The sophomore organic chemistry sequence (Organic I and II) has a reputation: one that has prospective students worried. Their anxiety is well-founded, given estimates of the national success rate (defined as a grade of “C” or better) of 50–75%. In an attempt to improve both student success and student opinions about chemistry, we implemented a one-week “boot camp” (preparatory) course that we called Preparing for Organic Chemistry. This course reviewed the concepts of general chemistry required for success in Organic Chemistry I and II. We found improvements in student opinion of Organic Chemistry I (both before starting and after taking the course). Further, we have found that the boot camp had a measurable and statistically significant impact on student success rates.