[dga91]

Hello. I'm new here.

So, I'm a senior and will soon be getting my Chemistry BA degree with a minor in Mathematics. I've done pretty well in all my chemistry classes, only one "C" for Organic Chem 2. After all this time, I feel worried, like I haven't learned much and am unprepared. This might sound silly, but I've begun watching "Breaking Bad" and I hear how Walter, the main character, talks about chemicals, procedures, and instruments like it's nothing, and I feel like I can barely understand what he's talking about. I worry about getting a job relating to chemistry and being completely blank when I'm asked to do something...

Is this normal? Do I learn more with experience? Or is chemistry just not for me?

[curiouscat]

Is this normal? Do I learn more with experience? Or is chemistry just not for me?

Normal. Smart people often underrate themselves. Stupid people often think they are smarter than they are.

If your Grades show you did well, then you probably did. You'll feel more confident after you get a job. Of course, learning never stops.

[Borek]

Normal. Smart people often underrate themselves. Stupid people often think they are smarter than they are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger_Effect

I've begun watching "Breaking Bad" and I hear how Walter, the main character, talks about chemicals, procedures, and instruments like it's nothing, and I feel like I can barely understand what he's talking about

I haven't seen the show, but I find it quite likely that his lines are intended to be not easy to understand (and actually they are not guaranteed to mean anything).

[Arkcon]

I was a fan of the show, but I've missed a couple of seasons (so no spoilers please!)  However, yes, the show is being written to show that Walter White is some sort of supergenius ... at least intellectually.  Early in the shows run, he walks, wistfully, through his old partner's library -- he's genuinely happy to be surrounded by books, its what he'd rather be doing than teaching high school.   Early in the run, when he blows up a car by shorting out its battery with a window washing squeegee, you realize -- OK,he's so smart, its practically a superpower, like Superman, or Batman.  You and I can't replicate that.  But its not because we're not smart enough, we just don't have writers writing other peoples lines and situations (and the laws of physics and chemistry) for us. 

[Kate]

Hey, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm a senior as well and I'll be getting my chemistry degree next summer but with a minor in biology.

I feel pretty down at the moment too. I feel very unprepared and I got pretty good grades, so I blame it on some teachers who are extremely uninspiring. So it's not just you. And I want to have a career in science and I worry so much about not getting a place or if I'm even smart enough for it.

I think we're supposed to graduate with only a basic knowledge of chemistry and with a sense of how to solve problems that arise in a lab. Or at least I hope so.

Haven't seen Breaking Bad, but if it's chemistry related, then I'll check it out.

[kriggy]

Well Im getting hopefuly my BA next year in june or something and in my opinion while doing BA you learn only basics of chemistry which you can build on while doing masters or later while doing phd.