not the mamaYou need a certain amount of knowledge and "mojo" as some people call it. I'm a few months from my Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry, so I deal with reactions and mechanisms all day. Two problem sessions a week, daily reading, two group meetings, etc. It's very tedious and you'll never be an amazing chemist, no offense, but if it helps don't consider myself amazing by any means either. Pat also went to grad school for the same awhile ago. I can't remember if he mastered out or just left, but I think he ended up in NJ, yes? Eventually settled with what he currently does, which is probably a bit more than one would realize. Just undergrad organic will not help with anything and steroid synthesis is kind of a niche corner of organic chemistry, most of it being developed through the 70s it seemed. Still some people do it, but not a ton... it's like carbohydrate chemistry. Kinda boring and old.This. It's not that glamorous as you may think it is. It's tedious and ridiculous, honestly. I've been effing around with the same system the past 2-3 years and I'm sick of it. I can't wait till it's over. It's mostly hard work and often repetitive.