<p>Hi! I've just sent in my SIR and I will be going to UCLA in chemistry for undergrad. My friend, who is at UCLA as a chemistry major, recently told me that the major is very competitive but he's managed, sort-of. I am concerned a little bit and am looking at possibilities to change my major? </p>
<p>I am fairly intelligent (I'm definitely not a genius) with good study habits and I study well. I hope to go into pharmacy school or a graduate school for chemistry in the future. However, will me being a good studying student be enough? I'm fairly certain that if competition is cut-throat and really intense, I won't do well. Should I consider switching majors?</p>
<p>^someone asked a similar question on this page. </p>
<p>i think its more that the subject matter is difficult rather than the competition of the classes…the thing is, you will be taking your chem classes with engineers and biochem majors so you have to be on top of things. No will know for sure how you do until you get here, but if you study hard you can do well.</p>
<p>You’ll be taking 20A in the fall (general chemistry) so you’ll get an idea if you like the major then. Switching is painless and very easy should you want to switch major.</p>
<p>Oh, thank you! I think I will try it out first in the fall and see then. Switching majors into another science or something is not too difficult at UCLA then, should I find chemistry not my thing?</p>
<p>Yeah i have the same problem!
I received a 4 on the AP test and am planning on going into pharmacy as well.
I’m pretty intelligent (not genius) but i have no study skills at all!
I don’t know if i should being doing pre-pharmacy. Does UCLA have a pre-pharmacy?</p>
<p>From what I heard, pharmacy schools want to see you take chemistry 20/30 series, which is incidentally what the physical science majors require (chemistry, biochemistry majors). It may be easy to switch into the life sciences majors (biology, physiological sciences, neuroscience, psychobiology), but if you want to be on the pharmacy track, I highly recommend you stick with chemistry or even switch to biochemistry. It may be more challenging, but it will really test if you are interested in the subject material.</p>
<p>For example, in the last organic chemistry class of the lower division chemistry requirements, chemistry 30C does a lot of chemistry that’s involved in the manufacturing of drugs. I’ve seen (theoretically) how aspirin, lipitor, viagra, non-drowsy antihistamines are made. The chemistry 14 series, which is what the life sciences majors take, only go through the very basic organic chemistry and probably wouldn’t get as much in depth about these applications of organic chemistry in the health field.</p>
<p>As I said in the other thread, don’t worry about your existing study skills. Once you get in here, you will adapt and do well. Just don’t come in thinking you can slack off your first quarter and don’t take a crazy schedule and you will adjust to UCLA fine.</p>
<p>Welcome to UCLA chem! If you guys see this thread and want some advice about being pre-health (medical/pharmacy/optometry/dental school) or being a chem/biochem major, feel free to send me a private message with questions.</p>