<p>I'm a new Freshman at UCLA and I just started my Chem Hw today. I'm really thinking of dropping the class. My first discussion was thursday and the TA just jumped into the class with hardly any introduction. This scared me as I haven't had any Chemistry since Junior year of Highschool and I have forgotten most of it. I've been reading the book all afternoon and I feel like I'm getting no where. I just tried my first hw problem and I don't even know where to start, I asked my roomates (who are in 20a) and both of them knew exactly what to do.</p>
<p>I feel like I'm not ready for the class, but I feel like a failure if I drop the class and switch to 17. I looked at the description for 17, and it doesn't even count towards my degree! I also have my heart set on being a doctor, and I feel like dropping 14a for 17 would look disastrous to a medical school admissions board. But on the other hand, failing 14a would be even worse.</p>
<p>theres plenty of help available to you. theres covel tutoring for free. free aap tutoring if you're an aap student. private tutors. study groups. friends who know the material or have taken the class. office hours. etc etc.</p>
<p>just calm down for a second. 1st week hasnt even started. i assume you just had one lecture so far, which the majority was probably introductions and going over syllabus content.</p>
<p>give it more time before you do anything drastic.</p>
<p>Chemistry 14A is full of people who have taken AP Chemistry and consider the class a review. My roommate had never taken AP Chemistry before (it wasn't offered at her school) but went on ahead with Chemistry 14A, while her other friends from high school took Chemistry 17. See how well you do on the first test, which is supposed to be like a diagnostic (though it does count...) to see whether you're ready for Chemistry 14A. My roommate barely met the criteria for Chemistry 14A and though she got a passing grade in Chemistry 14A and did go on to Chemistry 14B, her experiences with chemistry turned out to be so discouraging that she is no longer pre-med. Her friends on the other hand are still in their south campus majors, though it may just be that they had more of an affinity for chemistry. </p>
<p>Of course, you don't HAVE to take Chemistry 17. But I'd go with taking the test, seeing how you do, and following Lavelle's suggestions. If you don't do so well on the test but you decide to stay anyway, take advantage of all of the resources out there and work hard.</p>
<p>I don't have any experiences for the 14 series, but do they really assign you hw already during zero week??? Or is this something you're just trying to do ahead of schedule, even before the professor even lectured on the topics needed to complete the assignments?</p>
<p>I'm surprised your TA even had discussion zero week, but nonetheless, its just an additional discussion that may be (realistically not though) to your advantage. </p>
<p>I completely agree with what VTEC said, and in your case, would especially consider attending both OH's and covel tutoring (if you don't sign up in time for either covel or aap tutoring, or they both fill up, you can just find out when they meet (either from friends or the bulletin board) and just show up- most tutors should be fine/ don't care unless its some really small group like 5 students where they will actually notice)</p>
<p>I've decided that I'm going to attend the lectures for both classes this week, and email Lavelle, my TA, and the 17 prof. If at the end of the week, 14a isn't making more sense, I will switch to 17, and at least then I'll be up to date on that one as well.</p>
<p>My problem isn't the thought processes, I can grasp those pretty easily, it's just I've forgotten so much raw material that it's ridiculous. All the ions etc, I no longer remember. I could probably remember them enough to get a passing grade, but I don't want to take the chance of the hit to my GPa.</p>
<p>Essentially, I think it's a matter of do I want to build a house on sand, or take my time and build it on a solid foundation. I don't mind being a quarter behind so much, as when I look at it, that can be made up through summer sessions or another method.</p>
<p>Don't be in such a hurry to finish requisites. Med-schools aren't going anywhere. It's better for you to have a solid foundation, so take your time learning it, rather than rush through without understanding what you're doing. It'll be more conducive to your learning down the road as you progress towards advanced coursework.</p>
<p>I know I will need to take it, and I am, next quarter. I'm 99% sure I'm going to drop, take 17 to refresh my basics, and work off solid footing, rather than trying to review and learn at the same time. It will put me slightly behind in my chem series, but I can make that up over summer school or another way. This way I get to relearn my basics, make sure I am ready for 14, and hopefully get a high grade in 14a over winter. Also it allows me to focus on my other classes more this quarter rather than stressing over chemistry, which should help my GPA, and this improve my chances for med school.</p>