Terrified of Organic Chemistry on the MCAT? Most students bring their undergrad trauma into MCAT prep, memorizing endless mechanisms and drowning in arrow pushing. That’s the wrong approach.
In this episode, Molly and Mike reframe OChem for the MCAT: small footprint, high-yield focus, and strategy over memorization. You’ll learn why OChem is only 10–12 questions, how to master stereochemistry, functional groups, and core reactions, and how to avoid overstudying. We’ll also cover spectroscopy, chromatography, and the most common mistakes students make.
⏱️ Timestamps
02:09 – How Much OChem Really Appears (10–12 Questions)
05:20 – OChem Isn’t All Mechanisms (Reality Check)
08:36 – High-Yield Topic #1: Stereochemistry
13:30 – High-Yield Topic #2: Nucleophiles & Electrophiles
18:23 – Why You Shouldn’t Memorize Mechanisms
19:35 – High-Yield Topic #3: Functional Groups
23:30 – High-Yield Topic #4: SN1 vs. SN2
25:40 – High-Yield Topic #5: Redox in Organic Chemistry
30:40 – Why Functional Groups vs. Reaction Memorization
33:19 – High-Yield Topic #6: Spectroscopy & Chromatography
41:05 – How OChem Shows Up in Passages
50:30 – Key OChem Study Tips & Pitfalls to Avoid
55:10 – Connections Across Subjects (Bio + Biochem)
57:43 – Final Takeaways: OChem is Only Scary if You Over-Memorize
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