P. Chem

[comp]

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Does anyone know how hard is Pysical Chemistry class?

From what I've heard is that P. Chem class is very hard and students end up getting C's and lower B's. Although, I would not want to take it but I have to take it as a Biochem major.

Do you think that changing my major from Biochem to Bio. would be a good idea to avoid P. Chem class. I really do not want to lower my gpa because of P. Chem. Do you think that medical school would look at it negatively that I changed my major from Biochem to Bio?

Waiting to hear from you guys?

 

[fiatslug]

Avoid any class that will lower your GPA. That is weasely but sensible advice. If it means changing your major, so be it (I can't imagine med schools would know or care if you change your major).

 

[comp]

Thanks for your reply.

However, I think that med school would know about it looking at my transcripts since it would say Biochem major at the end of one semester and then bio major at the end of the next semester.

 

[fiatslug]

med schools won't see actual transcripts until you matriculate. They'll just get the AMCAS breakdown of your grades. I do agree with the poster who responded to this question in a thread you started 5 minutes before you started this one (

): a bio or biochem major is a dime a dozen to an adcom. You will have to do A LOT to stand out from that pack.

 

[Djanaba]

I replied likewise earlier, but I think the advice to not lower your GPA is bulls***. Both your overall and science GPA are made of several courses by now, and one course will not lower it appreciably. And you're sitting pretty the way you are; you certainly won't fall below a 3.5, and if your MCAT is good, you will be FINE. Schools know that pchem is hard, and that only some folks do well. And those that do well aren't necessarily those who will make the best doctors. Go with your gut.

 

[AJ]

I took P-Chem my junior year. It was difficult but not impossible. Many premed students in my school waited until their senior year to take it then it didn't show up on their transcripts sent to AMCAS. At one of my interviews I was specifically asked about my lower grade in P-Chem. I said it was a hard class, the interviewer said the admissions committee didn't want to hear that but concurred that it was hard. I wouldn't change your major to simply avoid a single class. One bad grade (C) isn't going to kill anyone's application.

Best of Luck

 

[Ruggie]

That's interesting...I have found that A LOT of pre-meds here at my college drop there chemistry major and rely solely on biology, which is fine. However, I took the class and found it to be comparable to any other chem class. Personally, I would advise you to at least attempt the class and it if gets too tough, make your decision then. Good luck.

 

[ocean_doc]

Physical chem is a rigourous course. You must remember physics and calculus. It really depends on how mathematical a person you are. The more the stronger you will be. The class averages were very low. If you find it difficult, you can always hire a tutor.

 

[MrAnonymous]

Physical Chemistry isn't too hard compared to classes like Biochemistry or Medical Virology. But its a lot tougher than Organic chemistry or any introductory physics course (as it should be). It is math intensive and concerns itself with general chemistry stuff (atoms, photons, thermodynamics, etc)... To me the math is A LOT easier than Math 126 (the final introductory calculus course) and general chemistry is a little harder than the introductory physics courses...

 

[catdograccoon]

PChem was probably the toughest class I took
in undergrad. Yep, harder than physics, orgo, calc, biochem. I had the sadistic chem prof from hell-- on the first day of class, he told us that most of the class would get Cs. And sure enough, most of the class did. NONE of these people were stupid. ALL of them were juniors/seniors with chemistry/biochem/mol bio majors who had topped the weedout curves of genchem and orgo at a big state school. Almost everyone was preprofessional school of some kind, or prepping for grad school.
That said, I don't regret taking it, even though I didn't make an A. After that class, you will know thermo, kinetics, etc COLD, which, if you take the MCAT after pchem, will
help you kick butt on the physical sciences section. My MCAT scores helped me stand out, and these days, you've got to stand out from the crowd if you want to get in. It also looks good to adcoms that you've gone that extra mile--one of my interviewers commented favorably on my having taken the class.Since that school aceepted me, Pchem probably didn't hurt.
Ultimately though, its up to you, of course. I think arguments could be made from either side. Good Luck

 

[japhy]

Pchem was easier than intro calculus!!! are you kidding. i don't know what kind of physical chem they teach at your school, but i have to agree with some of the other posts by saying that Pchem was the most difficult class I have taken. Much harder than biochem, ochem, and even some graduate chem classes I took. However, I am looking at takena graduate biophysical chem class in the fall. guess i am just a masochist...

 

[MrAnonymous]

Japhy- I didn't say biochem was harder than intro calculus... I said the MATHEMATICS in biochem was easire than calculus.

 

[Dr. FS]

Comp, it seems that you are choosing your major not because you like it, but because you think it will look good in your application.

If you make some researchers, you may learn that Med-school hate ordinary students with BS majors.

My major is economics=plenty of good jobs if i don't get into med-school. yeah, like you -i hate the idea of not going to Med-school, but what if?

PS.- in addition to be unique within a group of pre-meds, if you get a BA instead of a BS you will have better chances to have a great GPA.

Dr. FS

 

[moo]

I took a honors thermal physics class (cuz I'm a physics major) which was equivalent to p. chem at my university. I managed to get an A but I hated some aspects of the course. I wouldn't change my major simply because of one course and I don't think you should either. There's going to be courses in every major that you will hate.

 

[jmor702]

PChem was the most difficult class that I ever took. It was the first class that I have ever taken where reading the book helped almost none at all. I could read and reread and not have a clue what I had just read. We used Levine's text, and quite often I could not get the point he was trying to get to.

During the second semester, on our second test, I made a 76. That the was the high score on the test.

Our instructor I think placed more weight on our lab participation and lab reports. Thank goodness. This is probably why my grade was higher than my test scores in lecture warranted.