How much harder is general chemistry than bio?

[CheerChickMD69]

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Everyone tells me that general chemistry is harder than bio, but how much harder is it? I had trouble with general bio but pulled through and did alright. Now I need to take it this year if I want to graduate on time. I suck at math so I'm really worried about this class. I got an A in chemisty in high school but that was only because the boy next to me used to let me cheat off of him. So how bad is general chemistry really?

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

It really depends on your school, your professor, and your own intellectual ability. If you have trouble memorizing details, then bio may be hard for you. If conceptual learning is more difficult, then you might find chemistry harder.
How bad is general chem? Well, its not bad...

 

[katnapper]

I don't really know how you can compare the two. They're completely different disciplines.

 

[WalterSobchakk]

Yeah, like they said, bio is straight memorization and chem is application of theories and plugging stuff into equations. I can't think of any class to compare chem to that you would have taken before besides physics...I really didn't think it was too bad, although lab can be a pain. Plus, if you've already copied through the class in high school, you'll have a leg up on the other kids when you go to take it for real now. I'm sure some concepts will be familliar and won't take too long to figure out. 😉

 

[blz]

Sorry, did you ask a question? I was staring at your avatar... 😀

 

[Darko]

While we're at it, what does the 69 signify?

 

[CheerChickMD69]

While we're at it, what does the 69 signify?

My lucky number 😛

 

[calstudent]

My lucky number 😛

funny

 

[TTSD]

General Chemistry?!! OMG! No one passes that class! OMG! Prepare to LIVE at the library!! Do everything over and over again! Memorize them COLD! Do ALL the problems, attend all the lectures, labs and office hours to get that B!!! Wait, you're not taking with BIO are you? OMG! 😱

 

[CheerChickMD69]

General Chemistry?!! OMG! No one passes that class! OMG! Prepare to LIVE at the library!! Do everything over and over again! Memorize them COLD! Do ALL the problems, attend all the lectures, labs and office hours to get that B!!! Wait, you're not taking with BIO are you? OMG! 😱

It looks like you're being sarcastic, but I already took bio and plan to take general chemistry by itself without any other science classes.

 

[TTSD]

It looks like you're being sarcastic, but I already took bio and plan to take general chemistry by itself without any other science classes.

Yeah. Funny, I thought most schools you were supposed to take chemistry first or concurrently and THEN bio. Anyways, at my school at least.. most people failed bio than chemistry. Chemistry is rather straightforward. Like doing math. Just practice the problems over and over again.. like stupid stoichiometry. The concepts will be very important to the rest of your education, they're not difficult and very logical if you just think about it, but be sure if you get nothing else out of the class, understand the concepts.

Is that you in your avatar? If so, please go to the lounge and introduce yourself and post more pics. 👍 😍

 

[CheerChickMD69]

Yeah. Funny, I thought most schools you were supposed to take chemistry first or concurrently and THEN bio. Anyways, at my school at least.. most people failed bio than chemistry. Chemistry is rather straightforward. Like doing math. Just practice the problems over and over again.. like stupid stoichiometry. The concepts will be very important to the rest of your education, they're not difficult and very logical if you just think about it, but be sure if you get nothing else out of the class, understand the concepts.

Is that you in your avatar? If so, please go to the lounge and introduce yourself and post more pics. 👍 😍

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll get a math review book to practice the math before the semester starts.

What's the lounge? It's not showing up on my list of forums.

 

[TTSD]

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll get a math review book to practice the math before the semester starts.

What's the lounge? It's not showing up on my list of forums.

You need more posts, or to pay to get access. If you do a search, you'll find out that a lot of people (me) recommends cheerleaders not to wear clothes to interviews.

 

[Medikit]

They are different enough that it really depends from person to person. But on average I would say chemistry is about 2 weebles more difficult than bio.

 

[thewzdoc]

Did you take any chemistry in HS? Biology is memorization of facts. Chemistry is more like mathematics/Physics in that you need to memorize facts but then you have to be able to apply them. If you did well in mathematics then chances are you will do well in Chem.

P.S. Cute picture....you're what 18....and a half?

P.S. Stay away from Sac and Cerb....you have been warned.....

 

[hnbui]

Did you take any chemistry in HS? Biology is memorization of facts. Chemistry is more like mathematics/Physics in that you need to memorize facts but then you have to be able to apply them. If you did well in mathematics then chances are you will do well in Chem.

P.S. Cute picture....you're what 18....and a half?

P.S. Stay away from Sac and Cerb....you have been warned.....

hahah i will so rule chem then!!!! 👍 👍 👍

Do you generally have to memorize alot of formulas as in chemical structure and what have you? Or are there basic roots [Don't know if i'm using the correct word] that you can apply to everything?

