Keep current schedule & take Gen Chem II next summer or test out right now?
I am a rising freshman entering Texas State this fall as a Chemistry major. Right now, my current fall schedule looks like this
MATH 1315 (College Algebra)
CHEM 1320 (Introductory Chemistry)
ENG 1310 (College Writing I)
POSI 2310 (Principles of American Gov)
PHIL 1320 (Ethics and Society)
US 1100 (University Seminar)
Because I was placed into College Algebra, I'm technically one semester behind. Freshmen usually start in MATH 2417 (Pre-Calc) and CHEM 1341 (Gen Chem I).
I am trying to figure out which route to take to make sure I graduate on time, and I don't want to fall behind. I wasn't the best at high school, and I really want to change that in college. And I would love some advice on which route I should go?
Option 1: Keep my schedule exactly as it is for the fall. Take College Algebra and Foundation of Chemistry. Then, take Pre-Calc and Gen Chem I in the spring, and take summer classes to knock out CHEM 1342 & 1142 Gen Chem II / Lab so I am fully caught up before my sophomore year starts.
Option 2: Take placement tests right now over this summer before fall classes even start. Use the Texas State Testing Center to take the Accuplacer AAF math test need a 263+ to skip College Algebra, and take ALEKS Chemistry Readiness modules Online to test straight into Pre-Calc and Gen Chem I for this fall.
The thing I'm worried about is that if I do option one, I'm gonna have to take Gen Chem II/lab over the summer, and I'm not sure if I wanna take one of the hardest classes in a 5 week course. Any advice from TXST STEM majors who started in College Algebra or anybody really would be amazing!