So You Want To Be A Chemistry Major? | 5 Things You Should Know

[@sarahg4409]

"You need to survive physical chemistry" hear that ... SURVIVE!

[@ScienceWithMike]

Truth, Sarah!

[@B_u_L_i]

I can confirm that, it's all about surviving 😂

[@juuni1503]

I got an A for physical chem. A for organic. but a B+ for inorganic. they still count that as a A-. sad life for me

[@ethannaef7303]

My saying in P chem was, "Praise the Curve Lords!!"

[@almacyrenable]

True phy chem and analy chem.omg.

[@camaphodo]

me, wanting to be a chemistry major: did the physical chemistry kill you? my cousin who made it: yes *BUT I LIVED*

[@ScienceWithMike]

Ha Ha! 2nd semester (quantum mechanics) was like a huge mystery to me. It was the only C grade I ever got. For me the first semester (thermodynamics) was much more comprehensible.

[@strugglingcollegestudent]

That’s gonna be me next semester

[@puspasdewi]

The physical chemistry part got me hysterical😂

[@redwarrior320]

That class is HELL!!!!

[@matteopinna8567]

Ahahaah me too 😂

[@Kinixys3]

Yep it is like Third Rock from the Sun with the alien physics professor lecturing and all the students with deer in the headlight looks. I joked that my pchem textbook was written by Stephen King because it scared the heck out of me.

[@kayeblcksn5567]

same here lol

[@AdaughterofEloheim]

Yes 🤣🤣🤣

[@Nick2014B]

Few months from graduating, my best advice is to use those new Ipads for notes it's all about organizing your thoughts together so they come together like a book once you find yourself studying problems without reading the question realize your setting yourself up for failure, Also P chem isn't that bad to get the textbook conceptional understanding of thermodynamics by Bill Poirier (my old professor) and it explains everything like a book and makes learning the equations of states pretty easy

[@ScienceWithMike]

Great advice, Nick!

[@PretendThatImBad]

Not what I expected... And I'm glad it wasn't

[@KBH4]

WHY ARE YOU SCARING US WITH THOSE EXPRESSIONS XD o.o

[@ScienceWithMike]

That's my regular face! Lol!

[@gunjanruhal]

These don't really seem life threatening, I think I will go for it.

[@MikeCanestaro]

Shout out to Alex for acting the part of the dunce. He's actually a pretty smart and witty dude.

[@dontm311]

You had me at calculus, definitely not going to major in chemistry now.

[@CobaltxBoom]

I love that one too lol

[@man_of_muscles]

You look like if tom Cruise studied chemistry instead of movies

[@dove8982]

I'm currently a senior in high school working through the hectic process of applying to college. I'm pretty certain I want to major in chemistry and possibly go into pharmacology. I was really happy to figure this out and I really hope it's not as bad as it sounds! I'm gonna update a year from now and tell where I ended up!

[@arsemagossaye1342]

Cool, I'm basically in the same boat as you. I'm a high school senior as well an also thinking about majoring in chemistry and possibly go into pharmacology.

[@ScienceWithMike]

It's hard, but you can do it!

[@dove8982]

​@@ScienceWithMike Thank you for your reply and encouragement!! I have struggles focusing on writing, but STEM has always been a strength of mine! I hope it will go well

[@naicadesruisseaux4376]

I’m in high school never took chemistry class so I’m self teaching myself Im kinda understanding some but the math put is hard I want major chemistry to do medical scientist

[@wernerheisenberg4553]

any updates?

[@see-ghoinamaliu]

😂 Came out of the exam room thinking I failed 😂😂 Tough but challenging and all the more motivated me to complete my BSc Chemistry Degree! I admit I barely survived but now I trully appreciate the central application of chemistry in life!

[@ibrokhimbekjurabekov6099]

Best chemist ever who is exentric and with sense of humour!

[@handleiguesss]

This was amazing and I love your personality! I'm subscribing 😂

[@Error403HRD]

Joke's on you, I like calculus. I don't like abstract math or proofs which is why math was never really gonna be my major, maybe a minor though.

