Penn Chem

[CAPA]

<p>I know somebody just created a thread about sciences at Penn, but I was hoping I could get some more info specifically on Penn's chemistry program. I've searched the forums but haven't found much discussion other than a post noting its notorious difficulty (can any current chem/biochem majors comment on that?). How strong is the chem program? Is it reputable? What about research opportunities?</p>

[Redwood]

<p>its penn, everything is reputable</p>

[Anonymous_ff10c5ff791851ad94f8e8b074a7c85c]

<p>

On the Penn Chem Department
I would strongly, strongly discourgage you from majoring in chem if you attend Penn, not because the program is poor (quite the opposite, and that’s the issue actually) or anything like that, but because frankly your chances for survival are not good. The chem department has the harshest curve of any department at Penn (set to a C+/B- with 15-20% A’s and A-'s), and the most brutal classes. Gen Chem is, in my opinion, the toughest of the intro sciences (though as a chem major you’d also have to take the engineering sections of physics, which is also brutal), and orgo at Penn is every bit as difficult as people make it out to be. Even that lab component for orgo (which is a 1 semester, 8-10 classroom hours/week course that most premeds at Penn actually take after they have completed both semesters of orgo lecture and submitted their med school applications) is brutal.</p>

<p>The other upper level classes only get worse. There are two main biochem classes at Penn, Bio 202 and Chem 251. The former is pretty tough and is the one Bio majors and the like take; the latter is what Chem and Biochem majors take and is probably the most difficult set of coursework I have ever seen in my life. My gf took it last semester and it was to the point where she thought orgo was easy by comparison. I’ve heard horror stories about p-chem and p-chem lab as well, though not quite to the extent of biochem, which I feel reasonably confident in saying is the single hardest class at Penn (except maybe for Bio 402, which is the advanced biochem class that at one point in its history had 4-hour long exams).</p>

<p>Now, let’s say you’re a real juggernaut at chem and are good enough to handle the major requirements- getting your research in is the next major hurdle. The Chem/Biochem departments at Penn are the most research/grad school oriented at the school, meaning that (and I have seen this numerous times) Chem professors do not want to take you on in the lab if they know you’re premed, because few Penn Chem majors are. Being a Chem major, you also do not have the advanced Bio coursework for work in a Bio lab, which will hurt your chances there as well (not to say you won’t find a spot, it’ll just be harder).</p>

<p>Now that I’ve probably scared you have to death, and i apologize for the lengthy post, I will say this: Penn is an excellent place to have success as a premed if you’re dedicated enough. The advising is excellent, the number of people who get into med school with comprably low GPA’s is striking, and the rigour of the premed courseload, if it doesn’t kill you, will prepare you for the MCAT in a way that few schools can. There are plentiful labs for research, and a world-class hospital for volunteer/clinical exposure, and a general preprofessional atmosphere that contribute to makeing Penn one of (in my opinion) the top two or three premed destinations out there. So, I strongly encourage you to look at Penn, but, if you’re sure you want to go into medicine, as something other than a Chem major.

</p>

<p>Was this the one you saw? Yeah, the department makes some good medical professionals.</p>

[dancer16]

<p>anyone feel like elaborating on chem engineering…?</p>

[CAPA]

<p>Yes ______, that is the post I was referring to. Can anybody attest to that? And I’m interested how much validity there is in the statement “…not because the program is poor (quite the opposite, and that’s the issue actually).”</p>

[tenebrousfire]

<p>though not a chem major, i believe that post is pretty much spot-on</p>

<p>chem majors are respected for being pretty much hardcore, and i guess one point to take away here is that high school / ap chemistry is not necessarily an adequate predictor of how you’ll fare in physical or organic chemistry</p>

<p>the other point is that you should study what interests you; don’t be a chem major if you’re premed and not so interested in deep chemistry</p>

[InOhio]

<p>You might consider researching Penn’s Vagelos Program in Molecular Life Sciences. As I understand it, it’s incredibly intense, paid research position for two summers, very well respected, and will open doors if you stick with it.</p>