General Chemistry + Calculus

<p>I will be a freshmen in this fall. I am planning to work on premed program. I know premed program require calculus, physics, chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry.</p>

<p>Q1) Peope say that general chem is very hard at Washu and I like to know how challenging the course is. I took AP Chem and got 5.</p>

<p>Q2) Another question is that everybody should take the Chem classes no matter how good score they got from AP Chem. If I take the chem classes, does my AP chem credit get forfeited? </p>

<p>Q3) I heard that WashU students are very collaborative rather than competitive. That is good! I still like to know how challenging the premed program is. I hope I can manage the challenges ahead of me. But I am a bit scared.</p>

<p>Q4) I took AP Calc Bc and got 5. But I am planning to take Calculus II instead of III
hoping it is a bit easier. Is it a good idea? Does Premed require two math classes?
or If I finish up to Claculus II skipping Calculus I, am I done with math?</p>

<p>Please make me feel better!! Thank you in advance. I'd appreciate your answers.</p>

<p>Fist semester Chem has nothing to do with AP. second semester will be a but easier though.</p>

<p>Yes, you should take chem - AP will still give credit (I believe).</p>

<p>It’s challenging - takes effort to get an A.</p>

<p>No reason not to take calc III, if anything it may be easier than Calc II.</p>

<p>To expound upon RyanMK’s answers:</p>

<p>The AP credit you get for Chem will be elective if anything - you cannot get Chem 111/151/112/152 waived unless you are in the engineering school, and even then they still suggest pre-meds take it.</p>

<p>

Whatever you do, do NOT take Calc II. It’s taught by Shapiro, and he is terrible. Seriously. Calc III in general is much easier than II - you got a 5, clearly demonstrating you know the material. Just take III.</p>

<p>Also, depending on your major, you may be required to take up to DiffEQ… may as well get to that point earlier. What is your intended major anyway (if you have any idea)?</p>

<p>On a happy note, congrats on getting in & choosing to come here! I’m sure you’ll love it.</p>

<p>If I take CalcIII, do I have to take amother math to complete math requirement for premed? I am planning to major in either Psychology or biology.</p>

<p>^ I don’t know enough about med school admissions to know how they handle AP credit for calc (as I’ve never even considered being pre-med)… however, I do believe /most/ bio majors are required to take stats (math 2200/3200), and psych majors are required to take psych stats. So your question doesn’t really matter.</p>

<p>To satisfy one of the bio major req’s, you can elect to take P-Chem (I think the alternative is inorganic chem?) in addition to Gen Chem & Orgo. Of note, Calc III is a pre-req for taking P-Chem.</p>

<p>But seriously… calc III is typically one of the easier (lower level) math classes at WashU. Don’t be afraid of it.</p>

<p>For what it’s worth, I didn’t think Shapiro was a bad professor. He’s very dry and his lectures are boring, but he explains the material in a way that makes it easy to understand. But yeah, you should take Calc III if you got a 5 on BC.</p>

<p>Thanks you very much for the answers. If anyone gives more opinion or insights about the questions, I’d appreciate it so much.</p>

<p>Basically General Chem at wustl is quite similar to AP Chem, but first semester is a ton of MO theory which techincally is in AP chem but most people seem to have never seen it before they get to WUSTL. The curve is a bit more difficult than AP Chem tho, a 75% will net you an A</p>