4 answers
2
Questions
Asked
920 views
How difficult is it to major in chemistry?
Just curious, since I've heard a lot of things about how hard chem is in college
Login to comment
4 answers
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hello Anderson. Many people say chemistry is one of the harder college majors, and in some ways, that's true. But with the right mindset and study habits, it's definitely possible to do well.
Chemistry can be challenging because it combines math, science, and problem-solving. You'll need to understand complex ideas, remember a lot of information, and apply what you learn in labs and on tests. Subjects like organic chemistry and physical chemistry are known for being tough. These classes often move quickly and require strong focus and effort. If you don't enjoy science or math, chemistry might feel even harder.
However, if you are interested in how things work at a molecular level and enjoy asking questions about the world around you, you might find chemistry fun and exciting. A big part of success in chemistry is how you approach the subject. Going to class, asking questions, taking good notes, and studying regularly can make a big difference.
It's also helpful to join study groups or visit your professor during office hours. Chemistry can seem hard when you're working on it alone, but when you study with others or talk through problems, it starts to make more sense.
Chemistry is hard for some people and easier for others. What matters most is your interest in the subject and your willingness to work hard. If you're curious and ready to put in the effort, you can succeed in chemistry.
Chemistry can be challenging because it combines math, science, and problem-solving. You'll need to understand complex ideas, remember a lot of information, and apply what you learn in labs and on tests. Subjects like organic chemistry and physical chemistry are known for being tough. These classes often move quickly and require strong focus and effort. If you don't enjoy science or math, chemistry might feel even harder.
However, if you are interested in how things work at a molecular level and enjoy asking questions about the world around you, you might find chemistry fun and exciting. A big part of success in chemistry is how you approach the subject. Going to class, asking questions, taking good notes, and studying regularly can make a big difference.
It's also helpful to join study groups or visit your professor during office hours. Chemistry can seem hard when you're working on it alone, but when you study with others or talk through problems, it starts to make more sense.
Chemistry is hard for some people and easier for others. What matters most is your interest in the subject and your willingness to work hard. If you're curious and ready to put in the effort, you can succeed in chemistry.
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Anderson,
Chemistry can be a very difficult career based on how good you are at math and science. A lot of chemistry is a mixture of math and science, while there is also a lot of homework, a lot of time needed, many problem-solving questions and there are also other courses that you will need to take like physics which is also difficult. Depending on your strength when it comes to math and science, it will determine a lot of your success in chemistry and this is a thing you will need to consider. If this interests you go for it, if not there are other options to pursue. Hope this helps!
Chemistry can be a very difficult career based on how good you are at math and science. A lot of chemistry is a mixture of math and science, while there is also a lot of homework, a lot of time needed, many problem-solving questions and there are also other courses that you will need to take like physics which is also difficult. Depending on your strength when it comes to math and science, it will determine a lot of your success in chemistry and this is a thing you will need to consider. If this interests you go for it, if not there are other options to pursue. Hope this helps!
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Anderson,
Studying chemistry is a lot of work, but nobody can tell you if it will be hard for YOU - and that's the only thing that matters. If you are interested in chemistry and how things work on an atomic/molecular level and are reasonably good in your math and science classes, that's a good start.
During a typical undergraduate degree program in chemistry you'll take classes in inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry. You'll have lectures and tutorials, but you'll also learn many practical skills in the lab and use analytical instrumentation. Chemistry gives you a broad foundation in all of these fields, but you don't need to be able to do all of them equally well. You'll specialize through course selection and projects. Specializations and applications include materials chemistry, biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry and many more. If you want to do anything in research, you'll probably need a masters and/or PhD which allows you to further specialize.
If you are not sure if a straight chemistry major is right for you, also consider some interdisciplinary majors that are include chemistry, e.g. materials science, environmental science, geology, some healthcare professions like nursing, forensics, toxicology, food science etc. Also keep in mind that in the first 2 years of college you'll cover your gen ed requirements and a lot of the same fundamental science classes that everyone in the sciences has to take. So, if you decide to switch to another science, you can.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://chemistry.berkeley.edu/ugrad/degrees/chem
https://www.acs.org/careers/chemical-sciences.html
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-in-chemistry
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/chemists-and-materials-scientists.htm
Studying chemistry is a lot of work, but nobody can tell you if it will be hard for YOU - and that's the only thing that matters. If you are interested in chemistry and how things work on an atomic/molecular level and are reasonably good in your math and science classes, that's a good start.
During a typical undergraduate degree program in chemistry you'll take classes in inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry. You'll have lectures and tutorials, but you'll also learn many practical skills in the lab and use analytical instrumentation. Chemistry gives you a broad foundation in all of these fields, but you don't need to be able to do all of them equally well. You'll specialize through course selection and projects. Specializations and applications include materials chemistry, biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry and many more. If you want to do anything in research, you'll probably need a masters and/or PhD which allows you to further specialize.
If you are not sure if a straight chemistry major is right for you, also consider some interdisciplinary majors that are include chemistry, e.g. materials science, environmental science, geology, some healthcare professions like nursing, forensics, toxicology, food science etc. Also keep in mind that in the first 2 years of college you'll cover your gen ed requirements and a lot of the same fundamental science classes that everyone in the sciences has to take. So, if you decide to switch to another science, you can.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Hannah’s Answer
Hi, Anderson!
Depending on how good at math you are, chemistry can either be a very difficult major or an easy one. I’m just using myself as an example here, but when I took chemistry in high school and later on in engineering school, I took advanced math alongside it (intermediate algebra in high school and trigonometry in college). Though I did particularly well, I can promise that there is quite a bit of math involved. There is a lot to memorize as well, beginning with your laboratory materials.
There is also a great deal of logic involved: at my high school (and I believe in college, too?), the prerequisite for getting into our chemistry class was geometry, a core concept of which is deductive reasoning, whereby you find an answer by showing (or “proving” rather) how you found it. You develop a sense of logic, and this is the backbone of chemistry (besides all of the math and science involved, of course!)
One of the many things that I’m currently learning on my own time is biochemistry and though so far I’ve only had a taste of it, it is quite tricky. But with determination and a love of this subject, you can succeed.
One final thing is I personally loved doing the labs—and you will do lots of labs in a chemistry major, too.
I hope this helps and best of luck!
Depending on how good at math you are, chemistry can either be a very difficult major or an easy one. I’m just using myself as an example here, but when I took chemistry in high school and later on in engineering school, I took advanced math alongside it (intermediate algebra in high school and trigonometry in college). Though I did particularly well, I can promise that there is quite a bit of math involved. There is a lot to memorize as well, beginning with your laboratory materials.
There is also a great deal of logic involved: at my high school (and I believe in college, too?), the prerequisite for getting into our chemistry class was geometry, a core concept of which is deductive reasoning, whereby you find an answer by showing (or “proving” rather) how you found it. You develop a sense of logic, and this is the backbone of chemistry (besides all of the math and science involved, of course!)
One of the many things that I’m currently learning on my own time is biochemistry and though so far I’ve only had a taste of it, it is quite tricky. But with determination and a love of this subject, you can succeed.
One final thing is I personally loved doing the labs—and you will do lots of labs in a chemistry major, too.
I hope this helps and best of luck!