<p>You are only supposed to take organic chemistry freshman year if you pass out of chem 1 (freshman chem). It would then be pass/fail, yes. I believe some people have managed to take both chem 1 and organic chemistry freshman year at the same time. The chemistry department hates this practice and it is not supposed to be allowed, but most freshman advisors will not check your prerequisites and the registrar probably won’t either. </p>
<p>The advice to take your most difficult classes in your first two terms of Caltech is, frankly, stupid. Particularly for a class like organic chemistry where you will have to take your third term on grades. You’re going to have to learn the material well anyway in order to survive third term. </p>
<p>Also, this sort of attitude is one reason why many Caltech professors would dearly love to eliminate the first two terms of pass/fail. It’s supposed to be a time for frosh to get used to the workload. If frosh just load it up with difficult upper level classes to get out of grades, then what’s the point? </p>
<p>I understand the desire to have as much as possible on pass/fail. It’s only natural. But IMO overloading your frosh year schedule will make your frosh year worse and won’t make your next years that much better. It’s not worth it. Save the misery of orgo for sophomore year where it belongs.</p>