Students entering Brown come from a wide variety of backgrounds and often seek advice regarding which chemistry course – CHEM0100, CHEM0330, or CHEM0350 – they should take during their first semester. Most Brown freshmen, including those who have taken the AP exam, should enroll in CHEM0330: Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure. However, some students who would like to solidify their backgrounds may be better suited for CHEM0100: Introductory Chemistry, while a select few students who have taken the IB HL exam and received a 6 or have completed higher-level Chemistry courses at selective colleges, may place into CHEM0350: Organic Chemistry I.
This year, we will no longer be requiring a placement exam to place into CHEM0330. Instead of the previous placement exam, this optional self-assessment is designed to help students make informed judgements about which course they should take. In the spirit of the Open Curriculum, we will give you the option of deciding which class you should take, but want you to reflect upon your knowledge to make an informed decision that will satisfy your long-term goals.
We encourage students to take the self-assessment which is intended to help choose the course that best fits their preparation.
Students who do well on this self-assessment should enroll in CHEM0330. If the topics covered on this self-assessment seem unfamiliar to you, you should enroll in CHEM0100 or otherwise use the ChemWeb Tutorial to refine your understanding of the topics you need to further practice.
If you would like further consultation, please contact the CHEM0100 or CHEM0330 instructors, Profs. Richard Stratt, Li-Qiong Wang, and Charles Morton, or discuss with our Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Amit Basu.