<p>Hi</p>
<p>I got a 4 on my AP chemistry and I really want to take organic chemistry this semester but read about the invitation needed. Do you get the invitation before the fall? are there any other requirements for it? And If I do get invited, this means I no longer need to take the general chemistry placement test correct? Also, by taking organic chemistry, how would this affect medical school since I did not take the required 1 year of general chemistry? Sorry for the clump of questions!</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>It is not a required 1 year of “general” chemistry, it is a required 1 year of “inorganic” chemistry and no you do not have to take the placement exam if you choose organic chemistry. For your 1 year, you can choose to take an upper level inorganic to fulfill the requirement (med schools will want this if you exempt 141 and 142). You can take 260 w/lab and chem 355l w/lab. Or if you want it easier, you can take 260 w/l and then 142 w/l. These classes will seem somewhat simple after orgo. So you can essentially a) start off w/easy-moderate gen. chem and then hit a brick wall sophomore year (often people get too confident after gen. chem and are often shocked by orgo. However, if you start w/orgo., it’ll be pretty hard to be shocked later) year or b) challenge yourself now and have a relatively calm sophomore year.
Soria’s class also eases you into the organic chem. material, so there are advantages as it allows you to adjust better in some senses. However, if you aren’t careful, it may catch you by surprise when he seems to suddenly up the ante. Regardless , Soria, if you work hard enough is a free B grade (as in above B-). I didn’t say A grade because the final will kill you if you don’t prep. correctly, but many will have an A-/A going in and you can keep it if you have enough bonus points, even if you screw up. The 1st semester advantage is a pretty sweet deal compared to other sections, however, avoid complacency after exam 1 and 2 though (as I said in those 3 posted by collegestu) the 3rd exam and final are a bit harder. Each semester, the exams literally get harder as you go along, and it’s not just the content, it’s the format and question types. By time of the final, there will be little or no standard level questions, and even those will be harder than normal (such standard level problems may only be 10-15 points on the final). Afterwards, you can just use the grade on the final (should be >70 IMHO to continue safely) to decide whether to stay or not (as second semester is pretty tough and the bonus points aren’t as supportive). Good luck getting an invitation. It may be possible that he now restricts them to 5s, but I don’t know. If you do not receive one and you still have interest, go and talk to him at the majors fair during orientation. And yes, generally people get it before fall (many have already gotten one).</p>