[@ScienceWithMike]

Good for you. Someone's gotta like it, or we'd have no proof of theories.

[@itsjazlyn156]

VioHRD sameeee

[@Kevin-hp1ip]

1st year of chem. If I make it, I’ll come back in 4 years 🥲👍

[@kahedakylar]

how u doin

[@Deez.-]

did you make it

[@julianzeppa]

I'm at my third year of collage to become a chemist (the career takes 5 years) and I've already had physical chemistry 1 and it was very easy all the caculus part, the hard was the theorical part of the subject. This year I have p-chem 2, next year p-chem 3 and last year of my career p-chem 4.... so yes....I guess I'll die (also this year I have quantum physics) wish me luck please 🤣

[@ScienceWithMike]

Hang in there! It ends, eventually!

[@keziab6758]

Did he just say calculus oh my gosh I can’t escape

[@nosferatualucard2613]

In my experience the organic chemistry lectures "kill" way more people than the physical chemistry lectures (except advanced quantum mechanics maybe, but thats also fine if you take the time to practise the calculations). Organic chemistry is just a lot more stuff to learn than thermodynamics and kinetics (physical chemistry). If you do do the (calculation) exercises in physical chemistry you will be fine.

[@ScienceWithMike]

And then we'll ride unicorns to fairy land!

[@nosferatualucard2613]

@@ScienceWithMike You really don't like math do you 😄

[@justanothernobody4189]

I’ll be starting my first year at uni soon and I chose Chem for my major... and your video made me feel excited to start it haha

[@ScienceWithMike]

Enjoy the ride, Priscilla!

[@amtulshakoor7295]

hey there.. just wanted to know how was it and what are you doing nowadays.. do u think it was worth it?

[@strugglingcollegestudent]

I’m probably going to work for industry for a little bit because I heard there are jobs which will encourage you to pursue a PhD and offer like an extra raise to support you through grad school. I know most grad students don’t make a lot of money and I don’t want to be poor

[@ScienceWithMike]

This true about grad school. The stipend is sometimes less than 20K a year.

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@ScienceWithMike What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Certified Public Accountant or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@alegoncalves472]

Didn't get the last one 😢

[@robertoriv5574]

Lmao I love this! Btw, by the time you take physical chemistry, you'll be prepared. :)... the concepts are interesting too

[@robertoriv5574]

Also... If you want colorful glassware, then you shouldn't fear because inorganic chemistry is here!!

[@ImaninllbWilliams]

😊 Thank you, cool video!

[@Krypton92546]

I am a Physical Chemist and Organic is something I see as a monster...

[@shadowlynxv6082]

How did it almost kill u

[@bradsimmons2150]

Well this video brightened my mood I'm 29 about to get out of the military after 10 years pretty soon I'm currently a sophomore was wondering if chemistry would be a good feild to get a bachelor degree in. I was interested in criminal justice because of how short it would be for me due to clep and military credits buttttt idk if I'll pass a background check anymore for that plan. Chemistry is something I've always been interested in

[@alexcross3286]

Im in undergrad now and I'm thinking about switching my major to chemistry. I had no idea that you could get your PhD for free. Could you go over that and talk about what grad school is like?

[@MikeCanestaro]

Hey Alex! Yeah, Here's how it works: basically when you get accepted to a Ph.D. program at a university and you will have all your tuition waived and you will be paid a stipend to teach first year labs sections. That's pretty much universal. After you take a bunch of courses in your first year and take qualifying exams, you will then hopefully make the grade to choose and be accepted by a major professor who runs a research group. This is the group under which you will work for the next 2 to 4 years, performing the research whereby you will write your dissertation which you will defend to earn your doctorate degree. It's basically the same system everywhere!

[@Kinixys3]

If you like Chemistry I'd strongly recommend either pursuing Chemical engineering or computer science with a minor in chemistry. Job prospects for Chemistry majors is horrifyingly poor. I have an MSc. with 10 year of experience and still hang up on recruiters wanting to offer $15-20 an hour contract/temp no benefits. I have seriously considered leaving the profession and would absolutely not recommend nor allow anyone in my family to major in it.

