How do I prepare for the upcoming Midterm Exam in Organic Chemistry 202, which is approaching in 10 days, while also maintaining a part-time data entry job that requires 20 hours of work per week?

Stop trying to memorize every single nucleophilic substitution mechanism from scratch and instead focus on mastering the underlying electronic principles that drive them, like nucleophile strength and steric hindrance. Since you’re already burning out with four to six hours of daily study while working twenty hours a week, you need to shift from passive reading to active, high-yield problem solving. Spend your limited study blocks drawing out the arrow-pushing mechanisms for the most common reaction types rather than re-reading your textbook chapters. This approach builds the muscle memory needed for Dr. Lee’s complex problems without requiring you to retain every minor exception. For instance, if you understand why a bulky base favors elimination over substitution, you can quickly deduce the outcome of similar reactions without rote memorization. You should also leverage your job schedule by using short commute times or breaks to review flashcards for reagent properties, which keeps the material fresh without draining your mental energy. Prioritize the reactions that appear most frequently in past exams or lecture summaries, as these will likely carry the most weight. By focusing on pattern recognition and core concepts, you’ll maximize your retention per hour spent studying. This strategy allows you to catch up efficiently while maintaining your sanity and job performance.