<p>which one do you (former students) recommend?</p>
<p>(i mean CHEM 141 or CHEM 181)</p>
<p>CHEM 141 because CHEM 181 is a masochism party.</p>
<p>can u be more specific????
i got an email saying how wonderful 181 is- and it is an ''honors'' class</p>
<p>40s for pre-med, 80s for majors</p>
<p>yea but the email says that many 181 students are non-majors. and one should have a 'deep interest in physical sciences.' and i could say that i have' deep interest'
so what is your opinion?</p>
<p>If you're a pre-med with no intention of majoring in chemistry, still take 40s. If you think you want to be a chem major, whether or not you are pre-med, then take the 80s. If you just want to take physical science classes because you have a 'deep interest', then take the 80s series.</p>
<p>If you take the 80s, you can opt to take the 40s later, but it's more complicated because 181 is gen chem, 182 is orgo, 281 is orgo, and 282 is gen chem. In the 40s, 141 and 142 are gen chem, and 241 and 242 are orgo so depending on where you left the 80s series you might not be able to easily pick up the 40s from where you left off without waiting a semester. You can't really go from the 40s to the 80s series, unless you want to be a year behind and end up finishing 282 in your third year (which you don't).</p>
<p>about the opting out - many of my friends that were in 181 wanted to take 142 second semester because upperclassmen had said it was an option (some had even done so). They were told specifically that this wasn't allowed because they would be well ahead of 142 (181 essentially covers 141/142).</p>
<p>therefore, as others have pointed out, if you are pre-med take the 141/142 series and if you're looking at a chem major you may want to take the 180 series to get ahead.</p>
<p>but what if I want to do Biochemistry? Should I take CHEM181?
I have CHEM141 and CHEM142 credits already because I had a 5 on AP Chem test.
I'm also interested in the pre-med track.</p>
<p>I think typically most biochem majors take 181. However, the only pre-requisite to the biochem courses (Chem 441 and 442) is a year of organic chemistry, so it doesn't seem like they require the 80s series specifically. Plus, with either track you'll be taking biochem in your third year, unless you could start 241 (organic) now since you have the credit. However you need 2 gen chem labs (typically 141L and 142L) for medical school pre-reqs, and I'm not sure if the biochem labs would count towards that. Of course, if you decide later you don't want to do biochem and want to drop down to the 40s series later, the complications discussed before come up.</p>
<p>Here's some info that I found from the College of Arts and Sciences website:</p>
<p>Once you are in the CHEM 181,182/CHEM 281,282 sequence, you cannot then change to the CHEM 141,142/ CHEM 241,242 sequence after CHEM 182 because the subject matter is handled in an entirely different order. Changes may be made at the end of CHEM 141 or 181. Students who have done very well in CHEM 141 are encouraged to consider moving into the 80 sequence starting CHEM 182... (<a href="http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/newstudent/guide/depts/chemistry.html%5B/url%5D">http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/newstudent/guide/depts/chemistry.html</a>)</p>
<p>I've taken chemistry before, but I'm signed up for Chem 141. Is it really possible to switch to 80s series like the website says?</p>
<p>You would be missing out on the second part of gen chem that the 40s series offers, but if you've taken it in high school (particularly AP chem), then you probably won't miss much. 182 is organic chemistry, so you'll be starting an entirely different subject once you jump from 141 to 182 (orgo is very different from general chemistry).</p>
<p>The only thing is if you're pre-med, you're going to need to eventually take a 2nd semester of chem and chem lab, which you would fulfill with 282 (second year, second semester) if you stick with the 80s.</p>
<p>but seriously- how hard can chem 181 be? i mean the answers in tests are short essays, so atleast you can BS in them !!! :)</p>
<p>what is your opinion?</p>
<p>It depends on who is teaching. The material is definitely more advanced, but I guess there tends to be less of the harsh 'pre-med' curve you would find in 141. It looks like Harman is teaching 181 this year, and he is often said to be the best teacher in the chem department.</p>