One week in to Summer Chemistry and Society, and I'm left bewildered by the fact that this is only a 3 credit course. It is, in fact, a combined lecture and lab, "chemistry basics" course. Ten grueling weeks of tests, three part lab reports, essays, and the like. Yet, unlike standard science classes where the lecture is 3 credit hours and lab component gains you another, for a total of 4, Chemistry and Society is apparently considered the bare minimum in Chemistry education. I am not very happy about this. You all know my "claim your education" mantra, never settle for what they are willing to hand you, rise up and take that which you can handle.
Thing is, I never took Chem in high school; I skirted by with physical science and couple biologies. Looking towards an Ivy, I figured a base knowledge of Chemistry would be beneficial considering their rigorous science requirement. One week in, I'm scampering for the door after two three hour lecture sessions, so that I have enough time to muddle through pages of homework involving a level of math, I had all but forgotten. I've never felt like such an idiot, that corner of my brain a sort of rusty door hinge exposed to the elements, just opened after ages. The rules stood foggy, moving between the SI units you multiply by a 1000 or 1/1000 depending on the unit getting smaller or larger. The integer over 10, in scientific notation, looses a few if you move the decimal to the...left? Right? Left, yes...right.
Oh! What have I gotten myself into?
Stay tuned, this holds the promise of a fair amount of schadenfreude for all my dear readers.
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