Chemistry Major.

<p>Anyone out there who's a chem major want to tell me what they like about and/or hate about it?</p>

<p>Hmm. I'd like to know this as well because I might be headed towards a Chemistry major if the college I end up going to does not offer pre-pharmacy.</p>

<p>yeah, I'm thinking about Chemical Engineering.</p>

<p>Good question, I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
Anyone?</p>

<p>I am working towards my future major of chemistry .I like to think I am good at chemistry but i have been struggling along.</p>

<p>Hi there,</p>

<p>I am a chem major. I just graduated last year and currently working in the pharm industry. </p>

<p>It's really an accident that I picked chemistry as a major. While I am in high school I used to hate chemistry. But surprisingly I done extremely well in general chemistry in my freshman year and with encouragement from the professor I decided to major in chemistry. Looking back right now, I'm not sure that's the best choice. </p>

<p>To be chem major you will need to take a lot of math classes. I took all of calculus series, differential equation class, and linear algebra as elective. The math in general chemistry is not that bad, it's mostly algebra and memorize some equations. While the organic chemistry sequence contain also no math, you just have to have very good memory and be able to memorize and understand the reaction mechanism/name/etc. </p>

<p>You will understand why you need to take all those math classes after you reach your junior year and start taking physical chemistry classes. Pchem are probably the hardest classes I ever took in my academic career. Many time while I am writing 6 pages answer to a solution I wondered should I kill myself for picking this major? But ultimately, it's all worth it. It is one of most interesting class in my major even though it's tough. </p>

<p>You will also need to take Inorganic and some instrumental analysis class to graduate.</p>

<p>Obviously, if you want to be a chem major you also need to spend a lot of time in lab. Lab can be fun but also dangerous. There too much dangerous substance that could harm you, but in general it shouldn't be a problem if you followed all the safety procedure If you don't like lab work, either change your career after you get your degree or change your major. If you like chemistry but don't like lab work you could alway get an chem engineering degree. It's one more year of school, but chem engineer is paid about 20k more.</p>

<p>Chem major is great if you want to go to professional school like medicine/pharmacy/etc. But if you want to work after you graduate, you should be aware that the pay in fairly low at low to mid 30k a year. And if you decide to pursue graduate degree, don't get a PhD, it's just not worth it. Master degree should be optimum. </p>

<p>OK anymore question?</p>

<p>i want to be a pharmacist? I have taken chemistry as my undergaduate major. What other minors or courses should i take?</p>

<p>Wow it seems like everyone wants to be pharmacist lol. I don't blame them. </p>

<p>OK first of all, I doubt the admission committee would care what did you major in as long as you have bachelor and met all the admission requirement.
You can go to PharmCAS website to glance at the requirement.</p>

<p><a href="http://pharmcas.org/collegesschools/directoryalphastate.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://pharmcas.org/collegesschools/directoryalphastate.htm&lt;/a> </p>

<p>A lot of school required statistics, economics, communication and etc. in addition to basic biology and chemistry courses. Check the individual school to get an feeling for it. </p>

<p>As for minor, pick something you like and enjoy. You don't want to become an "acadummy" do you?</p>

<p>If you have more question and want more information, you should head to Student Doctor website go to their pharmacy subforum. Make sure you have done extensive research before you commit yourselves to $120K and at ten years commitment. </p>

<p>In case anyone not clear, I'm not a pharmacist thought I want to be an one ;)</p>

<p>i'm a pharmacist hopeful too! i'm thinking of a biochemistry major though. i guess it wouldn't make any difference as long as prerequisites are done.</p>

<p>What I REALLY want to do is create (or be involved in the creation OF) a better fuel supply or nonharmful cleaning products. So Chemical Engineering? All the schools that I'm looking into only offer Chemistry, but after 2 years of college my parents will let me go out of state. So what colleges do you think would be good for that? OR would I be better off getting my 4yr in Chem. then going to Grad School for Chemical Engineering?</p>

<p>What are the general requirements for a masters in chemical engineering
if one has majored in regular chemistry in undergrad? I mean vs. doing
chem engineering in undergrad and then continuing on for a masters.</p>

<p>I'm a current Biochemistry major, I like it. Switched out of engineering, frankly, because engineering is too much math for me. I'm one of the few that actually enjoys chemistry, although it is a pain to go to lab six hours out of the week. If anything thats probably the worst part about it. I don't mind it as far as procedure goes...but just taking 3 hours to go there and get all the reports done kinda sucks. Another thing I hate is being in classes with all these pre-professionals. lol, especially pre-meds...very studious people, messing up my curve :) My post-undergrad interest lies in epidemiology</p>

<p>I think that Chemical Engineering grad programs prefer that you get a degree in Engineering, so I would recommend that you major in Chemical Engineering as an undergrad.</p>

<p>I agreed with ElectricTech. If you want to get an master in Chemical Engineering it's probably better off do your undergraduate in chemical engineering. </p>

<p>But I do remember talking to chemical engineering grad office they do accept "highly qualify" chemical major once a while, but I suspect it would be very hard. These two major are very different. For example, If want to get an chemical engineering bachelor degree it would probably take me another 2-3 years.</p>

<p>So, what can I do with a Masters in Chemistry? What jobs would I be given?
What do you think, Masters in Chemistry or Masters in Chemical Engineering?
I actually do like Labs and I REALLY want to be involved in the creation of new products. OH and Pay, on avg. what are each paid? If you can tell me? Thanks for all the info! :)</p>

<p>chemistry gives you pretty diverse routes. you can go into pharmaceutical areas or just plainly do research.. and like all other lab stuff. if nothing works out, you can still be a chemistry teacher right?</p>

<p>your lab instructor will never talk to your proff and they will expect entirely different things from you, unless they’re the same person… but even then it’s hit and miss. all and all it’s not bad though.</p>