<p>Hey guys, so I will be attending BMC in the fall and I’m seriously considering switching majors. I initially choose to major in Chemistry, but I’m a bit scared to take the placement test. Does anyone have any experience with the test? Anyways, would you guys say it is easy to change majors right now as an incoming freshman? What advice can you offer me?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>Regardless of what major you indicated on your college application, all incoming students start out as “undeclared.” You don’t have to declare a major until your 4th semester on campus!</p>
<p>Feel free to explore various interests right now (including chemistry!) and don’t feel compelled to decide on a major yet. </p>
<p>Re chemistry placement exam: which class are you hoping to test into? Most students are placed into General Chemistry 1, which is the standard starting point for a chemistry major. Some questions on the placement test will be really easy. (You’d place out of Chemistry Fundamentals if you can balance a chemical equation and convert from atomic mass units to grams.) Some questions will be really hard, to test if you’d be ready for Organic Chemistry. It’s great if you do well, but you only need to get the easy questions right to place into General Chemistry and be on track for the chemistry major.</p>
<p>Thank you for replying. I don’t have a specific class, I would just like to be on track. Do you by any chance know what happens if you do not do well? Would you recommend that I prepare for it? Also, when it comes to the placement tests, BMC states that we should only take them if we plan on taking classes in that department, so would you need to take a the math assessment if you’re interested in chem? Thank you again for your help!</p>
<p>Chemistry majors need to take math up through multivariable calculus, so you’ll probably take a math class at Bryn Mawr 
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<p>All students are required to take the math readiness exam because basic proficiency in math is a graduation requirement. If you have never studied calculus, that’s all you need to do. If you’ve had calculus in high school and are unsure which level of calculus to start out with at Bryn Mawr, the math placement exam can help you decide. </p>
<p>I personally wouldn’t study for the chemistry placement exam if you are aiming for Gen Chem 1. You probably have the prerequisites down cold from your chemistry class in high school. If you are more ambitious and would like to skip ahead 1 or 2 semesters, reviewing your high school chemistry background might help.</p>
<p>Just a couple side notes–</p>
<p>Beginning with 2015 the graduation requirements have been altered quite a bit. I think their math requirement might be slightly different, so I’d investigate here: [Bryn</a> Mawr Deans](<a href=“http://www.brynmawr.edu/deans/four_year_pic/coll_degree_reqs.shtml]Bryn”>http://www.brynmawr.edu/deans/four_year_pic/coll_degree_reqs.shtml)
As a rule of thumb, I think it’s helpful for all freshmen to just take the math exam in case they need it for future reference. I’d also look into a language exam because if you score highly, you won’t have to take courses in a language.</p>
<p>As for being prepared for classes, the Deans also offer a FREE! and really easy to access tutoring program for language and intro level math and science classes. More on that here: [Undergraduate</a> Deans | Bryn Mawr College](<a href=“http://www.brynmawr.edu/deans/acad_support/tutoring2.shtml]Undergraduate”>http://www.brynmawr.edu/deans/acad_support/tutoring2.shtml)
I’ve used the tutoring service tons of times during my language study and found it really, really helpful if I was ever unsure of something.</p>
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I know. That’s why I drew attention to the math readiness exam (which wasn’t required until recently).</p>