<p>I'm in DGS and thinking about a Biology major with a pre med or pre pharm track. After taking the Chem placement test, I'm almost certain that they'll put me in a Chem 101 class. (Unfortunately, my school only offered Chemistry sophomore year and the most they ever taught me was conversions and balancing equations.) I'm a little disappointed because there's nothing I hate more than being behind. </p>
<p>I was wondering if there is any way I can still take some kind of chemistry proficiency test? After looking up some things, I feel like I'll be able learn and keep up. I would really like to start with General Chemistry I + a lab.</p>
<p>My daughter was in your same position last summer. Her advisor also looked at her math background when making decisions and being that she completed Calc 1 she said she could take Chem 102. She received an A in the class, so the placement test doesn’t mean everything. Talk to your advisor as this person will make the ultimate decision. She found the DGS advisors very helpful during her Freshman year, so take advantage of them. She is now a biology major and chem minor.</p>
<p>Thank you!
My math background isn’t as strong as your daughter’s but I’ll see how this goes. I feel like can gain enough knowledge for Gen. Chem. After looking up the topics from the test and seeing how easy they were to learn, starting off with Chem 101 seems like a waste of time.</p>
<p>When I was at U of I, I started out in Chemistry 202, but had to drop down to Chem 102 because 202 was too hard. All the people that I know that went on to become doctors and PhDs were in 202. It is a hard class.</p>
<p>If you are planning on studying medicine eventually, you should really be in Chem 202. However, you could probably get by taking 102. However, after looking at an old course catlog I have at home, it appears that Chem 101 is really for students with no background in Chemistry. As a result, I would do everything in your power to get into 102.</p>
<p>Okay, I scored an 11 and my ACT Math score is a 21 (terrible), so according to criteria, I should be in CHEM 101. However, my advisor said I could take either CHEM 101 OR 102, so I chose 102. How will this turn out for me because I don’t want to go to the class come August and find out I’ve been dropped.</p>
<p>@Bill73 I’m not sure when you were a student, but that’s not the case currently. Almost all the pre-meds I know started in Chem 102/103, and these are the ones who are definitely pre-med. I believe the only pre-meds I knew in 202 were engineers and one or two others.</p>
<p>@Soso694 Most start in 102 but I know a few who started in 101. Don’t worry about it too much, just make sure you get A’s.</p>
<p>yep 202 was mostly for chemical engineers and die-hard chemists. a couple bio peeps in there too but they were going for phd or md/phd programs, not med school</p>
<p>Chem 102 is hard because it is a weed out class. If you are willing to put forth the effort, sure go ahead and take 102…it’ll save you from an extra semester of chem. If you are really afraid of screwing up 102, take 101. It all depends on how much you’re willing to devote to the class.</p>
<p>Also, if you take Chem 102 I’d recommend taking IB150 first semester. You’ll get placed in either IB150 or MCB150, but try switching them if you get MCB first semester. MCB is the harder one, but you take both in your freshman year.</p>
<p>" Chem 102 is hard because it is a weed out class. "</p>
<p>I didn’t have AP Chemistry at my high school, and I thought that class was pretty easy if you did the homework. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I thought Chem 107 (now called Chem 202) was impossible. </p>
<p>Things must have changed with regards to premed students taking 107 (202), because my two good friends that went on to med school both took Zumdahl’s accelerated chemistry course as freshmen.</p>
<p>I did not personally take Chem 102-105 because I took it in a different college, so I went straight into Chem 232/233 (Organic Chem).</p>
<p>From basically everyone I knew in Chem 102, they thought it was pretty hard and required significant effort. Now, I helped most of my friends with Chem and I thought the problems were really not that difficult especially since I took AP Chem Junior Yr, Gen Chem I Summer between Soph and Jr, and Gen Chem II Summer between Jr and Sr so it was a while since I did chem. With that said though, even the genius friends of mine complained about the class, so I would assume it is more difficult now than it previously was.</p>
<p>Edit: And yes, I heard from a few people that Accelerated Chem (202-205) was hard as f**k.</p>
<p>Edit: I also wanted to say that I heard that Chem 104/5 is not as difficult as Chem 102/3.</p>
<p>I have the same problem. I have close to the same stats as you, so I don’t know if I should email my advisor and say I want to take Chem 102 instead.
If not, i’d have to take a class in the summer to catch up because I definitely don’t want to be behind next year.
Is the material in 101 necessary for 102? Or is it pretty basic stuff?</p>