<p>So I will be a freshman and I wanted your thoughts on if I should retake Organic 1 and 2. I took the classes as a local college and I really enjoyed the class, especially the lab. But should I retake it? I got As in both of the courses but I am a on a premed track and was jsut wodnering. Doalot topics in organic Chem carry over to the higher level chemsitry?</p>
<p>Also, how are the chem labs? Are they extremely difficult? For me, Organic chem lab was mainly just distillations, reflux stuff.</p>
<p>Well, most medical schools barely accept AP or dual enrollment for chem 1 and 2, so it seems as if you would be hurting your chances for medical school if you took most of the traditional weed out courses in high school. I would contact medical school admissions boards and see how they feel about such a large amount of pre reqs being taken in high school etc. If they accept it, take a lot of higher level chemistry to compensate. For biochemistry, just make sure you remember SN2, claisons, acetals, carbonyl chemistry, and acid/base stuff from chem 2 and you should be good.</p>
<p>Med schools prefer to see a letter grade on your transcripts for the prereqs (Bio, Chem, Orgo, Physics, and Calc/Stats). I think you should retake the prereqs at UF, but if you have lab credit from HS or Dual Enrollment, keep it. Labs are annoying, that is, the amount of work required is not at all worth the 1-2 credits they are worth and the minimal impact on your GPA in the long run. However, you said you like labs, so if you really are interested, go ahead and take the labs at UF as well. I’ve only done labs for Chem 1 & 2 and Bio 1, and your experience will depend mostly on your TA. My Chem 1 Lab TA abided by the rules very closely, graded strictly, and would barely divulge any information when I asked her a question. My Chem 2 Lab & Bio 1 Lab TAs, on the other hand, were very nice, explained things in detail when I got confused, and bent the rules a little to help me out (eg: absence policies and how much they could help me with lab work). I didn’t do so well in the courses themselves (C+ in Chem 1, B- in Bio 1 and Chem 2) but I did in the labs (A in Chem 2, A- in Chem 1 and Bio 1).</p>
<p>Also, from personal observation, I’ve noticed that Asian TAs are less strict in labs. I’m not at all trying to stereotype, but this is what my friends and I have concluded through our collective lab experiences. So if you get one, rejoice!</p>