<p>I'm currently dithering over what level of Chemistry I should take this year as an incoming freshman. Since I tentatively want to major in Genetics, I'm going to need to take several chemistry courses over the course of my studies. I took AP Chemistry as a junior and got a 5 on the exam, which exempted me from Chem 1211, 1212, and the associated labs. I also took the SAT II test in Chemistry last November and scored a 720 (without studying at all for the exam). I normally have very good long-term memory of key concepts in most subjects. Even so...</p>
<p>I don't like Chemistry very much, so I would like to use the credit I have, but I am very wary about throwing myself into a course which may be too advanced for me and overstretching myself. On the other hand, I want to avoid any hugely overpacked 200-person classes if possible. I have not yet gone to Orientation and signed up for courses (I signed up for the July 7th-8th date), so I still have time to decide. I am definitely planning to take a Chemistry course this fall and am tentatively thinking retaking Chem 1212 and the associated lab. Advice?</p>
<p>If you're premed, you might want to make sure that the med schools you want to apply to will either take AP (honestly, I wouldn't take that chance...they could change the rules between now and then) or they don't require a year of INTRO chem. You could ask some advisors what they think. However, I think I remember one advisor saying that you could skip the first semester, and then prove you know your chem by doing really well second semester. <em>shrugs</em></p>
<p>If you're not premed, then just go ahead and take the second semester. First semester is basically review and if you got a 5 on your exam, I'm pretty sure you'll be alright. Just make sure you understand what's taught in 1st semester because not only do you need the info in 2nd semester, but everything seems to creep up in organic.</p>
<p>Or, if you know your chem, you could just take 1st semester and get the A.</p>
<p>To add a little more to what jenmarie said- most classes if you know your stuff you can take it again and get the A, but I have heard that this does not necessarly apply to Chem at uga. I have not taken it, but I have heard from people that it is definitely a weed-out and is very tricky. Even if you "know your stuff" you could miss some little details and end up with a high B.</p>
<p>Boy, I'm looking forward to De Haseth as my Chem professor. <em>complete sarcasm</em></p>
<p>By reviewing pickaprof.com, ratemyprofessor.com, and UGAKey, he's a tough and monotonous man. I could deal with the monotone probably, but this class is going to kill me in the end.</p>
<p>Well, just remember that the tests are made by all of the professors that are teaching that class that semester, which means you could always try going to a different prof for help.</p>
<p>PS - I hate the term 'weed-out.' If people are discouraged by just one class, then obviously they didn't really have their heart set out for whatever they were going for. They'd keep trying if it's really what they wanted. I'm pretty sure the professors don't purposefully try to fail everybody to get people to leave. It's more like people realizing it's not what they really want and are interested in.</p>
<p>Well I do agree with you, but that's my definition of "weed-out". It seperates the people that really want to grind through it from the students who just were looking to breeze their way through. Nothing is impossible if you really want to do well, but you have to work very hard. It will seperate the people that really want to do well from the people who don't want to put themselves through the sometimes massive effort required - hence "weed out".</p>
<p>But I wouldn't be too worried, intro classes aren't near as bad at UGA as they are at Tech- most professors want to see you succeed and are very helpful if you go to office hours, study, and actually go to class - you would be surprised at how many people that skip class complain about their "tough schedule."</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone. I am not planning to go pre-med--my interest is largely in research, and I'm playing with the idea of double-majoring in Psychology if I can manage it. (I would like to work on the influence of genes on behavior, which is a topic that's fascinated me for years.) </p>
<p>I'm also planning to take the Chemistry placement test when I go to Orientation so I can have that level of input. If it tells me that I've forgotten everything I knew about first-semester Chemistry, I'm definitely retaking first semester. I don't think that's likely to happen, though.</p>