Pass/Fail classes for major?

[HaoChengRen]

Hey y'all.

Due to COVID-19 causing the shift to online classes, my school is allowing us to switch any classes we want to pass/fail. There's one science class that I think I'm going to get a B+ in, and it's an elective for my major, but not a med school pre-req. If I switch it to pass/fail, it'll still count for everything, and shouldn't affect me negatively. Does this look bad for applications, though? I've heard conflicting opinions. It'll likely be my only pass/fail class in undergrad.

I should get A's in all my other classes, and my GPA is currently a 3.97. Should I just take the miniscule hit of the B+ and not think twice, or do I swap to pass/fail and preserve my GPA and ease my stress? What do y'all think?

Edit: I'm not meaning to come off as pretentious or selfish. I believe that this class will only get worse, as the professor amended the syllabus in a way that will likely negatively affect students. All other classes became more lenient. I am merely asking whether a pass/fail would look bad or not compared to whatever grade I'd get otherwise.

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[gonnif]

Hey y'all.

Due to COVID-19 causing the shift to online classes, my school is allowing us to switch any classes we want to pass/fail. There's one science class that I think I'm going to get a B+ in, and it's an elective for my major, but not a med school pre-req. If I switch it to pass/fail, it'll still count for everything, and shouldn't affect me negatively. Does this look bad for applications, though? I've heard conflicting opinions. It'll likely be my only pass/fail class in undergrad.

I should get A's in all my other classes, and my GPA is currently a 3.97. Should I just take the miniscule hit of the B+ and not think twice, or do I swap to pass/fail and preserve my GPA and ease my stress? What do y'all think?

So you essentially want to take advantage of a world wide pandemic that is altering college experience and life for millions by taking the highly unethical step of hiding a B+ so you may have some perceived minuscule advantage to get in to a profession that highly values ethics?

 

[KnightDoc]

Hey y'all.

Due to COVID-19 causing the shift to online classes, my school is allowing us to switch any classes we want to pass/fail. There's one science class that I think I'm going to get a B+ in, and it's an elective for my major, but not a med school pre-req. If I switch it to pass/fail, it'll still count for everything, and shouldn't affect me negatively. Does this look bad for applications, though? I've heard conflicting opinions. It'll likely be my only pass/fail class in undergrad.

I should get A's in all my other classes, and my GPA is currently a 3.97. Should I just take the miniscule hit of the B+ and not think twice, or do I swap to pass/fail and preserve my GPA and ease my stress? What do y'all think?

If it's not a prereq, do you honestly think having or not having a single B+ is going to move the needle one way or the other on an application with 3.97 GPA?

 

[HaoChengRen]

So you essentially want to take advantage of a world wide pandemic that is altering college experience and life for millions by taking the highly unethical step of hiding a B+ so you may have some perceived minuscule advantage to get in to a profession that highly values ethics?

What is highly unethical about taking a class for pass/fail? The college is offering this option because it knows that these are turbulent and stressful times, and that online learning is new to a lot of people, which could adversely affect the performance of such students.

Do you think it's unethical to take advantage of this opportunity, or do you think my reasoning is unethical? What scenario would make opting for pass/fail ethical? You are boldly accusing me of taking advantage of a pandemic for my own benefit, as if this situation is something that I see as positive for me. That couldn't be further from the truth. I could be asking this exact same thing if there weren't a pandemic happening right now. Pass/fail classes are a thing that exist outside of the pandemic.

I'm not desperate to "hide" a B+. It's a B+. I'm merely asking how pass/fail classes look when applying.

 

[HaoChengRen]

If it's not a prereq, do you honestly think having or not having a single B+ is going to move the needle one way or the other on an application with 3.97 GPA?

No, of course I do not think having a B+ will affect my chances at all. I would like to take the class as pass/fail because the shift to online will likely only make this class harder and more stressful, so I was just wondering if pass/fail would look bad at all. I would gladly accept my B+ if everybody thinks I should just leave it be.

 

[gonnif]

What is highly unethical about taking a class for pass/fail? The college is offering this option because it knows that these are turbulent and stressful times, and that online learning is new to a lot of people, which could adversely affect the performance of such students.

Do you think it's unethical to take advantage of this opportunity, or do you think my reasoning is unethical? What scenario would make opting for pass/fail ethical? You are boldly accusing me of taking advantage of a pandemic for my own benefit, as if this situation is something that I see as positive for me. That couldn't be further from the truth. I could be asking this exact same thing if there weren't a pandemic happening right now. Pass/fail classes are a thing that exist outside of the pandemic.

I'm not desperate to "hide" a B+. It's a B+. I'm merely asking how pass/fail classes look when applying.

The unethical behavior to me isnt taking it pass/fail. It is the concern that a you, even with a 3.97 GPA, "Think" a class that you will get only a B+ w is significant enough to take it pass/fail to essentially hide it while the world, especially the world of medicine, is facing a pandemic. To me, it is a question of personal integrity and priorities that I find unethical. Forgive me if I come off too strong, but think about how incredibly tiny this concern with your overall background as a applicant, as well as the world crisis.

