<p>So I'm a current undergraduate student here majoring in Chemistry, and am pretty well versed in the WashU Pre-med/sciences. Just wanted to know that I'm here to answer all your questions! I am also hired through the Chemistry Department to help current undergrads who are placed into the extended recitations for Gen Chem I and II, so I know how classes at WashU work (haven't gotten a B yet :p). I am also fairly active on campus -- so if you have any questions, let me know! I hopefully will be able to answer them for you, and if not, I should be able to direct you to someone who may know the answer.</p>
<p>D is at the FSAP program now and just completed her fall schedule with her advisor.</p>
<p>She has Chem111 with Loomis and lab with Mao. What can you share about these profs and the expected workload/classtime for these two courses? She did NOT have AP chem in hs, so she is a bit anxious about it.</p>
<p>Poskashflo:
-I honestly believe Loomis is one of the best professors at WashU – it’s hard to get 300+ kids to focus on chemistry in the morning, yet he’s capable of doing so. Gen Chem at WashU is standardized, such that no matter which professor you have (I think Mabbs is teaching it too, or is it Buhro?) you will have the same homework (Problem Sets) and exams. Chem 111 is much more of applying concepts learned in class to different scenarios - I know kids who didn’t study and aced it (as well as kids who had to work very hard for a below-average grade.) I would think that the vast majority of the students are unfamiliar with the material, at least the more advanced topics, therefore not taking AP Chem will not put you in an disadvantage. As far as my advice for the course, I would say to take the quizzes seriously! Quizzes are usually given weekly during recitation and can replace your lowest test score at the end of the semester (nevertheless, they are still normalized – so don’t think that a 100% on quizzes will give you a 100% exam score.) The quizzes provide an opportunity for the students to learn the material as the course progresses, as opposed to cramming before tests. Mao is the lecturer for General Chemistry Lab - which consists of 4 hour lab section in which ALL work is done (barring one or two take-home lab write-ups) not including the Pre-Lab assignment. There is also a midterm and final, and the class is not curved (85%-89.9% is an A-, 90%+ A) The class is not too terribly difficult, although it does get monotonous after sometime. </p>
<p>Jinxed:
If you are in the engineering school, a 5 on AP chemistry allows you to skip GenChem I and II and receive credit for it. If you are not in the engineering school, a 5 on AP chemistry gives you chemistry elective credit (Chem 103 and 104 – non-existent classes, btw,) and you must take Gen Chem I and II. You MUST take the diagnostic exam in order to be eligible for Peer-Led Team-Learning (study groups) and extended recitation (recitation lead by a instructor/lecturer in the course as opposed to a grad student – made especially for those who do not do well on the diagnostic,) as well as the CHemistry Peer Mentor service available for students who do not perform well on the diagnostic exam. The exam has NO bearing on your Chem 111A grade.</p>
<p>To add to TheIndependent: regarding chem lab, it’s very easy to get an A (A-, A, or A+) in 151. Much more difficult in 152. However, for both I’d argue it’s near impossible to get below a B- (I went into the 152 final with the possibility of getting a 0 on the final and still having a B). Mind you, you do have to do your work.</p>
<p>Also, I completely agree that Loomis is INCREDIBLE. That is all.</p>
<p>ya Mabbs is the other teacher for the fall - i’m going to be in his section, since “Intro to Quantum 1” overlaps with Loomis’s section. Haven’t really heard anything (one way or the other) about Mabbs, although I’ve definitely heard good stuff about Dr. Loomis.</p>
<p>I’m a pre-med BME, and I got a 5 on the AP Chemistry test. Should I skip Gen Chem? I’m afraid of getting killed in Organic Chemistry without a really solid background in general chemistry (at our high school, we didn’t actually do about half the requisite labs…).</p>
<p>If you’re pre-med, you might want to take gen chem since there are med schools that don’t count AP chem as part of the required full year of chemistry.</p>
<p>Actually, I have no idea what schools those are since I’m not pre-med, but that was the reason all of my pre-med friends had for taking chem even though they got a 5 on the ap (and were engineering).</p>
<p>not at all! A key component of doing well is effective time management. That, and also pursuing something you are passionate about. Last year, I was part of a traveling team at WashU, and earned a couple exec board positions the latter half of the year (by being an active and enthusiastic member of those clubs), I tutored at a local middle school, and researched in a lab. I really think that people build up GenChem 111/112 more than they actually are. But back to time management, I usually spent 1-3 hours ~5days a week studying at the library (more if there was a chem/bio exam that week) because I found that I am immensely more efficient at the library (no distractions, for me at least.) That being said, there are students here who spend all their time studying – so it’s truly your preference. I couldn’t study for that long even if I wanted to. Let me know if that doesn’t clarify what you were asking!</p>
<p>How are the research opportunities at WashU?
and
I got some “undergraduate viewbook” from WashU like a month ago, now that I’m looking at it I realize it has a 2010 Pre-Application Data Sheet/Supplement. It encourages me to send it in as soon as possible so they can start my file. Do you have any idea what this is about or for?</p>
<p>^It’s just a form you fill out as part of your application. You can even fill it out online.
If you use the commonapp, they’ll send you to fill it out as well.</p>
<p>You should remember that even if the engineering school allows you to skip general chemistry by using your AP score, the chemistry department will not allow you to skip general chemistry and take organic chemistry without passing their placement test (which is quite difficult). Because of this, many people end up taking organic chemistry at another university over the summer, so as to circumvent WashU’s chemistry department (however, you should keep in mind that taking organic chemistry during the summer will reflect negatively on your medical school application).</p>
<p>Hi–
Son, a high school junior, is interested in chemistry, ChemE (and maybe med or law school ultimately). What about Wash U for him? He will be strong applicant, I think.</p>
<p>To answer a question asked by rk33, the only reason I would think about filling out the pre-app as soon as possible might be to show interest, that’s what I did last year. I don’t think it makes a huge difference, but every bit counts.</p>
<p>WashUChemistry: D received email titled “Chem 111A: Description of Recitation Types”. It lists 3 formats:
Recitation (classic), Sections A-E, 1 hour
Inquiry-Based, Group Problem-Solving Recitation, Sections F,G,T, 1.5 hour
Extended Recitations, Sections H,U, 1.5 hour</p>
<p>We realize that the Extended Recitation is by invitation only - based on results of diagnostic exam and chemistry background, but can you explain what the differences are between the Extended (#3), and the Inquiry-Based (#2) Recitations. Are problem sets handled differently? How do the recitations differ once the quiz is taken? Any insight would be appreciated.</p>