<p>I didn't take AP Chem in high school and I pretty much half-assed my normal Chemistry class so I don't remember anything. Do I need any prior knowledge of Chemistry to do well in Chem 20A? Should I get an AP Chem book and study out of it?</p>
<p>Having a good chem background helps, but 20A is different from AP Chem. Take Scerri and just memorize the course reader.</p>
<p>The only thing that you’ll REALLY have to remember that they don’t reteach you in 20A is basic stuff like stoichiometry. You’ll be dealing with tons of atomic structure and quantum mechanics/theory in 20A.</p>
<p>Follow what dtn521 suggests. Take Scerri and [BIGBOLDLETTERS]MEMORIZE[/ENDBIGBOLDLETTERS] that course reader!</p>
<p>Funny enough, during the quarter I took Scerri, he had some questions that was only briefly mentioned in lecture… So you might actually have to listen to him sometimes too. >_></p>
<p>^ rofl “the spin of the electron is spinor and 720 degrees instead of the usual 360” you HAD to have that or you got it wrong, something that he mentioned in passing during one of the lecture.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I found Scerri’s 20A class to be straightforward and from the course reader. Probably one of the easier classes I’ve taken. Sit in lecture, pay attention, minimal studying. I was really busy that quarter and still comfortably got an A.</p>
<p>lol fall midterm ftl…</p>