<p>Hey! I was admitted into the CAS and I’m majoring in Chemistry. How is the chemistry program and profs at BU for anyone who’s currently in it/ know about it? I went to the open house and to be honest I’m kind of unsure of how good the program is because the prof who talked to us didn’t seem very convincing (I know he’s not the only prof there but first impressions really leave an impact on me)…Right now I’m deciding between BU and Northeastern and it’s a tough choice cause I love everything about BU, but Northeastern’s chem program seems better…I just don’t want to regret choosing BU over Northeastern, you know? So I was just wondering if anyone here could tell me about the program. Thanks! 
Btw anyone else here a chem major also? :D</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the inner workings of the program, but I know that it’s well-regarded for graduate school and that the number of professors about equals the number of undergrads - meaning it’s a small undergrad program with a larger grad program and thus you have a lot of interaction and research opportunity. BU has a ton of research facilities and a lot of work is done there. Undergrads are brought into faculty research through something called UROP - typical unsexy BU acronym - and specific courses, even for freshman, in research. The department actually has a decent website and [url=<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/chemistry/undergrad/research/index.html]here[/url”>http://www.bu.edu/chemistry/undergrad/research/index.html]here[/url</a>] is the main page for undergrad research.</p>
<p>All chemistry departments will offer the same basics for education - and you can look up the standard course list for each school and check. I don’t think there should be a ton of difference between any reputable department anywhere in the US because the basics are the basics. If there are differences, it would likely be in how a school integrates research and then whether they have some special program. BU has the Photonics Center, which is special, but I don’t know if that’s in your interest or not. I’m sure that Northeastern offers research opportunities but I think they don’t integrate it into the curriculum nearly as much. At BU, they have weekly seminars for undergrads to learn about faculty research. </p>
<p>Added: to check these facts, I just looked up the wording and found this: “Starting in the Fall, the Department holds Monday evening seminars for undergraduates to introduce them to faculty research interests and to cultivate undergraduate/faculty interaction. These seminars cover topics such as identifying and addressing worthwhile questions, planning experiments, locating information sources, oral and written communication, ethics, intellectual property, and career prospects. Students who participate in research receive personal attention from their faculty advisers and have excellent opportunities for undertaking senior projects and honors theses.”</p>
<p>If you are a chem major, you will probably take CH111/112 1st year, which is what I’m taking right now. Professor Straub, who taught 1st semester, was great and I thought it was a pretty great class. A lot of the labs and stuff we do are pretty interesting as well, I thought at least. CH101, for non-chem majors, from what I hear from people, is horrendous. So, yeah from what I know/have heard the upper level chem courses and higher level intro courses are excellent, lower level, not so much.</p>
<p>Are intro chem classes anywhere much fun? Those are the ones filled with pre-meds. You can place out of 101 & 102 - and get 8 full credits - with a 4 or a 5 on the AP. That’s a lot of credits.</p>
<p>Lergnom, thanks a lot for the info! They talked about research opportunities too at the open house and it does seem like it’s pretty strong. Northeastern has research opportunities too, but it sounds like BU’s might be better and I’m really interested in their UROP. Oh what’s the Photonic Center? I haven’t heard that one before but it sounds interesting! Just wondering Lergnom, did you go to BU? 'cause you seem to know a lot about it lol.</p>
<p>johnstoops, CH101 is General Chemistry right? I’m taking that right now as a senior and I’m taking the AP exam in a few weeks. I feel like I’ll probably get a 3/4 on the exam lol but even if I get a 4/5 I think I might take it again. It was definitely one of the hardest (if not the hardest) classes I’ve taken. Yeah I’ve also heard that higher level classes tend to be better. Do you know if they incorporate Medicinal Chemistry into any of the upper level courses or is that usually only for grad school? </p>
<p>Thanks for the help guys! I’m leaning more towards BU right now. :)</p>
<p>I’d recommend taking it again also. I got a 4 on my ap chem exam and well…, ap is nothing compared to the actual college class. Luckily for me, I’m a business major so I didn’t have to decide but I know for sure that if I moved onto orgo, I would’ve been totally unprepared. There might be a chem course where they allow you to review everything from chem 101 and 102 rather than totally retaking the courses (not sure) which would be right down your alley. I know they have one for calculus.</p>
<p>Photonics is the study of light. If you google Photonics Center at BU, you’ll find the website. Photonics crosses disciplines, from biomed to chemistry to physics. The center is a major research facility. It’s right in the center of campus, but facing out on the turnpike.</p>
<p>You should take at least CH 109/110 if not 111/112 you get a 3/4 on the AP test. It is still intro chem but for people who have a decent background in chem (but not as much of a background as people in CH 111/112) already, especially if you’re majoring in chem. I have no idea about upper level medicinal chem classes.</p>