<p>I am currently a sophomore majoring in Biology with an emphasis on Environmental Science and I am wondering whether to double major in Chemistry. For the Environ. Science portion, I'm actually leaning more towards Soil Science.
I'll be honest with you, I got only did slightly above average in my H.S. chemistry class, and unfortunately I was discouraged further by a professor my freshman year of college. Fortunately though, a different - and thankfully AWESOME - professor this year has re-sparked my interest in Chemistry. While I am not as passionate as some (on this forum, anyway) about the subject, I find it incredibly interesting and look forward to further chemistry classes. But one of my bigger problems is that I'm not terribly fond of lab. It's not the hands-on experience that I dislike, it's really the math involved. I can only manage a easy/medium level of stoichiometry for some reason. So, basically, my brain can handle chemistry theory, but it just becomes muddled and confused when presented with a math problem.
My questions to you are these:
- Do you think it's worth it to double major in Chemistry? (I would obviously be aiming for a job in something to do with Environmental Chemistry.)
- If you think it might be worth it to at least try some more advanced Chem. classes, is there any level of math that would help me out with the stoichiometry? (ex: Calculus?)</p>
<p>Any general advice is welcome and most appreciated! :)</p>
<p>as a bio major, youre going to have to take general chem and o chem anyway. after that, see how interested you are in the extra major. also consider what classes you would need to fill the chem elective and how much you care for them (probably physical chemistry + inorganic chemistry) and the various electives. check some of the classes in the civil/environ engr department, they probably have classes on various environmental topics (soil, water treatment, etc). those classes are relevant and might be able to count for the chem major.</p>
<p>if you don’t really like the math in chem, you might want to reconsider. the math will just keep adding up as you go further into upper divs–physical chem especially.</p>
<p>i don’t think calculus helps at all with stoich. it’s really a matter of practice. i’ve managed to get stoich and dimensional analysis down to a science for myself–i just keep putting in terms and cancelling units until i get the units i want. try getting a workbook or finding problems online and practicing.</p>
<p>stoich and dimensional analysis are more high school algebra- if you want to major in chem it really should be simple for you.</p>
<p>and about calculus/pchem- even if you HATE math, you can still do a fine job in chemistry. there are plenty of people who hate pchem (quantum and stat mech and thermo) and calc yet still have phds in chem- they’re called organic chemist and biochemist. a lot of the great organic chemist ive met all got Cs in pchem, actually. </p>
<p>that being said- the math that those organic chemist and what not do end up doing are the stoich and what not-type math.</p>
<p>I’d recommend thinking about a second major in geology instead of chemistry.</p>
<p>Also, stoichiometry isn’t inherently difficult, so if you’re puzzled by it, that means you have a misunderstanding somewhere. A good tutor can clear that up in a couple hours, and then the problem is gone forever.</p>
<p>Thank you all very much!!!
I have decided to wait until I take Organic Chem. next year, then go from there. I’m willing to stay in an extra year or two for a double major if needed. And spdf, I think you may be right; a tutor may be just the thing I need right now. Thanks! :)</p>
