LOR from a pass/fail class

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is it a bad idea to take a class pass/fail but still ask the prof for a letter of rec?

I'm thinking of doing this for a spanish class so that I can have a non-science prof rec if I need it.

(obviously I'd still go to office hours and work hard during class, I just don't wanna worry about having to get an A)

thanks

Originally Posted by D0NQUIXOTE

is it a bad idea to take a class pass/fail but still ask the prof for a letter of rec?

I'm thinking of doing this for a spanish class so that I can have a non-science prof rec if I need it.

(obviously I'd still go to office hours and work hard during class, I just don't wanna worry about having to get an A)

thanks

It will be fine, but be realistic. Your professor won't be able to accurately assess your academic performance relative to your peers if letter grades aren't kept. For instance, you wouldn't expect the LOR to read "D0NQUIXOTE was highest performing pass I've met in ten years." Instead, you'd probably only find the LOR useful as a reflection of your personal character if your professor knows you well enough. If you have another non-science option, perhaps from a club or volunteer position, I'd opt for that instead.

Originally Posted by DOCBERT

It will be fine, but be realistic. Your professor won't be able to accurately assess your academic performance relative to your peers if letter grades aren't kept. For instance, you wouldn't expect the LOR to read "D0NQUIXOTE was highest performing pass I've met in ten years." Instead, you'd probably only find the LOR useful as a reflection of your personal character if your professor knows you well enough. If you have another non-science option, perhaps from a club or volunteer position, I'd opt for that instead.

thanks. for that matter, how many schools will require a non-science rec that MUST come from a prof you've taken a class with?

Do professors at your school even know if you're taking a class pass/fail? At my school, only your advisor and/or dean knows; the professor submits the grade as normal and the Registrar converts it to P or F as appropriate.

Originally Posted by Long Way to Go

Do professors at your school even know if you're taking a class pass/fail? At my school, only your advisor and/or dean knows; the professor submits the grade as normal and the Registrar converts it to P or F as appropriate.

I don't see how this matters too much. If you're taking a class for P/F and the prof still gives you a grade, most likely it's not going to be as higher than if you were taking the class for a grade. If the prof knows your grade and you "passed" (which, depending on the school could be as low as a D) I don't think you want a letter with their opinion on your academic performance from them.

@OP: Try your best not to get a letter from a P/F teacher unless they can make comments on what type of person you are rather than on how good of a student you are.