 

[KnightDoc]

No, of course I do not think having a B+ will affect my chances at all. I would like to take the class as pass/fail because the shift to online will likely only make this class harder and more stressful, so I was just wondering if pass/fail would look bad at all. I would gladly accept my B+ if everybody thinks I should just leave it be.

Again, if you "do not think having a B+ will affect my chances at all," then why would you consider doing anything at all to avoid it? I'm not getting into the ethics of it; I'm just asking why you would do anything at all, in any aspect of your life, if the result would make zero difference to an outcome as compared to not taking the action? Read what you are asking -- you are wondering whether or not something that will make no difference to your application will look bad. Why put yourself in that situation?

Putting ethics aside, the mere fact that you are asking a question like this calls your judgment into question. (I.e., should I do something that I'm worried might look bad when it will otherwise have zero impact on my application? -- Answer -- yeah, sure, why not do something that might look bad and definitely won't help you?)

 

[HaoChengRen]

The unethical behavior to me isnt taking it pass/fail. It is the concern that a you, even with a 3.97 GPA, "Think" a class that you will get only a B+ w is significant enough to take it pass/fail to essentially hide it while the world, especially the world of medicine, is facing a pandemic. To me, it is a question of personal integrity and priorities that I find unethical. Forgive me if I come off too strong, but think about how incredibly tiny this concern with your overall background as a applicant, as well as the world crisis.

I absolutely see where you're coming from, and I appreciate your responses. My concerns do seem insignificant when it is put that way. Rereading my original post, it certainly does seem like I'm being an ass. I have no problem accepting my grade in the class, as my intention is not to hide anything.

Again, if you "do not think having a B+ will affect my chances at all," then why would you consider doing anything at all to avoid it? I'm not getting into the ethics of it; I'm just asking why you would do anything at all, in any aspect of your life, if the result would make zero difference to an outcome as compared to not taking the action? Read what you are asking -- you are wondering whether or not something that will make no difference to your application will look bad. Why put yourself in that situation?

Putting ethics aside, the mere fact that you are asking a question like this calls your judgment into question. (I.e., should I do something that I'm worried might look bad when it will otherwise have zero impact on my application? -- Answer -- yeah, sure, why not do something that might look bad and definitely won't help you?)

Thank you for your responses. It does seem stupid to consider it purely in terms of avoiding a B+, which will not affect me anyway. You are absolutely correct, it is flawed judgement. I originally had no consideration for it, but after seeing all the students from my classes messaging in group chats about this being great news, I wondered if I should be doing it as well. It makes me wonder who this option is meant for, as it seems that most people just want to use it as an opportunity to shield GPA. Yes, me considering it makes me guilty of this too, plus I don't have as great a use for it as others would. I think I was also drawn more to the idea because it would save me from quite a bit of stressing out, but that's stress I would've had anyway, had school not been cancelled in the first place. I will stick with my gut and leave things be.

Once again, thank you both trying to knock some sense back into me.

 

[KnightDoc]

I absolutely see where you're coming from, and I appreciate your responses. My concerns do seem insignificant when it is put that way. Rereading my original post, it certainly does seem like I'm being an ass. I have no problem accepting my grade in the class, as my intention is not to hide anything.



Thank you for your responses. It does seem stupid to consider it purely in terms of avoiding a B+, which will not affect me anyway. You are absolutely correct, it is flawed judgement. I originally had no consideration for it, but after seeing all the students from my classes messaging in group chats about this being great news, I wondered if I should be doing it as well. It makes me wonder who this option is meant for, as it seems that most people just want to use it as an opportunity to shield GPA. Yes, me considering it makes me guilty of this too, plus I don't have as great a use for it as others would. I think I was also drawn more to the idea because it would save me from quite a bit of stressing out, but that's stress I would've had anyway, had school not been cancelled in the first place. I will stick with my gut and leave things be.

Once again, thank you both trying to knock some sense back into me.

It would be another story, and one in which the ethical considerations would come into play, if your GPA was 3.6 and you were looking to hide (or avoid) a C-, but, as you realize, in your situation it's a non-issue, so there is no reason to go there. Good luck!!

 

[BigManPete]

In terms of your exact question:
Given the context of the pandemic, taking a pass/fail this semester likely wouldn't affect you. It probably wouldn't even affect you even if there wasn't a pandemic. In general, if it's not a pre-req and you don't do it very often, it shouldn't do much harm. Still, a B+ won't affect you much either, so don't overthink this.

In terms of ethics:
My college is doing the same thing, and I know quite a few people who are using this to turn most or all of their classes into pass/fail to avoid putting in work and to prevent GPA decreases. This is where it becomes dodgy. I believe you when you say you're not like that, because you don't have much to lose by getting a simple B+. I can understand feeling like you should be doing it because it seems like everybody else is, but you honestly won't gain much from it. You can avoid the sketchiness of the scenario altogether by just taking the class as is.

 

[Grapesurgery]

Ethical crisis aside, if you have this one course p/f and all others A’s, as you predict, it will be a telltale sign that you did not get a favorable grade in this one course and took advantage of the corona situation in colleges to “hide” it (should adcoms look alittle into it). I would definately avoid that. You have a fantastic GPA as is, and a B+? That’s nothing, especially if you’re already in junior/senior year with a lot of credits.