What to do about low GPA in General Chemistry?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>The semester at my school is about to end soon and it seems like I will be finishing this semester with a really low GPA in Gen Chem, possibly something in the 1.0 range. The reason is because my professor in chemistry is insanely difficult. I've already tried and studied hard for this class but despite hours put in, his tests are insanely hard. Not even tutoring can solve anything because he will sometimes put questions on the exam that the class has either never seen before or involves heavy theoretical explaining, like why is this this questions, and many cases there's barely even enough time to finish his exams unless you move rapid fast. On a flip-side, I am learning a lot but considering I'm not a chem-major, I am only taking this cause of core requirements. There are a few kids doing really well in the class, but when I asked them apparently they are only doing well because they have AP Chem background.</p>

<p>What sucks even more is because my roommate is laughing at the kids in my class now cause he has an easy teacher who does nothing and gives out grades in the 3.0+ range like crazy, and he is a pre-med chem major, while I'm an engineering major. The rest of my grades should be around the 3.0 range.</p>

<p>How will this low GPA in chem hurt me besides screwing up my GPA?
What is the difference between General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II?
If I were to get a 3.6 or higher in General Chem II, would that make up anything to grad schools/future employers?</p>

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<p>At my school, gen chem I has a lot more stoichiometry, molecular geometry and just touches on reaction rates. Second semester is mostly reaction rates, product prediction and kinetics. It depends on your school, really. Also, you can retake gen chem I if you’re looking at grad schools. But a strong foundation in chem shouldn’t be much of an issue depending in your engineering.</p>

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<p>Thanks, I’m doing civil engineering, would you say that uses chem much? I’ve heard about retakes but I really prefer not to have to retake it as it would take so much extra time and I don’t have to many electives as an engineer already.</p>