English vs. writing-intensive class? Pass/fail?

[canievengetin]

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Hi all - I'm planning to apply this coming cycle and just started taking a look at med school prereqs. I've noticed a lot of schools allow for writing-intensive classes in place of a year's worth of classes under the English department. My school has a GE system that labels certain classes as giving "Writing Experience" GE credit, for which the class must show that writing is central to the course and assign at least 10 pages of writing. I've taken three quarters of these (philosophy, religious studies, politics) but have only taken one class that's under the English department. Would they count towards my year's worth of writing-intensive classes or should I take 2 other English classes despite this (quarter system)?

I'm also currently enrolled in an upper-division English class (my second true English class) that I'm considering making pass/fail primarily for GPA protection since the next cycle is coming up so soon. Could taking the class as pass/fail hurt me in any way? It'll be my first pass/fail class in college, but I've seen differing opinions from @LizzyM and @Catalystik so I wanted to check while I could.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[LizzyM]

I consider pass/fail classes to be neutral (neither hurting nor helping).
I'm not qualified to answer your question about how to meet English/writing pre-reqs for specific medical schools.

 

[canievengetin]

@Goro @Faha do either of you have any idea about whether my humanities classes would qualify as writing-intensive?

 

[Goro]

@Goro @Faha do either of you have any idea about whether my humanities classes would qualify as writing-intensive?

Nope

 

[MyOdyssey]

@Goro @Faha do either of you have any idea about whether my humanities classes would qualify as writing-intensive?

Different schools have different policies about what they consider writing intensive courses?

Based on my research of school websites, the schools that are the most demanding are Columbia, Cornell and Boston University - especially Columbia.

If I were you, I'd research your state schools and out of state schools that you have a reasonably plausible shot of acceptance on a school by school basis to get your question answered.