<p>Hi all.... I've taken IB SL Chem these past two years and passed with a high enough score that would enable me to skip to Gen Chem 2 (I also passed AP Chem test). I decided not to, as I didn't want to overload my schedule (I'm taking Physics/Calc next semester).</p>
<p>How bad is Gen Chem 1 after having passed IB/AP Chem? Would it be worthwhile to review my notes?</p>
<p>Thanks All...</p>
<p>I took Chem 1 and 2 last semester without having taken chemistry since 10th grade, when I took it as an honors class (non-AP; you had to do honors before you could take it as AP). It wasn’t bad at all. There are a number of factors that determine whether you should take two sciences and a math your first semester. Here are a couple:</p>
<p>What is your SAT/ACT compared to your school’s mean SAT/ACT?
What other courses are you planning to take?
How would GenChem 1 fit into your schedule time-wise? Would you be losing one of two free evenings, or could you fit it into the day?
Are you in the school of engineering?</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone outside of people at your college can help you figure this out (although I think TuftsStudent makes some good points with his Qs).</p>
<p>For example, at Brown, the “gen chem” class is skipped with AP chem, and the chem class you have to take before orgo (which was called something like “equilibirum, rate, and structure”) teaches you nothing new from AP.</p>
<p>That being said, the strength of the AP course/AP test score will be pretty influential. AP Chem was probably the strongest AP class my school had. Many kids with B- averages in class got 5s on the AP test and I think only 1 or 2 kids out of like 15 or so (we’re talking about 7 years ago) got a 4.</p>
<p>College Gen. Chem. was D’s easiest science class. She never had below 100+% in all her tests. She did not have AP Chem., was not offerred at her HS. This class landed her a job as SI for Gen. Chem prof. for 3 years (D. was hand picked by prof). However, because of this job, she found out that many had hard times in this class, including kids with AP Chem in HS. Her sessions got very busy over time, apparently she was good explaining chem. to others. Sometime she had 40 kids in her sessions. So, that means that many felt that they needed extra help with material. I do not think that any pre-meds at D’s state UG were skipping Gen. Chem. or first Bio because of AP credits. First Bio went thru AP Bio material in first 2 weeks, then they moved on to new and much harder stuff.<br>
IMO, AP or not does not matter. What matters is how good your HS teacher was and how hard the class at your UG. You and your pre-med advisor are only people who have enough information to decide. Also, at my D’s UG, placement into Chem class depended on score in math palcement test that everybody had to take before they were allowed to register for first semester of freshman year. I know that there were many various Gen. Chem. classes that freshmen could take at D’s UG.</p>
<p>Thanks TuftsStudent and i<em>wanna</em>be_Brown… I’ll be starting my freshman year in less than a month at a big state school. I’ve been doubting my math/science abilities as of late, and second guessing my schedule. I’ve taken Chem my last three years of high school and have a solid background in math.</p>
<p>What is your SAT/ACT compared to your school’s mean SAT/ACT?- Comfortably above the mean
What other courses are you planning to take?- An easy Gen Ed course
How would GenChem 1 fit into your schedule time-wise?- I’ll have it first thing in the morning
Are you in the school of engineering?- As of now, I’m a Chem Engineering major</p>
<p>I’ve self-studied the first units for Physics and Calc, hopefully I’ll do well enough on the first exams to boost my confidence.</p>
<p>If you’re only planning on taking three courses (physics, gened, calc), and you want to be a Chemical Engineering major, then you should take chem. Barring that, you should at least take another course of some sort.</p>
<p>Can you even be full-time with only three courses?</p>
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<p>I already signed up to take Chem + Physics + Calc + Gen Ed, I was just wondering what I’d be like. My fall schedule looks like: Gen Chem I, Gen Physics II, Honors Calc III, Cultural Anthro, and a one credit seminar class.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding all! :)</p>