<p>In terms of difficulty, are the the normal science and math classes that freshmen pre-med normally take different at Berkeley compared to at LA? Right now, I am taking Chem 1A and it is not that easy at all. However, Math 16A seems manageable. Chem 1A makes me sad and my friends at LA think that their Chem class is easy. Is it just Chem 1A here that asks you the hard conceptual questions on the tests or does it also happen in Chem classes at UCLA? Don't mean to whine but hearing how UCLA Chem class is easier makes me want to go there instead of Berkeley :( Life is so hard here and not a day passes without complaints and depression. Sometimes, I wonder if my Life would be easier if I had gone to UCLA. Anyone feel the same way?</p>
<p>you’d definitely see a lot less hobos </p>
<p>but how is anyone supposed to answer this question w/o having gone to each school?</p>
<p>I feel you on the UCLA thing; I still wish I would have gone somewhere like Cal Poly or something. Back to your main question, I’d imagine that there are marginal differences in difficulty between UCLA and Berkeley’s introductory chem class.</p>
<p>chem 1A can be hard if you haven’t taken AP chem. but if you have, it shouldn’t be extremely difficult.</p>
<p>A Chem 4A student would look at your original post and laugh at you.</p>
<p>Suck it up!</p>
<p>Steven:</p>
<p>I see from your earlier posts, that you took Calc AB in HS. Since Math 16A is a repeat of AB, it should be more than manageable.</p>
<p>If you did not take AP Chem in HS, you are behind the preparation curve, not only at Cal but you would at UCLA and SD as well. (The vast majority of your classmates are premeds and retaking Chem for the ‘easy’ A.) My D’s friend is a Regent’s at UCLA and busted her butt to pull down A’s in Chem (two A-, even tho she spent football Saturdays in the library) last year, even though she took AP Chem in HS (and score a 4). A friend’s kid is at SD (in the 7 year program, so he is brilliant) – and is also working hard to pull down an A-</p>