What I Wish I Knew About Majoring In Chemistry

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares valuable insights into their experience as a chemistry major, highlighting key lessons they wish they had known before choosing this path. They discuss the importance of planning ahead for prerequisites, the challenges of low starting salaries in chemistry, and the difficulty of the degree. The video also emphasizes the significance of selecting the right professors and managing time effectively to avoid burnout. Overall, while chemistry is a demanding major, the speaker encourages future students to embrace the challenges and enjoy the journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Chemistry is a challenging and complex major, requiring careful planning and awareness of prerequisites.
• 📅 Scheduling can be a major issue due to prerequisites that extend beyond the chemistry department, such as calculus and physics.
• 🔍 It’s essential to research the chemistry major at your school and plan your course schedule early on to avoid delays.
• 💼 A chemistry degree can lead to decent career prospects, but starting salaries with just a bachelor’s degree are often low.
• 🎓 Graduate school can open doors to higher-paying jobs in chemistry, but it requires years of additional study.
• 📚 Chemistry is a difficult major, and overloading on tough classes can lead to burnout and poor grades.
• 👨‍🏫 Professors play a significant role in your experience—choosing the right professor can make or break a class.
• 💬 Talk to upperclassmen and check resources like Rate My Professors to find the best professors for your difficult courses.
• ⏳ Time management is crucial in chemistry—expect to spend hours studying, but make sure to take breaks to prevent burnout.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Balance academics with extracurricular activities to enrich your college experience and prevent stress from overwhelming you.
• 💡 Despite the challenges, chemistry is an amazing major that offers unique and fulfilling learning opportunities for those who persevere.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reason for choosing chemistry as their major?

The speaker chose chemistry as their major because they wanted to pursue a STEM field and saw chemistry as a universal science, acting as a middle ground between biology and physics.

What major challenge did the speaker face regarding prerequisites in the chemistry program?

The speaker struggled with the large number of prerequisites required for the chemistry major, many of which were not directly listed within the chemistry department. This caused issues with scheduling, as they didn't take key courses like calculus and physics early enough.

Why is it important to research the chemistry major at your school before committing to it?

It’s crucial to research the chemistry major because there are many prerequisites, including calculus and physics, that need to be completed early on. Not planning these out in advance can lead to scheduling issues and delays in progressing to upper-level courses.

What type of job prospects can someone expect with just a bachelor's degree in chemistry?

With a bachelor's degree in chemistry, the initial salary is typically low. While there are job opportunities, many high-paying positions require graduate school for advanced qualifications, experience, or further training.

What advice does the speaker offer about pursuing graduate school for chemistry majors?

The speaker advises that pursuing graduate school may help secure higher-paying jobs right after graduation. However, it is important to understand that graduate school requires years of study before reaching those opportunities.

How does the speaker describe the difficulty of the chemistry major?

The speaker describes the chemistry major as extremely difficult, requiring students to manage a heavy workload and face challenging classes that can lead to frustration and difficult semesters.

How can professors affect a student's experience in the chemistry major?

Professors can significantly influence a student's experience. The speaker emphasizes that a good professor can make complex concepts more understandable and enjoyable, while a poor professor can make the subject even more difficult. It's important to research professors and get advice from upperclassmen.

What was the speaker's personal experience with choosing a professor for a biochemistry class?

The speaker shared a negative experience where they chose a professor for a biochemistry class that didn't come highly recommended by upperclassmen. This led to a difficult semester with unfair grading and other issues, making the class much harder than it needed to be.

How does the speaker suggest managing the workload and avoiding burnout in the chemistry major?

The speaker suggests taking regular breaks, engaging in extracurricular activities, and maintaining a balanced schedule to avoid burnout. They emphasize that taking time off from studying actually helps improve performance and prevents fatigue from negatively affecting academic performance.

Despite the challenges, what is the speaker's overall opinion on the chemistry major?

The speaker loves the chemistry major, describing it as an incredible field. Despite the difficulties, they believe it is a fulfilling and valuable major, especially if students know how to manage the challenges effectively.