Chemistry Major at Harvard

<p>I loved AP Chem and I am seriously thinking about majoring in Chemistry. I plan to go to medical school and, even though most people major in Biology, I really do not like the amount of memorizing one needs to do for Biology and I dont think it will be useful. </p>

<p>How hard is a Chemistry major at Harvard? I am also very interested in Business/Politics so I might pursue a minor in something like economics. How useful will a degree in Chemistry and minor in economics be if I decide not to go to medical school. Will I be able to get jobs in I-Banking etc since chemistry provides the analytical thinking skills and econ provides understanding of the market etc.? Any advice will be helpful.</p>

<p>I’d assume its challenging. And yes, you will get jobs. Now just get into Harvard lol</p>

<p>^ The OP claims to have already been accepted.</p>

<p>^OP was accepted, check out their other thread about their emotions/feeling of being accepted. congrats! But I would say that chem would probably be difficult, just as any other science major would be at a school like Harvard.</p>

<p>Chem is tough… lots of time in the lab as you get into the higher level courses. There are a few concentration options that look at chem in the context of life sciences (and may be a bit easier) - check out Molecular & Chemical Biology (MCB) and Chemical and Physical Biology. Neurobio also involves a lot of chem.</p>

<p>[Life</a> Sciences](<a href=“http://lifescience.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k5526&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup13007]Life”>http://lifescience.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k5526&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup13007)</p>

<p>^So Chemical and Physical Biology might be an easier major?</p>

<p>I want to do something that can be useful as well if I decide to change my mind and go into something besides medicine.</p>

<p>I took 4 semesters of chemistry at Harvard. I was a non-chem concentrator, but even with having done AP beforehand, these classes were hard. Not undoable, but requiring a lot of time in study groups, getting additional help, doing problems, and so on. The 4th semester class (Chem 27 or 30) requires a 5-hour lab each week, plus time for write-up. But then, most science classes at Harvard are challenging. </p>

<p>If you like chemistry, though, go for it! Though these were some of the hardest classes I took, I was still glad I took them because the material is interesting. Congratulations on your admission! Jobs in consulting, i-banking, and other fields will be readily available if you concentrate in any science/math field, as well as many others.</p>

<p>The student handbook does a great job outlining requirements for the concentration. See here: [Chemistry[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Also, for specific course descriptions and material covered, check out the catalog: [url=<a href=“http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/fasro/courses/index.jsp]Harvard”>http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/fasro/courses/index.jsp]Harvard</a> University FAS Registrar’s Office: 2009-2010 FAS Courses of Instruction](<a href=“http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/chapter3/chemistry.html]Chemistry[/url”>http://webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/chapter3/chemistry.html)</p>