<p>Ok. So, I'm a home-schooled 15 year old, and I got to community college next year (fall of 2015) when I turn 16. I want to major in Chemistry, cause I want to be a doctor. But the problem is, in my second semester, I'll have to take Pre-Calc, and I'm only 3/4's done with my Algebra 1 book. I'm pretty good in Algebra except for the word problems though, so what books should I get to prepare for pre-calc, and what class should I take in my first semester to help with my pre-calc? And how hard is it being a Chemistry major? I have college chem book right now that I'm trying to read, and enough though I'm only on like page 12, it doesn't seem that hard. And what should I minor in to be a good candid for med school? Final question, what are some good classes that'll help you prepare for the MCAT's? </p>
<p>I’m not here to help, sorry. Just wanted to say I admire you for wanting to learn chemistry. If you were to shine a chemistry book in my face…<em>make crosses at it and pray in code shrieking and shying away in horror</em>. Yeah. </p>
<p>Hahaha, thanks anyway!</p>
<p>I’m a 4th year chemistry/biology double major. In my opinion, a major in biology would involve material more directly related to your aspirations. However, if you prefer chemistry, I would recommend at least taking anatomy and physiology as the MCAT questions about these topics tend to be more detailed than what introductory biology courses usually cover.</p>
<p>Usually the prerequisites for Precalculus in addition to Algebra I are Geometry and Algebra II (though you would probably get by without geometry knowledge, this would put you at a disadvantage when it’s time to take the SAT or ACT). You will have to keep taking math classes because there are a few classes that chemistry majors take that require some knowledge of multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations.</p>
<p>One more thing - the stuff in a general chemistry textbook isn’t quite what chemistry majors learn. Organic chemistry requires knowledge of some of the concepts learned in general chemistry but the actual subject itself requires a different way of thinking (it’s hard to explain unless you’ve taken the classes). Some of the topics in general chemistry won’t be expanded upon in future classes (as it’s assumed you’ve already learned it - an example would be stoichiometry). Other topics (such as the Bohr model) will be abandoned for more modern theories, and other subjects will be introduced that will be quite different from the stuff in general chemistry (such as coordination chemistry, molecular symmetry, and spectroscopy). It’s fascinating, but not exactly the best preparation for the MCAT.</p>