<p>I am currently picking classes for my Fall Semester at Cal. Based on what I've been hearing from current students and CalSo leaders, I am not sure about Chemistry. I am intended Pre-Med but have been hearing that CHEM 1A is brutal for those that don't have AP Chem experience, which i am one of them. The most I've taken was normal Chemistry as a Junior with a not so great teacher. I was also encouraged to enroll in CHEM P to prepare me for 1A. Would current students recommend me taking CHEM P and falling behind a semester or diving into CHEM 1A?</p>
<p>Chem P is stupid. Do not, under any circumstances, take it. Chem 1A is tough in the fall, but it forces you to acquire the critical thinking and study skills that are necessary to succeed in later courses. Also, if you wait, you’ll be behind in the Chem 1A/Chem 3A/Chem 3B/Bio 1A sequence. Most people like to have Bio 1A done by the end of their second year so they can start taking their cool science-y upper divs.</p>
<p>I agree with permissible.</p>