How did you all do in p-chem?

[spicykimchi]

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From the way people talk about it, it sounds like the hardest class on the planet. Is it true? Does anybody ever get an A in it?

 

[PendantWorld]

I don't know of any vet schools that require p-chem as a prerequisite. I took the class, but that was because my major was Chemical Engineering. Personally, I hated it, but that may be due to the poor way it was taught at my school. Like any other class, it requires a high level of commitment and perseverance. If it's optional for your major, I would advise against taking it. However, if your professor is a good teacher, you may have better luck.

That said, I got an A in the course. It was the most brutal experience of my undergrad years.

 

[twelvetigers]

P chem and biochem are not the same thing at most schools. I can't think of a single vet school that requires p chem. If you need it for your major, then good luck - I hear it's a tough one.

 

[GellaBella]

I never had to take it for my major but my fiance did and still talks about it.

He got an A but based on what he says it was definitely hard hard hard. I think it you need to take it just go into it prepared and don't fall behind with it. it sounds like a beast but it must be defeatable! That's two people in thw world who came out with As so far 🙂

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I don't think any vet school requires p-chem, either. (oops! I was thinking we were talking about Physical Chemistry too!)

I was a Biochemistry major, so I had to take it - and not the "bio major" p-chem, which is slightly less intense - the "chemistry/chemical engineering major" p-chem. It is especially rough in terms of work at my alma mater - I barely pulled off a passing grade. Biochem is a breeze compared to p-chem, at least IMO. But it is highly dependent on teacher - it can be taught very well, or very poorly.

 

[hkt8646]

Agreed its definitely a class where the professor is so critical. I had to take it as a pre-req for.something else and was dreading it. Had a great professor and got an A.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

Are we talking physical chemistry, or physiological chemistry? I thought that at least one of the schools I applied to forces you to take the latter (while in their program). I didn't investigate too thoroughly, as I hate chemistry, thought I was done post-Biochem (which I found to be the least offensive), and found the prospects of having to submit myself to yet another chem class extraordinarily depressing.

 

[JumpHigherLivie]

I took P-Chem "for the fun of it." It was challening, my friends were taking it -- I didn't need to as I wasn't a chem or biochem major ... but I don't regret it. I went to a smaller liberal arts school, on the first day my professor asked me if I was crazy because he knew I didn't need to be there for my major.

I got a 3.0 from it. It has actually come in handy a very few select times (I loved thermodynamics, I hated quantum mechanics) ... if nothing else it's a story to talk about.

 

[PendantWorld]

Are we talking physical chemistry, or physiological chemistry?

I'm talking physical chemistry.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

I'm talking physical chemistry.

Oof.

My father has a PhD in Orgo (didn't inherit that gene), and I'm pretty sure that even he's expressed disdain for physical chemistry.

 

[spicykimchi]

I think the p-chem I was talking about was physiological chemistry. I've seen UC Davis first years talking about the class in their blogs. I guess I just assumed all other schools taught p-chem as well. P-chem knowledge isn't essential for becomming a vet? Why is that? Is biochemistry about the same thing?

Sorry if my ignorgnance on both subjects makes me look foolish, I try. 🙂

 

[nyanko]

I think quite a few of us got A's in physio chem - it isn't unmanageable at all, depending on where your strengths lie. I did Real Bad in undergraduate chemistry courses (the first time biochem gelled for me was when I took microbial physiology/biochemistry) but for me, physio chem was the easiest and one of the most enjoyable classes of the quarter. (note: opinion probably not shared by most of my classmates, but then I think they're sickos for liking anatomy so )

 

[Cautionary Tail]

I think the p-chem I was talking about was physiological chemistry. I've seen UC Davis first years talking about the class in their blogs. I guess I just assumed all other schools taught p-chem as well. P-chem knowledge isn't essential for becomming a vet? Why is that? Is biochemistry about the same thing?

Sorry if my ignorgnance on both subjects makes me look foolish, I try. 🙂

I don't recall seeing physical chem listed as a requirement for any of the US programs. (Not sure about those outside the states- haven't investigated them yet.) Considering my intense hatred of enzyme kinetics in biochem, I am not going to complain. 😉

I was bummed when I saw physiological chem on the course list (I thought we were done with chem!), but I'm assuming it shouldn't be too insane, considering that in order to get to this point, we've all survived biochem and cell and molec, and most of us will have had a physio course or two as well.

I haven't done as much research into what's next as some have... I saved all the scary stuff for last, and the past three semesters have been sheer insanity. I needed a breather before jumping into thinking about more chem, fun with anatomy, and all that good stuff.

(Though I will admit that I was one of those nutters who actually enjoyed undergrad anatomy... our professor was awesome, and the dissection process really made everything come together for me. That said, I am still petrified of vet school anatomy, haha. )

 

[spicykimchi]

I don't recall seeing physical chem listed as a requirement for any of the US programs. (Not sure about those outside the states- haven't investigated them yet.) Considering my intense hatred of enzyme kinetics in biochem, I am not going to complain. 😉

I was bummed when I saw physiological chem on the course list (I thought we were done with chem!), but I'm assuming it shouldn't be too insane, considering that in order to get to this point, we've all survived biochem and cell and molec, and most of us will have had a physio course or two as well.

I haven't done as much research into what's next as some have... I saved all the scary stuff for last, and the past three semesters have been sheer insanity. I needed a breather before jumping into thinking about more chem, fun with anatomy, and all that good stuff.

