Ok so I was thinking about majoring in chemistry, specifically organic (minor in neuro/psycho-pharmacology). I was researching about which universities have chemistry programs available. So I came up with some in a nearby area. I don't really want to go too far. The one's I've come up with are: UC Berkeley, SF State, or UC Santa Cruz. Berkeley amongst those three is definitely the best chemistry school, but it will require a good amount of effort just to get in. On the other hand, how is SF state and UC Santa Cruz look in terms of chemistry/pharmacology? Anything other than those universities around the Bay Area (NorCal) with a good chemistry/pharmacology program (I don't plan on going to SoCal or the Central Valley)? One problem I have found is that no university actually offers majoring in organic chemistry (searched on their websites and on collegeboard.com), but in fact biochemistry. Is there a reason why they don't list it, or is it just for the fact that they don't have it.

Another question I had was how is the university of Amsterdam? I know it has a pretty good reputation but I was wondering how hard it is to actually get in. I've done a lot of googling and haven't found anything that really explains requirements other than saying you need a diploma (doesn't even say anything specific). Is it possible to come straight out of highschool, or will I need to go to community college for a couple of years? Also, how does the school system there work? For example here, to major in chemistry, you need to take chemistry 1a,1b,2a,2b blah blah, biology 1a,1b blah blah, physics, math and what not; totaling up to a huge amount of classes/credits. How does Europe's university system work in those terms?

Thanks

Granted I live on the other side of the country, I can tell you those three schools you listed are all very good. What would you like to do post college? Regardless of whether you want to go into research, grad school, pharmacy school, or med school you're grades will the determining factor of whether or not you are accepted.

When you go to visit these colleges, you should ask what the college's chemistry/biochemistry majors do after college. Also you should look into their facilities and the quality of the research that is conducted on campus. Also I really doubt any college offers specifically an organic chemistry major. Don't hold my opinion too highly though, I'm an accounting major. I'm 100% sure there are chemistry, other science related majors on totse that will probably give you a better answer than me. I'm just giving my perspective from what I've heard from my friends.

I don't have a clue about European universities, sorry.

Most schools are likely to offer majors in chemistry or biochemistry. Never heard of an organic chemistry major myself. Perhaps it would be a specialization within the chemistry major, or a minor. I see that Berkley also has a Toxicology major.

It appears the organic chemistry major is so rare, I'd have to question its usefulness over just majoring in chemistry. CollegeBoard only shows 6 schools with the major. There is one in California, Pitzer College in Claremont.

I see two of your choices at the top of these lists:

http://archive.sciencewatch.com/nov-dec2002/sw_nov-dec2002_page2.htm#Chemistry

http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area28.html (this one refers to graduate programs and is over 10 years old...might not be relevant)