Does it substantially increase your chances for failure?
Which scenarios are you comparing?
A. Taking college general chemistry after no chemistry at all in high school.
B. Taking college general chemistry after high school chemistry.
C. Taking college general chemistry after high school AP chemistry.
D. Taking a more advanced chemistry course after high school AP chemistry and a sufficiently high AP score for the college to recommend the more advanced chemistry course.
you have to be more specific; I have no idea what you’re talking about
I believe the user had a typo. Based on an earlier thread, I believe s/he is asking “How is Taking General Chemistry in College without having had AP Chemistry?”
The OP took Honors Chem and received and A, but is contemplating dropping AP Chem.You can read the entire thread here:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2100481-should-i-leave-ap-chemistry-would-lacking-a-science-in-my-senior-year-reflect-poorly.html#latest
Anyway to answer the OP, many many students take general chem in college with no AP Chem background and dowell. In fact, I’d say that most students in a gen chem course had no AP Chem, but this may vary bu university. AP Chem is not a prereq by any means.
Yes, it was a dumb typo error.
So, of the scenarios in reply #1, are you comparing A versus C, or B versus C?
Scenario A (taking college general chemistry after no chemistry at all in high school) is the riskiest one, since high school chemistry is often an assumed prerequisite for college general chemistry. Some colleges may offer a supplemental course or special version of college general chemistry for students who have not had high school chemistry.
The OP is contemplating med school down the line. I emphatically suggested that he take AP Chem as a foundation to Chem in college.
I am an Engineer. Back in the day I didn’t take AP Chem and did fine in College Chem.
But if you are not doing well in AP Chem, that sort of indicates what might happen in college. Although you could put it off and make sure to get a tutor ASAP in college.
Chemistry and especially Organic Chemistry tend to be very tough at a lot of schools. A neighbor’s daughter was going down the pre-med track until she wound up getting a C+ in OChem. Completely changed her major, graduated, and is happily and successfully pursuing another career. As @bopper points out, it may be a foreshadowing of what this subject may be like for you moving into your college career. If you still have med school in your plans, I really think you should take AP Chem. It will give you a better taste for what lies ahead, and it will allow you to course correct if you really aren’t any good at it. You will be taking a minimum of a year of chem in college, I would think.
To continue what @Undercrackers said, and if you really want to continue with medicine, having AP CHem will give you more background /practice for when you take college chem.
Get a tutor (Your NHS will have some), go to teacher help hours, form a study group…you can do this but have to change your study habits/up the effort.