<p>In Chemistry honors I was one of the best students in the class and now in AP Chemistry I am average, understanding the material but not performing well on free response questions that involve equations etc..</p>
<p>Would it be wise to pursue a major in Chemistry if I'm beginning to struggle now? I am very interested in the subject, but I am much better at memorization than at solving problems. </p>
<p>Also, in the general chem. class, do professors start at the beginning and re-teach you the basics of chemistry or are you expected to know some concepts already?</p>
<p>A chemistry degree is terrible for employment. I’ve posted the stats that show less than 20% of grads get decent jobs. All the major industries that employ chemists are doing poorly (govt, Pharm, chemicals, food…) most companies are going to hiring their science staff as temp only so they get no benefits and $15 an hour. It is a waste of a college degree.</p>
<p>Hopefully I will end up in med school but biology is the only other subject that really interests me and I’m guessing the job prospects are even lower right?</p>
<p>Can’t really see myself not having a job in the medical field and I’m really dedicated to get a good GPA/MCAT to make that happen, so job prospects arent my #1 priority when choosing my major, interest is.</p>
<p>Basically, if I’m struggling a bit now in AP Chem, will I struggle as a Chemistry major?</p>
<p>Correct Biology is even worse. Most biology jobs actually prefer chemistry majors as they typically have better quantitative and laboratory skills.</p>
<p>Don’t do it. I was a chem major, and recently switched over to Economics. Why? For one, the classes seem extremely tedious, and it started to make me hate science. I see why people avoid science programs. They make it extremely boring, even during the labs. Secondly, after doing some job researching, I don’t want to end up in China, or some hick town in the middle of nowhere, or jumping from temp to temp. Economics on the other hand have plentiful prospects, and find it interesting as a subject. I could be a banker(commercial if I choose the banking route), a number of different type of analysts, easier to start your own business, day trader, I could go on and on. I would be well off, and be able to spend time with my family, and have a pension for retirement.</p>
<p>The free response equations in AP Chem are probably the most challenging part of the course. A lot of chemistry knowledge goes into answering each one of those, and they throw some very obscure reactions at you sometimes. It reminds me of learning all the irregular verbs in a foreign language.</p>
<p>Chemistry contains both concept memorization and quantitative aspects, and they’re not usually mixed. The first semester of freshman chemistry in college is largely conceptual. The second semester is usually a lot of equilibrium and takes a sudden turn for the quantitative. How much a college or university expects you to know coming in varies depending on the school. Some approach it as a new subject, and others expect you to learn the basics on your own. Organic chem (taken sophomore year) is pretty much entirely conceptual, and bio majors who struggled through freshman chem often shine in O-chem.</p>
<p>After O-chem is where things get trickier. As a chem major you’ll have to take physical chemistry, probably an advanced analytical course, and inorganic chem or biochem. A lot of pre-med students have zero interest in some of the higher and more difficult chem courses. The mere thought of p-chem can turn a pre-med chem major into a bio major.</p>
<p>And FWIW, the Bureau of Labor Statistics disagrees with sschoe2 and scientificmind when it comes to the job outlook for these areas. It projects “much faster than average” growth in job opportunities for bio majors (+21%) during the 2008-2018 decade, and slower than average growth in both chemistry (+2%) and economics (+6%) during the same period.</p>
<p>Thank you for providing such great information! </p>
<p>Do you know if physical chemistry will appear on the MCAT? An aspect I don’t really like of chem is that for a major in chem you need to take cal 1 and 2 but for bio you only need to go to cal 1 (for Syracuse, where I might end up going hopefully). I am not the strongest in math.</p>
<p>Ive been warming up to AP chem and doing much better now. I’m torn because I really love both subjects.</p>
<p>The MCAT covers general and organic chem, no p-chem.</p>
<p>I love chemistry, but those free response equations are UGLY. If you’re doing well in the other areas, you shouldn’t have a problem as a chem major. P-Chem will be no fun if you’re weak in calculus, though – that’s where the math prerequisite for the chemistry major comes into play.</p>
<p>I get A’s on the multiple choice and bomb the free response. It’s terrible.
I’ll go in as a chem major and hopefully I’ll get a feel for the one I prefer. </p>