a great class to study in groups if you have friends in the class.
Physics
Physics is also a very math-heavy course. Most universities offer two different types of physics for premeds: Algebra-based or calculus-based. If you are very good at calculus and don’t find it boring, I would recommend taking the calculus-based because you can actually skip a lot of steps when solving problems by just taking a simple derivative (If you don’t know what I am talking about, you will learn it in the first week of calculus!). If you can’t stand calculus, there is no issue with taking the algebra-based course. Choose the one that you personally feel most comfortable with because this will provide you with the best grade possible (and give you a much easier ride).
Practice problems are definitely important for performing well in physics. But if you truly want to boost your physics skills, getting a tutor might be the most effective choice for this course. Whether this is a free tutor through your university or a friend who has already taken the course and feels very confident with the material, one-on-one instruction with someone who has a different approach than your professor can be extremely helpful.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry at universities is broken up into many different categories. No matter which one you take, it will be sufficient for medical school purposes. Not only is this class important for prerequisite and GPA purposes, it is also very important for the MCAT.
There are many different facets going on in just one lesson of biochemistry which is why this is part of the hardest premed classes. Biochemistry is going to take a lot of self discipline to make sure you study every part until you can get it right, but it is fantastic preparation for the MCAT as well as upcoming medical school.
The best way to succeed in this course is repetition.
- Write the pathways over and over until it is ingrained into your brain
- Define each enzyme’s mechanisms through anki cards
- Make sure you don’t forget to count electrons when you are figuring out the products of a reaction.
Since I am a very visual learner, I absolutely loved to use my own Biochem Quiz Sheets to memorize pathways. You can enter your info below and download them for FREE to learn them 10x easier:
How can I perform well in the hardest premed classes?
Getting a tutor
I highly recommend getting a free tutor at your university if you are struggling with any classes, especially organic chemistry. With that being said, sometimes tutors have full schedules. Or your work/extracurriculars conflict with the times available so it is not always an option.
Making use of office hours
If you do not understand how to do the assigned homework or got a question wrong on a quiz and don’t know what step you missed, ask your professor during assigned office hours. These office hours are usually listed in the syllabus and held once to twice a week. The professors dedicate this time away from classes, research, meetings, seminars, and all other responsibilities they have to help students. Take advantage of that time because you get one-on-one instructions with unlimited questions!
Experimenting with materials and study methods
Lectures and textbooks are a good foundation. But sometimes that is not enough to fully grasp difficult concepts for the hardest premed classes. Since everyone is different in what kind of study methods and materials work best for them, experiment a bit to find your own study strategies.
- You could find some fantastic YouTube channels that better explain and visualize physics equations.
- Reading explanations out loud might be the thing to help you to better remember them.
- Trying to explain concepts to your peers could give you a clearer picture of where you still have any knowledge gaps.
- You could rewrite the citric acid cycle for biochemistry until you don’t make any mistakes.
- When studying anatomy, you can use flashcards to memorize the muscles of the body.
I personally love to get in front of my whiteboard and draw out concepts that just don’t stick as well. This was me drawing out the brachial plexus for anatomy which has been a harder subject for me!
There are lots of different methods to make this easier for you, find what works best for you!
Creating smart study habits
It’s great if you can jot down a good amount of study hours each day. But are you also distracting yourself with your phone? Are you passively reading the textbook without a true grasp of the content? Creating productive study habits can save you a lot of time while also improving your focus and understanding. If you implement such strategies now, you can already pave the way for a much easier time as a premed. Also, prepare you for all the other courses and exams about to come in medical school. This could mean…
- Putting your phone into a different room when studying
- Keeping your desk super tidy to avoid distractions
- Using the Pomodoro technique for better focus
- Study in the times of the day when you can concentrate the best
Can I still make it into medical school?
I am sure every premed has experienced a class and thought maybe medical school is not for me if I can’t even get through this undergrad class. Well let me give you a piece of advice…
Yes, your grades are important.
Yes, performing well increases your chances of acceptance.
No, having a hard time with some classes does NOT mean you are not med school material.
Nor do you need the perfect stats to get into medical school and become a successful medical student. I personally had 5 Cs in undergrad (one of them was general chemistry). I still got accepted to 10 medical schools and can now call myself a 4th year medical student.
Don’t get me wrong. Your grades still matter since performing well in the required classes shows yourself (and the admissions committee) that you are able to handle medical school. Also, with a higher GPA you will be able to apply to a wider variety of schools. This will also boost your chances of acceptance and can balance out any weaknesses in other areas of your application.
Apart from your grades, keep in mind that a lot of the required classes are also going to prepare you for the upcoming MCAT exam. So giving it your best and studying well now can make that step of your med school journey a lot easier.
But your stats are not everything. It’s not unusual to struggle with some of the hardest premed classes and still do well in medical school! If you want to know the exact strategies I used to get accepted to 10 medical schools despite a 3.3 GPA, in Road to Acceptance I will guide you through each and every step in the application process and how you can maximize your chances!
Final thoughts about the hardest premed classes
There is no need to stress yourself about any of the hard classes as a premed. Use this as a powerful opportunity to enhance your study skills and learn how to grasp difficult concepts. You will definitely come out as a stronger, more skilled premed student. You will thank yourself for the extra effort once you are starting your first year of medical school with confidence and ease.
So keep studying, keep going to office hours, and do the best you can. Everyone is going to experience a class they struggle with. Just remember you are not alone! You are doing this to best prepare yourself for your dream career in medicine.
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