Wow. Seems like it's always been this way, then. When I was a freshman in 1988, there was a story about one of the professors (I don't remember the name; might have been the department chair?) who had a 67% failure rate in his freshman chemistry courses. The story goes that a few years prior, the university sent him away on sabbatical, standardized everything for the freshman classes, and then suddenly everyone started passing.
I’m a biochemistry major. I’ve taken a few chem labs and classes at Clemson now.
Having attended chemistry at the local community college, I can say Clemson’s chem department is at least worst than the community college’s.
I’ve liked most the professors I’ve had it in, but the building is old(they are building a new one), the department feels overly research focused and the undergrads suffer.
If it’s something you’re already motivated to do then you should do it. It chemistry, worst parts are gen chem and ochem for a lot of people so, it gets better lol.
additionally I speak from experience you can go premed in any degree program. So if you’re really into chemistry and get involved with research I think you’ll have an alright time if you’re more interested in premed there are other, similar degree programs available you could transfer into
Department sucks I'd recommend doing an engineering route if you like that field. Chem E and Materials Science and Engineering are both pretty good majors at the school that both require a lot of chemistry knowledge. It would be right up your wheelhouse and you'd get some solid professors in a department the school cares a lot more about to begin with
It’s pretty atrocious, orgo department is the only semi decent department. There are definitely some good professors that stick out, but most stink, especially for gen chem and ESPECIALLY the lab. Do chemical/ bio engineering or health science/ bio with a chem minor for pre med.
I recommend taking as many chem classes as you can at your local community college and transferring those credits to Clemson so you don’t have to take them here. Granted the grade won’t count towards your gpa but you will get the credit, and if you’re an in-state student it’ll also count toward your credit hours for your scholarship
Horrendous. My chem professors were great (Smith and Choi) but everything else was awful. I think general chem exams were made by Taylor Williams and they were unnecessarily hard (except for the finals). I finished with an A in 1010 and B in 1020. Labs are actually terrible. Expect to be thrown with a TA who doesn’t care for the lab, does not fully know lab material, and does not care for you or your grade. Directions for labs are unclear and it is widely known that lab head, Beena Thomas, will go in and lower grades if they are too high. She will also harshly grade lab reports and when you ask her for clarification, she cannot give you any. I’m taking orgo next semester, I’ve heard it gets better, but general chemistry is a mess. AVOID
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Wow. Seems like it's always been this way, then. When I was a freshman in 1988, there was a story about one of the professors (I don't remember the name; might have been the department chair?) who had a 67% failure rate in his freshman chemistry courses. The story goes that a few years prior, the university sent him away on sabbatical, standardized everything for the freshman classes, and then suddenly everyone started passing.
I’m a biochemistry major. I’ve taken a few chem labs and classes at Clemson now. Having attended chemistry at the local community college, I can say Clemson’s chem department is at least worst than the community college’s. I’ve liked most the professors I’ve had it in, but the building is old(they are building a new one), the department feels overly research focused and the undergrads suffer.
Do you think I’ll be okay? Or should I consider a different major
If it’s something you’re already motivated to do then you should do it. It chemistry, worst parts are gen chem and ochem for a lot of people so, it gets better lol. additionally I speak from experience you can go premed in any degree program. So if you’re really into chemistry and get involved with research I think you’ll have an alright time if you’re more interested in premed there are other, similar degree programs available you could transfer into
Department sucks I'd recommend doing an engineering route if you like that field. Chem E and Materials Science and Engineering are both pretty good majors at the school that both require a lot of chemistry knowledge. It would be right up your wheelhouse and you'd get some solid professors in a department the school cares a lot more about to begin with
It’s terrible
It’s pretty atrocious, orgo department is the only semi decent department. There are definitely some good professors that stick out, but most stink, especially for gen chem and ESPECIALLY the lab. Do chemical/ bio engineering or health science/ bio with a chem minor for pre med.
I recommend taking as many chem classes as you can at your local community college and transferring those credits to Clemson so you don’t have to take them here. Granted the grade won’t count towards your gpa but you will get the credit, and if you’re an in-state student it’ll also count toward your credit hours for your scholarship
Horrendous. My chem professors were great (Smith and Choi) but everything else was awful. I think general chem exams were made by Taylor Williams and they were unnecessarily hard (except for the finals). I finished with an A in 1010 and B in 1020. Labs are actually terrible. Expect to be thrown with a TA who doesn’t care for the lab, does not fully know lab material, and does not care for you or your grade. Directions for labs are unclear and it is widely known that lab head, Beena Thomas, will go in and lower grades if they are too high. She will also harshly grade lab reports and when you ask her for clarification, she cannot give you any. I’m taking orgo next semester, I’ve heard it gets better, but general chemistry is a mess. AVOID