 

[Kazema]

It's different for everyone. Since you mentioned that you hate math gen chem may be tough. I don't remember much from my gen chem classes but i do remember that we did lots of calculations. Get help as soon as you start having trouble, don't let yourself fall behind, and you'll be fine.

I hate math too, so physics and gen chem were hardest for me.

hnbui: You don't have to do much memorization of structures and such in gen chem; that's for o-chem.

 

[dmoney41]

kinetic? is that you?

 

[thewzdoc]

hnbui: You don't have to do much memorization of structures and such in gen chem; that's for o-chem.

That's true....o-chem....**shudder**

 

[Assembler]

General chemistry is a lot easier than biology. The time and effort required to learn it is nothing compared to bio, unless you have one hell of an excellent memory (ie. you can learn it and recall it fast).

You only need some basic math for g-chem, so I wouldn't really stress that part of it. If anything, as you go through the course, you'll see what math you might need to brush up on. There shouldn't be much.

 

[Shades McCool]

None of it is hard.

 

[Code Brown]

None of it is hard.

I would have to agree with you on this. The ones that usually get people are physics and o-chem.

 

[ambrosia]

I thought it was easier, but it all depends on what you like and what you're good at.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

And while it is relatively easy compared to other work you will do, it is still something that you have to work to understand well. Things like quantum mechanics, VSEPR theory, nuclear chemistry, acid-base chemistry, etc., take a bit of work to understand very well.

 

[bonez318ti]

If you think gen chem is hard and/or bio is hard, consider what organic chem or physics will be like. If you need a hint.....A LOT HARDER! The math you say you are not good at will definitely be a major part of both parts of gen chem and physics. The memorizing you say you are not good at is what Organic is all about....not to mention the rest of the biology classes you have to take: stuff like Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Genetics, Microbiology, etc.

Both conceptual learning and memorizing are big parts of the MCAT....you need to work on those basic skills.

I think orgo depends on how your prof taught. We were allowed to bring a note card into our orgo exam.. so it wasn't really that 'memory' heavy. Though that meant that our exams were never straight forward.. and heavily conceptual.

For me, gen chem wasn't all that easy, comparatively, bio was alot easier for me because all I usually had to do was read the text book once or twice.

 

[WalterSobchakk]

I would have to agree with you on this. The ones that usually get people are physics and o-chem.

😕 Sure, none of the general sciences were too too bad. But I thought physics was the most intuitive of all the sciences. You can picture what a rock is going to do if you throw it, but chem gets pretty abstract.

 

[katnapper]

Why is everybody being so nice on this thread?

😎

If this thread were posted by a guy he would have been ripped to shreds. At least, that's the impression that I've gotten so far.

 

[SFAJess]

Why is everybody being so nice on this thread?

😎

If this thread were posted by a guy he would have been ripped to shreds. At least, that's the impression that I've gotten so far.

I definitely agree!

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Maybe its not a bad thing that everyone is taking a break from the "how dare you ask a question; what are you, stupid?" attitude (which I am not free of guilt from). Being polite on a forum is not such a bad thing.

 

[TekkenDanser]

I got an A in chemisty in high school but that was only because the boy next to me used to let me cheat off of him.

Did you feel that chemistry in high school was too difficult and that's why you cheated? Or did you feel that chemistry in high school wasn't worth the effort? In either case, I think chemistry will be harder for you in general than biology just because you will be starting from scratch. Resist the urge in college to have another male help you through cheating (and there are probably several who are willing). Whether or not general chemistry is harder than biology is not really important, you will have to take it regardless, if medicine is the profession you'd like to pursue. What is important is whether you are willing to tackle the challenge, the degree of which varies across individuals.

 

[BisMuOxo]

Gen Bio= Simple memorization
Gen Chem= A lot of memorization + A little Intuition

 

[CheerChickMD69]

Thanks for all the helpful information guys. It looks like I'll have to get a math review book because math wasn't really my thing in high school and I didn't really take any yet in college. So some people think bio is harder and some think it's easier, so if it's easier I think I'll be able to pull through. It's not that I suck at memorizing it's just that it takes me a REALLY long time. I do better in classes with more writing.

Did you feel that chemistry in high school was too difficult and that's why you cheated? Or did you feel that chemistry in high school wasn't worth the effort? In either case, I think chemistry will be harder for you in general than biology just because you will be starting from scratch. Resist the urge in college to have another male help you through cheating (and there are probably several who are willing). Whether or not general chemistry is harder than biology is not really important, you will have to take it regardless, if medicine is the profession you'd like to pursue. What is important is whether you are willing to tackle the challenge, the degree of which varies across individuals.

I cheated because at the time it seemed really hard especially after we started the soiciometry part. The first part wasn't so bad though. Once before a test I told him I'm gonna fail if he doesn't help me out and he said he'll do it, so after that I had no problems doing well in the class. I don't think it's as easy to cheat in college. I only got away with it twice and one other time the professor caught me and said he'll give me an F on the next test he catches me cheating on so I stopped since then. It was during my second semester.