[@Kinixys3]

@Killary For Prison I watched the others in the lab I got my MSc toil like a dog for 7+ years and have a worse time finding a job than a felon. Not worth it. Heck they frequently discussed hiding their PhD to get a job and whether that counted as lying on your application.

[@Kinixys3]

@Killary For Prison Yes I did the PhD isn't worth it. There is a huge oversupply of PhD Chemists relative to the number of jobs leading them to either post-doc or hide the PhD and try to get BS/MS work. Not to mention 7+ years working like a slave. If I ever got another degree it would not be in science.

[@GiftedPoultry528]

I might do the free option just for a braking bad reference. Also because chemistry is interesting.

[@ScienceWithMike]

It is actually free if you pursue a doctorate, sometimes if you pursue a master's, because they will hire you at a teaching assistant (TA) to teach lab sections. You get paid a stipend and they waive your tuition.

[@dilanakkurt9472]

So funny, I LOVE It!!

[@0anniegrace]

And here I am thinking analytical chemistry will kill me. Dang! So physical chemistry will kill me the second time.

[@ScienceWithMike]

Chemistry majors have 6.02 x 10^23 lives!

[@laracroft8376]

Well, I first died during O Chem!

[@0anniegrace]

Update: physical chemistry IS killing me now ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ

[@phillipchavez1321]

Dude, I love your video 👌

[@sillysillyputty8723]

I am 28, no college degree and am considering going to college to study chemistry. I love chemistry in high school, As both semester. I took calculus 1 and 2 10 years ago, got an A and B. Am I stupid and naive to think I should try chemistry?

[@wernerheisenberg4553]

did u finally start studying chem?

[@mouhammeddaouayry]

I love your energy :)

[@chiensyang]

There is one career path for chemist which the video did not mention, entrepreneurship; like the one Walter White took. 😉

[@ScienceWithMike]

Yes, and did you see where that got him?

[@chiensyang]

@@ScienceWithMike, The winking emoji should have told you I was being sarcastic.

[@TheOGRokma]

I feel ya with the physical

[@DahshonJahzer]

Arigato Gozaimasu👁️

[@JustinGarfield1]

Haha cool. Although I got my BA in Criminal Justice 😥, I'm going back to major in chemistry to be a teacher and chemist. I am studying now math and chemistry for almost a year. They are both challenging but the math is like pulling teeth 😢. Chemistry is fun but of course as you already know it is so extensive... But worth the challenge. 👍

[@ScienceWithMike]

Yeah man, keep at it! Go as far as you can until you can't take any more school. Then, go make some money and do good things!

[@ScienceWithMike]

Oh and I hear teaching is cool. Done 26 years of it!

[@JustinGarfield1]

Wow amazing. I'm inspired. 👍

[@ericastrawberrica8439]

this is great.

[@ina2703]

thanks mike

[@eri7667]

the calculus part killed me hahaha

[@christopher-zq4ko]

Physical Chemistry was fun for me at least.

[@Mrs.pinkalicious]

You think I can major in chemistry after high school? I barely know anything about chemistry and I’m going into my senior year 😔 I was thinking about going to a technical college to become a medical laboratory technician then transfer to a university and major in chemistry but I don’t think that’ll work maybe biochem or biomedical? I don’t know. What you think? 😕

[@ScienceWithMike]

You can do ALL of those things if you set your mind to it. Shut out the noise of the world and just DO IT!

[@scholarlyanalyst7700]

@@ScienceWithMikeWhat sounds harder to your ears? 1. Masters Degree in Mathematics or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@UncoolKidsOnTheBlock]

Hey, Mike! I’m an undergrad going into the second year of my chem degree. Do you have any study tips for Organic Chemistry- or any Chemistry, really! And are their any online sites (like channels on KZbin or any websites) that you find particularly helpful with Chemistry!

[@ScienceWithMike]

KZbin now has a bunch of great channels for suplemental chemistry instruction.

[@graceeotoole9539]

Be staight with my Mike on a scale from 0 to 10. How much physics is involved, i just took ochem and LOVED it, but i am not a fan of physics. So I am thinking about switching from chemical engineering to chemistry/pharmacy. So I really need to know how much physics is involved.

