<p>I’ve heard that chemistry either clicks with your brain or it doesn’t. I’ve also heard that as long as you’re genuinely interested in your major, you will be able to do well. When I go to college, I plan to be either pre-med or pre-dent (I’m leaning more towards pre-dent) and either a chemistry or a biology major. Currently, I’m a homeschooled junior taking chemistry for the first time. I find the class pretty interesting, especially compared to biology. My question is, how do I know if I’ll be able to understand the concepts in upper level chemistry courses? What does it take to do well?</p>
<p>Lets put it this way, would you be willing to stay at home/dorm on a Friday night when all of your friends are going to a movie or a club? If you say yes, then it shows your determination and motivation to surpass your fellows and make yourself more competitive. There isn’t a way to figure out if your brain will “click” to information, but having interest and motivation will greatly help understand information. Good luck and take care:)</p>
<p>Staying home to work on a project/studying for your finals/studying for a test.</p>
<p>see how you do with organic then decide if it’s right for you</p>
<p>You don’t have to be smart in order to be a chemistry major. Do the following and you will succeed with any major:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Go to lectures and labs.</p></li>
<li><p>Pay attention in lecture and don’t doze off. Actively pay attention and take notes. Pay attention to every detail and ask questions if you are having trouble. Do the reading before the lecture so you have an easier time learning.</p></li>
<li><p>Do the reading when it is assigned. Do the homework when it is assigned.</p></li>
<li><p>If you are having trouble understanding reading or homework, then go to your professors office hours. This tool is very underrated and you must take advantage of it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It’s very easy but you have to put in the time and effort. If you don’t have a schedule, then chemistry will be hard and you will be on the path to failure.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying.</p>
<p>So the key is to stay dedicated, put in the time/effort, and be organized? In that case, I’m definitely willing to do the work. I guess I’ve just heard so many horror stories about
o-chem and p-chem that I’m afraid that I’ll be setting myself up for failure. </p>
<p>For example, my older sister (who was a biology major and is now in medical school) had a really hard time with o-chem in undergrad and continues to struggle with her chemistry courses in medical school. She’s really smart, so either she wasn’t putting in her entire effort or her brain doesn’t “click” with chemistry? </p>
<p>And the things I’ve read about p-chem scare me. Posters on sdn say the material covered is insane and that nobody’s gpa escapes p-chem unscathed.</p>
<p>Anway, like I said, I’m willing to be diligent and to sacrifice my social life if that’s what it takes. Organic and biochem are dental school prereq’s so I guess I should take those first and then decide…</p>
<p>You should also consider that if you really are smart enough to study chemistry you have far better options than to work 10 times as hard as a business major for worse career prospects than a HS dropout.</p>