Many Carlmont students struggle to decide which science classes to take their junior and senior year.
The officers of Chemistry Club offer support to make the AP Chemistry course more manageable and are an additional resource for students taking the class.
“The purpose of [Chemistry Club] is the supplement the material taught by Mr. Guzman and to assist people struggling with both AP and non-AP chemistry concepts,” said club secretary Sam Fields, a senior.
Along with the additional support, during their weekly Thursday lunch meetings in B2, members also perform practice labs to provide members the opportunity to gain practical lab experience.
“All three of the officers have taken the [AP Chemistry] course and know the material. We take questions every meeting on anything that was confusing during the week, solve practice problems, and provide one-on-one help to any who need it,” said club president Brian So, a senior.
The club also provides the opportunity for members to participate in the Chemistry Olympiad. The Olympiad has high school chemistry students first compete in the local competition, where the American Chemical Society picks nominees to take the National Exam.
Out of the 1,000 students that take the national exam, the 20 top-scoring students attend a study camp for two weeks in preparation for the International competition. The study camp takes place at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado in the summer each year.
The club covers both concepts from the class and the Chemistry Olympiad with its members.
“The types of questions on the first Chemistry Olympiad are almost identical to those asked on the AP exam,” said Fields. “By teaching members AP Chemistry concepts we can, in essence, we kill two birds with one stone.”
Working together, the officers help the club members achieve success in the AP Chemistry class.
“As officers, we can clarify confusing topics for students and offer advice from the viewpoint of students who were successful in the class,” said So.
