<p>I'm going to be a freshman in the fall and I'm currently debating taking Honors Chemistry or Organic. I took AP Chemistry my sophomore year in high school so I'm not too confident about my chemistry knowledge right now. Is there anyone that took organic chemistry as a freshman at Duke that can comment on this?</p>
<p>Wow, AP Chemistry as a sophomore? That’s incredible, I hope to do that too. I am a rising HS sophomore. But if you have forgotten much of the Chemistry you learned during sophomore year, I would definitely go for the Honors Chem. class. Organic Chemistry is complicated from what I hear and it delves deeper into that certain part of general chem. It also depends on what major you are headed towards. If you are going to major in Econ or English I think an Honors Chemistry course would suffice if a science course is part of the requirement for undergraduates. The title of the Honors Chem. course itself implies that this is going to be a rigorous, but general college chem. course. I would go for that. However, if you are headed towards a science major, go for Organic Chemistry. It is more difficult and will emphasize the critical thinking that is needed for your future scientific endeavors. At the end of the day, it depends on your major and how much you are willing to work. I cannot tell you which one is exactly more difficult at Duke, but Organic Chemistry seems to be more difficult of the two in general.</p>
<p>My S is a rising soph at Duke. He also took AP Chem as a sophomore in HS and had the same question as you. He ended up taking Chem first semester and Organic Chem second semester. I suggest you ask this question however on the Duke FB page for 2017. Good luck.</p>
<p>Unless you are a chemistry major, there is no point in taking honors chemistry. Imo, take it slow with a regular chemistry sequence or jump straight to orgo. </p>
<p>Freshmen only section of orgo (offered first semester only) has a special curve. If you want this higher curve, it is the only time to take it. However, it also harbors some of the most competitive pre-med students at Duke.</p>
<p>what did you get on ap chem? if you got a 4 you should be taking honors. otherwise go straight to orgo</p>