P/F vs. W

[Sophocles]

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So, I have tried searching but could find nothing except posts specifically on W's and not the difference between the two. Not to say that they are not out there, just that I could not find any. Therefore, I would like to know the general consensus between a P/F vs. W. I also have one W, but that doesn't really matter. My advisor is telling me that adcom's will consider a P/F as a cop out because I wasn't doing good in a course versus a W which could be from a myriad of different situations. I believe that if I W I will not be able to gain the committee letter since I would not have 2 science LOR from this specific institution. Although, I may have found a loophole. So, if I W I could potentially lose my committee letter but if I do not I could have a P/F which would not look favorably (supposedly) to adcoms, yet I might have my LOR (assuming that the science prof. from which I chose to P/F gives me a LOR). I know its alot and kinda weird. This is why I need advice. Have at it.

 

[doobydoob]

So, I have tried searching but could find nothing except posts specifically on W's and not the difference between the two. Not to say that they are not out there, just that I could not find any. Therefore, I would like to know the general consensus between a P/F vs. W. I also have one W, but that doesn't really matter. My advisor is telling me that adcom's will consider a P/F as a cop out because I wasn't doing good in a course versus a W which could be from a myriad of different situations. I believe that if I W I will not be able to gain the committee letter since I would not have 2 science LOR from this specific institution. Although, I may have found a loophole. So, if I W I could potentially lose my committee letter but if I do not I could have a P/F which would not look favorably (supposedly) to adcoms, yet I might have my LOR (assuming that the science prof. from which I chose to P/F gives me a LOR). I know its alot and kinda weird. This is why I need advice. Have at it.

Huh? i thought P/F is way better than W. You could also have a bunch of reasons for P/Fing a class, just as with withdrawing from a class. With a P/F though, you at least tried to get a 60...

 

[Cambino]

Huh? i thought P/F is way better than W. You could also have a bunch of reasons for P/Fing a class, just as with withdrawing from a class. With a P/F though, you at least tried to get a 60...

This is incorrect.
It's a numbers game, take the W over a failing a grade.

OP, I don't believe you used the search function correctly. 😴

 

[sector9]

So, I have tried searching but could find nothing except posts specifically on W's and not the difference between the two. Not to say that they are not out there, just that I could not find any. Therefore, I would like to know the general consensus between a P/F vs. W. I also have one W, but that doesn't really matter. My advisor is telling me that adcom's will consider a P/F as a cop out because I wasn't doing good in a course versus a W which could be from a myriad of different situations. I believe that if I W I will not be able to gain the committee letter since I would not have 2 science LOR from this specific institution. Although, I may have found a loophole. So, if I W I could potentially lose my committee letter but if I do not I could have a P/F which would not look favorably (supposedly) to adcoms, yet I might have my LOR (assuming that the science prof. from which I chose to P/F gives me a LOR). I know its alot and kinda weird. This is why I need advice. Have at it.

That's strange advice from your advisor. Both a P/F and a W could be from a myriad of different reasons. The difference in my mind is that if you get a P at least you Passed the class whereas with a W then you didn't pass it (If you P/F it and get the F then that's a whole different story)

Don't P/F in a med school prereq class though. If it's a prereq then I would W (if you are going to get a bad grade) and then retake

 

[sector9]

This is incorrect.
It's a numbers game, take the W over a failing a grade.

OP, I don't believe you used the search function correctly. 😴

This is a strange post, since a W, P, or a F (in a P/F course) will all do the same thing to the OP's GPA: absolutely nothing

 

[doobydoob]

This is incorrect.
It's a numbers game, take the W over a failing a grade.

OP, I don't believe you used the search function correctly. 😴

Well, I'm assuming he or she will pass.

 

[Sophocles]

Well, I'm assuming he or she will pass.