[@ScienceWithMike]

Gracee O'Toole Outside of Physical Chemistry (P Chem) not much! So on a scale of one to ten, I'd say two. I was a chemical engineering major and I switched

[@Klaus-Schwab_Dictator]

What major should I choose if I like both Physics and Chemistry ?

[@diaswrld05]

Chemical Engineering.

[@JGscienceGaming]

This was super helpful thank you so much!! youre PhD is free?! granted you can get through it? no way!!!!

[@ScienceWithMike]

Way. See if you can find a KZbin video on what graduate school is like in field of chemistry. Here in the U.S. you get a tuition waiver and either a teaching apprenticeship (to teach lab sections and do all the grunt work) or a research apprenticeship to do research (if you are some sort of star they recruit). Guess which one I was?

[@RowdyLpx]

This guy is a stone cold killer

[@aminatahir0928]

And I'm 2nd year Chemistry student...😐

[@ScienceWithMike]

It's about to get real, ya'll!

[@lorechadominic4920]

😅😂physical chemistry got me

[@phnix9529]

Sir I have physics pass course .....they says you cant do Chemistry degree without math ...pls reply sir 😩😩😩😩

[@ScienceWithMike]

Chemistry is a tough field to study because all of the math is applied. In your junior year, physical chemistry requires you have a working knowledge of calculus. It is all a necessary evil, of sorts, unless you love math in the first place. I didn't love math, I just liked slash tolerated it.

[@thecrudelab3204]

Yay chemistry

[@mariafernandapadillagonzal3983]

Nice vid! 🤠

[@ismrity1976]

And please tell me about organic chemistry?

[@ScienceWithMike]

You may or may not like it. No math, lots of memorization, lots of concepts.

[@lilyq4434]

im thinking of shifting to chemistry because i really love studying chemistry lol but im really dumb at math and i hate studying it

[@ScienceWithMike]

Become a synthetic chemist! Avoid analytical and physical. That's my two cents!

[@lilyq4434]

@@ScienceWithMike thank you! those courses are still inevitable in uni so i really can't take the risk buuuut i really love chemistry! will definitely keep that in mind

[@ScienceWithMike]

Could always make it a minor.

[@judoodie2717]

I would love to be an Environmental Chemist! How much math is involved though? I suck at math 😭

[@dandreer3150]

Hello Mike, First of all, I enjoyed the video. It was very informative and amusing 😂😂 Secondly, in your opinion, is it too late to study chemistry at the age of 29 and make a career out of it later in life? Have you encountered mature students in your classes? You see, I wasn't very interested in STEM subjects when I was at school since, frankly, there was very little of them (only basic mathematics and physics. No chemistry) and even those subjects were a nightmare (the teachers were just awful). I only became interested in STEM subjects, in particular, mathematics and chemistry, in the last 3 years, during my training as a civil engineering draftsman.

[@ScienceWithMike]

Dan, I have seen plenty of students your age switch their career into chemistry. You are still just a baby at 29. You have plenty of time left.

[@dandreer3150]

@@ScienceWithMike That's what I kept telling myself, but I still wanted reassuring advice from an expert like you. Thank you :)

[@sabby88888888]

I went back at 37 and finished a BS in biochem right before I turned 40. I work as a plastic chemist now. There are many people who go back to school later in life and change careers.

[@Iittlebird__]

I want to be a chemist, but I want to make big kaboom Then when I think of it I'm shit at math...

[@michaelafton3739]

I do have one thing to ask do you have to be good at math because this is soemthing i want to really major in

[@cubo2852]

I am going to do a physics amd chemistry jt honours in the UK where I can specialise in physical chemistry from 1st year lool. Only part I like xd

[@chocolate4826]

Hello mike... Though I tried hard I cant do organic chemistry. Drawing the structures are also hard for me retro synthesis is killing me... What kind of of approach should I take to be a good organic chemist

[@ScienceWithMike]

You can do organic chemistry. It's just a matter of whether you want to put in the time to master it. Don't get me wrong, I was not a fan of organic. I tended to prefer the measurement side of the field of chemistry, so I went into analytical chemistry as part of my graduate research.

