Starting college soon - Want to major in chemistry.

<p>Good day everyone!</p>

<p>I graduated High School two years ago and have had a pretty unstable life since then so I haven't gone to college yet. Anyways, I graduated through an independent studies program with a 2.5 because I took too many drugs during high school. I'm definitely no dummy, but after two years of boozing and no schooling you start to lose everything you learned. I can feel my vocabulary shrinking everyday. I provided this information to help make these questions I have a little easier to answer. I'm now clean by the way.</p>

<p>I'm not too knowledgeable on the topic of what paths I should take by the way, I'm going to start out with just General Ed but where do I go from there to get my A.S. and how long would it take?</p>

<p>I'm now ready to start college and I have a few questions about majoring in chemistry. I will be attending a UC transferable community college (OCC) here in California.</p>

<p>First off if I work my ass off how long do you think it will take to get my A.S. in chemistry? I will be attending summer school and intersessions to make up for the time I have lost.</p>

<p>Also I'm not sure but I kind of want to go into biochemistry, I've looked up salaries and what not online and although biochemistry is more interdisciplinary they get paid less then just a chemistry major, is it just because it's a less popular field, or is it because it's a more specific field? I have no clue. There's a specific field I'm thinking of going into (medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry) which would require Biochemistry.</p>

<p>Also if I get my A.S. in chemistry and then go on to get my B.S. in chemistry I can always go on to get my next degree in Biochemistry right? Or would I have to plan that out from the get go?</p>

<p>My neighbor is an organic chemist and his advice to me was to get my A.S. in chem, get a job somewhere washing glassware, and then go back to school to avoid being overqualified.</p>

<p>Please bear with me on this, any help on this subject will be greatly appreciated.</p>