I have a C average with another couple of tests left in this semester. It is a pre-req but I have already taken this course at another institution and received an A, but at this current one the difficulty level is much harder. So the reason I took it although I did not have to is to help me prepare for the MCAT. That is why I thought that it wouldn't be bad to P/F. Especially considering that if I W I will have to pay back a certain amount of money to the GI bill and my monthly stipdend from the GI bill will go down. So considering that it is unlikely that I will Fail this class, should I still even consider W? The institution I am from has a pretty good reputation for putting people into medical school which is the only reason I am even considering this (since it doesn't make any sense). I wish LizzyM would comment!!!

 

[Sophocles]

Bump.... No suggestions??

 

[zwitterion34]

I think P/F is better than a W. 😎

 

[nctw]

So, I have tried searching but could find nothing except posts specifically on W's and not the difference between the two. Not to say that they are not out there, just that I could not find any. Therefore, I would like to know the general consensus between a P/F vs. W. I also have one W, but that doesn't really matter. My advisor is telling me that adcom's will consider a P/F as a cop out because I wasn't doing good in a course versus a W which could be from a myriad of different situations. I believe that if I W I will not be able to gain the committee letter since I would not have 2 science LOR from this specific institution. Although, I may have found a loophole. So, if I W I could potentially lose my committee letter but if I do not I could have a P/F which would not look favorably (supposedly) to adcoms, yet I might have my LOR (assuming that the science prof. from which I chose to P/F gives me a LOR). I know its alot and kinda weird. This is why I need advice. Have at it.

Like others have said, I wouldn't do it in a prereq. We're only allowed to take free electives and PE courses as pass/fail. If I had not had taken bowling as pass/fail, I'd have a C on my transcript 🙂

 

[PMPMD]

I think P/F is better than a W. 😎

Agree with this. It should not be THAT hard to get the P.

 

[sector9]

I have a C average with another couple of tests left in this semester. It is a pre-req but I have already taken this course at another institution and received an A, but at this current one the difficulty level is much harder. So the reason I took it although I did not have to is to help me prepare for the MCAT. That is why I thought that it wouldn't be bad to P/F. Especially considering that if I W I will have to pay back a certain amount of money to the GI bill and my monthly stipdend from the GI bill will go down. So considering that it is unlikely that I will Fail this class, should I still even consider W? The institution I am from has a pretty good reputation for putting people into medical school which is the only reason I am even considering this (since it doesn't make any sense). I wish LizzyM would comment!!!

Well you're in a fairly unusual situation since you have already taken the class once and got an A. So retaking it for a W, P, or C is going to look weird, but I still maintain that taking the P will be better in the long run because 1. you still passed 2. it's not going to hurt your GPA. I'm not sure which one is the best from an adcomm position though... none of them are great TBH now that we know you've already taken the class. It throws doubt on your presumably great GPA from your previous school

I'm guessing that when you took the class at a previous institution, it wasn't at a community college?

Are you planning to retake the class a 3rd time? Or does the answer to your P/F vs. W question change that (i.e. if you get a P then you won't retake but if you get a W then you will)?

 

[Sophocles]

I wouldn't need to retake this class at all: I didn't have to take it in the first place. The prof., Dr. Mowshowitz at Columbia University, is notorious throughout this region for being difficult. Also, I did not take this class at a CC, I took it at a 4 year institution and my instructor was an MIT alum. I would just use my previous course to count towards my major and act as if I never even took this course this semester. But it seems that generally it is perceived that a P is better than a W. I trully appreciate everyone's help.

 

[Sophocles]

Umm... There is no need to cast doubt upon my previous GPA since this is an anonymous post to an anonymous community. In reality the only way that I can benefit from this is be honest so that I may receive some constructive criticism.

Is anyone here going to Columbia undergrad? Undoubtedly, they have taken this professor and might have some insight on how to deal with this....

 

[sector9]

Umm... There is no need to cast doubt upon my previous GPA since this is an anonymous post to an anonymous community. In reality the only way that I can benefit from this is be honest so that I may receive some constructive criticism.

🙄