[@javeriaijaz8558]

I'm crying rn😂

[@awood9214]

It's free to get your PhD in Chemistry?

[@phantom5101]

This guy should be in breaking bad

[@ScienceWithMike]

I had cancer when I was 17! But, I lived, so maybe not.

[@phantom5101]

@@ScienceWithMike ahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[@mace3886]

Hi Mike! I'm a freshman going into a chemistry major this year. Do you have any tips for someone who is good at the mathematics of chemistry but lack in the lab setting?

[@ScienceWithMike]

Hey mace, I'd recommending seeing if your college would hire you as some sort of lab rat to prep stuff for the labs? Where I work, we hire a student worker for that now and again and the way to get better at lab skills is repetition.

[@mace3886]

Science With Mike okay :) thanks for the advice

[@Proton3601]

Haha your content is so cool 😎

[@D2DOPAMINE]

0:16 headphone users beware ;)

[@Maria-kt3ig]

does this apply for UK as well?

[@ScienceWithMike]

I cannot speak for the U.K. as I am over here in the U.S., but I feel a science education is a great place to target your career, no matter what the county.

[@ScienceWithMike]

I cannot speak for the U.K. as I am over here in the U.S., but I feel a science education is a great place to target your career, no matter what the county.

[@aimanickel9680]

chemistry tutorials please.

[@ScienceWithMike]

You got it! kzbin.info/door/4WaB37gcNUxtokKAvgDGVQ?view_as=subscriber

[@kristine6819]

Well, it inspired me to pursue chem, I really love to be a chemist someday✊

[@ScienceWithMike]

You can do it!

[@octoberdawn1087]

😃

[@Chris-xg9cb]

i know he cookin skante

[@devanshugautam753]

Hahahaha!! great video

[@heyihavenoclue7541]

hey youre awesome

[@axree]

Calculus😭...

[@kristine6819]

Argghh physical chem explained by calculus?! you've to be kiddin' meeeee😭

[@ScienceWithMike]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn66qaGgnNuIh68

[@exbiar7252]

why dont you blink

[@ScienceWithMike]

I am just that focused. Or, possibly, I am a robot. *budabeep*

[@londoncarter9114]

and I wanted to be a chemist simply for the lab coat🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️ Smf!

[@ScienceWithMike]

There are many other professions with unnecessary coats such doctor and pharmacist.

[@davidpthanga9095]

Check out the new guy

[@CheyeneHansen]

wait waitt! drinking alcohol is technically a solution lol

[@bs-qu1vq]

I would NEVER major in Chem

[@crystalicshame4179]

Washing your hands before using the toilet, thats something only a science person would say

[@augustsmith9553]

Try-Hard

[@ScienceWithMike]

That stars Bruce Willis, right?

[@augustsmith9553]

No, I’m not suggesting someone put effort into things. The phrase “Try-Hard” is more of a judgement that someone is trying way too hard. Does that make sense? Great videos

[@augustsmith9553]

@@ScienceWithMike nice

[@mental_infirmity]

Lol nice.

[@حمزه-ش8ع]

ca..ca..ca...calculus 🤣🤣🤣

[@user-rd1lu7yx1b]

for me physical chemistry is easy but organic makes me cry everytime

[@ScienceWithMike]

I didn't like organic. People asked me like "Mike, don't you like making stuff in lab?" and I'm like "No."

[@user-rd1lu7yx1b]

@@ScienceWithMike just remember that aromatic synthesis, stereoselective synthesis etc what a nightmare

[@dsvdsv8466]

Work in this field and you will certainly develope health problems down the line

[@ScienceWithMike]

I'm sorry to hear that. I had Hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 16-17. Then, I went into the chemistry field and breathed a bunch of methylene chloride doing research in grad school. Count me lucky, I guess...

[@axis1198]

I love organic and inorganic chemistry, but... I guess Ill try to SURVIVE calculus 🥲

[@ScienceWithMike]

:) It's the only choice you've got, but you can do it!