Physical Chemistry vs. Biochemistry?

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes in living organisms. It deals with the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Other topics include properties of water, acid-base chemistry, enzyme and enzyme kinetics, and recombinant DNA technology. You will also study metabolic pathways you touched in Biology I in more detail (ex: citric acid cycle).

Physical chemistry is the application of physics to macroscopic, microscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems within the field of chemistry traditionally using the principles of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and kinetics. For most of the rules and equations you learned in general chemistry and elementary physics, you get to learn how to derive those equations in physical chemistry (ex: ideal gas law). Physical chemistry is a field that is so broad that it is usually divided into three courses: Physical Chemistry I covers thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, Physical Chemistry II covers quantum mechanics and spectroscopy, and Physical Chemistry III covers kinetics.

Which one will be easier depends on what you are good at and what you like. If you like biology, root memorization, and concepts, then you'll probably like biochemistry. On the other hand, if you're really good at math, and like doing derivatives and integrals, then maybe you'll like physical chemistry. Overall, most people agree that physical chemistry is the harder of the two. Biochemistry is a lot like other biology courses, such as Cell Biology and Ecology, where you memorize factoids from PowerPoint slides given by your instructor. When you get to metabolism, you will apply some organic chemistry to certain reactions, but it's not too bad, as the oxidation/reduction chemistry you liked in organic is pretty much the same. Physical Chemistry is much more different. Not only do you have to memorize equations, but you have to apply them to certain problems. Plus, the problems you do in physical chemistry are very lengthy; a lot longer than problems you do in Calculus I, II, and III. If you take Physical Chemistry II, you will learn about the variational principle, and you will see that solving one problem for the ground state wavefunction using a trial function can take one whole page.

I personally liked physical chemistry over biochemistry because I'm a math person.

Chemistry Vs Biochemistry

If you are a math person and are able to visualize various kinetic processes in your head then physical is your best bet...

Biochemistry is more of an involvement of basic biology and chemistry...As you advance in biochemistry it subdivides into other various fields like immunology , microbiology and molecular biology.

Yeah, if you are good enough with maths then go with physics or else go with biochemistry

The first thing you have to do is make sure Genetics will be offered in the SPring. It might not! In many colleges some classes are only offered in alternate semsters. Before you "bank" on it being there for you next semester, find out for sure. Talk to the biology department chair and the Registrar. I would get all of the requirements out of the way first.