 

[Mednomad]

................... 😱

 

[Assembler]

Uhh...most institutions have VERY strict policies on cheating. I would not condone it at all. If you have to be "academically institutionalized" for work-related ethic, then somehow, I honestly doubt you'll be getting in anywhere. Drinking on the other hand, I've heard is not really much of a problem. Obviously, that has very little to do with academic integrity though. (It is a good thing you stopped in time.)

The key to doing well in any math-based course is practice; the same logic applies to g-chem. It becomes very easy once you start to get the hang of doing problems. Do the same -types- of problems over and over again. If you've got the gist down, nothing will scare you away on a test.

 

[NubianPrincess]

They are such different subjects 🙂

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

You only cheated three times? Please. If you need to cheat to get into med school, you probably wont get in. 👎

 

[CheerChickMD69]

Yep...I don't think you have a chance.

Just because no one would help you cheat doesn't mean you have to be jealous.

Thanks to everyone else for the helpful advice.

 

[Darko]

You are a lucky, lucky girl to have survived having been caught cheating. Some people get nailed when there was no misconduct.

 

[Darko]

Just because no one would help you cheat doesn't mean you have to be jealous.

Thanks to everyone else for the helpful advice.

My name is George W. Bush and I DON'T approve of this message.

😱 👎

 

[TTSD]

Just because no one would help you cheat doesn't mean you have to be jealous.

Thanks to everyone else for the helpful advice.

I'm beginning to think this is a freakin troll.

If you think cheating is alright, furthermore you need to cheat to pass BASIC classes without even trying.. wanting to change your major out of bio after two years and having only done, HOW MANY of your core classes?? Better think about medicine again. It gets a LOT harder.

 

[CheerChickMD69]

It's not that I think cheating is right, but if I studied really hard for a test and still don't know some of the important answers and someone is willing to help I have trouble turning it down. I haven't done it in over a year so it's not important anymore.

Plus everyone takes classes at different paces. I don't have to have all of my core classes done by now.

And SFAJess: I saw your profile and maybe you have a higher gpa than me but I go to a harder school where I have to work 24/7 for what I get so I really earn it. My friend from high school who goes to a state school has a 3.92 gpa after 2 years and she did much crappier than me in high school. So use your head a little.

 

[NubianPrincess]

Uh oh here come the GPAs

 

[lorelei]

Once before a test I told him I'm gonna fail if he doesn't help me out and he said he'll do it, so after that I had no problems doing well in the class. I don't think it's as easy to cheat in college. I only got away with it twice and one other time the professor caught me and said he'll give me an F on the next test he catches me cheating on so I stopped since then. It was during my second semester.

*cough* troll *cough*

 

[Darko]

My friend from high school who goes to a state school has a 3.92 gpa after 2 years and she did much crappier than me in high school. So use your head a little.

Did this friend use boys for grades, too? I think you're overestimating yourself there, Cheery.

I turned down Penn's Ben Franklin Honors Program at the Wharton School to go to UMich and I don't regret it one bit. I received an outstanding, challenging education at a state school.

 

[CheerChickMD69]

*cough* troll *cough*

No, it's just that I worked real hard during high school to get into a good college and even some of my professors told me that their classes are harder and that we'll need to work harder than our friends at some other schools.

 

[TTSD]

No, it's just that I worked real hard during high school to get into a good college and even some of my professors told me that their classes are harder and that we'll need to work harder than our friends at some other schools.

Oh for the love of God..

 

[CheerChickMD69]

I'm proud of where I am.

And so am I.

 

[TTSD]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS! They'll just come back for more.

CheerChick, you're either a troll or just reinforcing the cheerleader stereotype. You're demonstrating the morals, intelligence, maturity, and judgement of someone who definitely should not be given the awesome responsibility and respect of a physician.

If you're not a troll: Grow up, work hard, and life is not fair, get over it.

 

[CheerChickMD69]

I've been very satisfied with the level of difficulty that my "state school" has provided....even still, I can take all maths and sciences in a semester and still get all A's. Didn't you say you weren't taking your sciences one at a time. If you still decide to pursue medicine, the adcoms do look at the course load each semester. One science course a semester will get frowns.

Well guess what? My bio professor who graduated with his PhD from Yale by the way told me that it's okay to spread out my science classes if I'm having difficulty and that I'll get into med school anyway since my school has a real good reputation.

 

[CheerChickMD69]

TTSD: I don't see anything wrong with what I'm doing. All I did was try to clear up a few things with advice from people who already applied to med school and know more about it than me. I bet there are some things that I know more about and would make you look stupid if you asked about it.