Hey everyone! I’m an incoming Pratt freshman and I was wondering how Duke’s introductory chemistry course compares to AP Chemistry. I received a 5 on AP Chem with an 800 on the subject test, so I already have credit for CHEM 21, but I want to make sure I won’t suffer because I skip the intro course. Has anyone taken AP Chem and CHEM 21? If so, how did the courses compare? Also, if anyone here has taken Organic, how was it? I want to make sure I don’t crash and burn as soon as I arrive at Duke, because I already plan on taking Linear Algebra and Problem Solving Seminar along with a few other challenging courses my first semester here.
Any input is appreciated! Thanks 
bump
I did an overnight in which my host and the majoity of her friends took Organic Chemistry with their AP credit. You should just take Organic, because a lot of them do. I think you should be fine.
If you can skip science/math courses at Duke, DO IT! It’s almost always way harder at Duke than it was in high school, so if you’re going to have to take organic anyways, might as well skip right into it. Having said that, organic first semester will not be easy as you’ll be with other very highly motivated/achieving students (and orgo is just hard…), so it’s certainly not an “easy” route, but that’s the route I’d recommend. Similarly, absolutely skip the calc courses at Duke if you can do so – they are much much harder at Duke than high school. I got a 5 on AP Chem but had no plans to take orgo, so took “accelerated general chem” which is the two semesters in one deal (not sure if they still do that or what) as I needed to take chemistry to fulfill Pratt requirements. The majority of people in that class had AP credit.
@bluedog wait, I got a 5 on chem too. I thought we technically didn’t have to take chemistry because we got credit for the class?
@lhw1998 - things may have changed since I graduated, but at the time, the engineering curriculum required 2 semesters of chemistry. AP Chem gave me credit for 1 semester, so I had to take another. Given I wasn’t premed and didn’t need orgo, I opted for “accelerated general chemistry” to fulfill that requirement (but could have done orgo had I chosen to do so). Consult the undergraduate handbook for your desired major off the web page to see current curriculum requirements.
Also, you can choose to take NO chemistry course first semester if you think your schedule is already rough, and opt to take it second semester if you think that would lead to a smoother transition (you don’t want to crush yourself off the bat). There is no rule you have to take it immediately. Something else to consider…