(Though I will admit that I was one of those nutters who actually enjoyed undergrad anatomy... our professor was awesome, and the dissection process really made everything come together for me. That said, I am still petrified of vet school anatomy, haha. )

According to the bloggers, p-chem is something first year vet students take at UC Davis. I've never heard of it as a pre-req either. I suppose if you'd taken it before, though, that would make for an easier first year in vet school. *shrugs*

 

[twelvetigers]

Physiological chemistry at UCD is essentialy like biochemistry at other schools. What everyone else is talking about here is physical chemistry, which is a completely different beast indeed. Something like calculus and organic having an illegitimate love child? Anyway, it's nasty. But not something most of is here will have to worry about.

ETA: I *may* be confusing physical chem with analytical chem, lol. Either way!

 

[nyanko]

Physical chemistry is more like the child of general chemistry and physics (real physics), if you want to go that route. It's a pain in the ass, but actually pretty interesting!

Physiological chemistry is indeed more like biochem, but a bit more integrative (at least that's the class at UCDavis).

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Physical chemistry is more like the child of general chemistry and physics (real physics)

The evil, head spinning, green pea soup spitting, devil child you mean......

 

[gone2dogs]

The evil, head spinning, green pea soup spitting, devil child you mean......

So what does it say about me that not only did I love physical chemistry in undergrad, a few years later I went back and got a master's in it? Quantum mechanics is so cool!

Physiological chemistry on the other hand, I have no idea about!

 

[spicykimchi]

Physical chemistry is more like the child of general chemistry and physics (real physics), if you want to go that route. It's a pain in the ass, but actually pretty interesting!

Physiological chemistry is indeed more like biochem, but a bit more integrative (at least that's the class at UCDavis).

This captures my feelings toward chemistry in general. Chemistry, IMO, is complicated and you have to really think about what the textbook is saying...but I love every minute of it, lol. I love anatomy too. Is it rare for someone to love both?

I'm off from school and have nothing to do and all day to do it in so I've been reading a Chemistry book I picked up. It's just General Chemistry, nothing interesting in that regard, but what is funny is if I'm out in the living room and getting bored with the other people in my house I say "I'm tired of you all. I'm gonna go study Chemistry!" With the implication that Chemistry is more interesting than them, LOL. It's a big joke between me and my family. I do enjoy that Chemistry book 😀

 

[nyanko]

This captures my feelings toward chemistry in general. Chemistry, IMO, is complicated and you have to really think about what the textbook is saying...but I love every minute of it, lol. I love anatomy too. Is it rare for someone to love both?

Hah, I think it has more to do with what comes easier to you. In vet school, there's a lot of stuff thrown at you at once, so at least for me what automatically becomes "favorite" is what is easiest for me to grasp. This is definitely for me more molec and chem based things. It isn't really that anatomy isn't interesting, just that it's harder for me to learn it than it is for me to learn physio/molec things.

I guess it's sort of odd that having something laid right out in front of me makes it infinitely more difficult for me to "get." Ah well, what are ya gonna do?

 

[StartingoverVet]

) but for me, physio chem was the easiest and one of the most enjoyable classes of the quarter. (note: opinion probably not shared by most of my classmates, but then I think they're sickos for liking anatomy so )

Substitute biochem for physio chem and this comment could have been written by me word for word. Scary isnt it?

 

[spicykimchi]

Hah, I think it has more to do with what comes easier to you. In vet school, there's a lot of stuff thrown at you at once, so at least for me what automatically becomes "favorite" is what is easiest for me to grasp. This is definitely for me more molec and chem based things. It isn't really that anatomy isn't interesting, just that it's harder for me to learn it than it is for me to learn physio/molec things.

I guess it's sort of odd that having something laid right out in front of me makes it infinitely more difficult for me to "get." Ah well, what are ya gonna do?

For me anatomy is definitely the one I grasp instantly. I think it's because I am such a visually oriented person. I understand things better when I can see them and in anatomy you do a lot of seeing.

Chemistry, eventhough I love it, I have a tougher time because it does not come quite so naturally to me. Once I get a concept, I can run with it, but sometimes I have to think pretty hard before the light bulb comes on. Maybe this is why I like the subject...it's challenging but doable. I have come to love these little atoms I've learned so much about. Next thing you know I'll be writing stories about them! Haha no just kidding.

If I were in vet school I may not like Chemistry quite so much because the pressure of the schooling might make it harder to reach the "aha ha" moments I find so rewarding.

 

[drwildlife]

Chemistry has killed my GPA. No matter how much I study or how often I go to talk to the Professor, I still come out with Cs on the exams. But, I have almost a 100% in the lab section. I can apply what I learn but, I can't test over it (strange, eh?).

While I was doing bad in Organic I, I was making A's in everything else. It's kind of weird how someone's brain can be "programmed" to understand certain subjects way better than others.

 

[Lil Mick]

I took physical chemistry, loved it, and got an A (100% for class). Looking back, that's probably what helped me figure out what sort of research interested me and how I ended up pursuing more mathematics outside of school. If you enjoy mathematics and quantum physics, I'd suggest taking it, as it gives you a taste of real physics and applied mathematics 🙂

However, if you don't understand calculus, avoid the class. I can imagine how awful an experience it would be without the mathematical foundation...