Medical Should I P/F one of my final classes?

[GoSpursGo]

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Hi everyone,

So I am in a bit of a pickle (and I know people will probably get upset at this question), but hear me out.

Background: I am finishing my last semester of school, and I currently retain a 4.0. I worked so hard for this damn GPA and it is truly my pride and joy. I have already applied to MD school, but I don't have any II yet... Realizing that it is very likely I will have to reapply, I find myself in a predicament.

I am in a class with probably the worst and most unpredictable professor at my institution. I have done well on his exams (with the curve), but the last exam is worth 40% of my grade, and according to his syllabus I would need to get an 90% on his final exam (with the curve). You see, I don't how much he'll curve as it depends on the class, so I am wondering if it would be all right to just P/F this class and take the P. It is truly the only class (besides my honors seminars which are mandatory P/F) that I would have P/F'ed. I have no A-'s and for my pride I really don't want to gamble and maybe get an A-/B+. I know I sound like a piece of crap, but what would y'all do? Would medical schools really care about a singular P/F in my last semester of college to preserve my pristine pre-med 4.0?

Also, I know this isn't a good excuse, but I'm just so burnt and really don't want to have to study super hard for this relatively intense final these next few weeks. Anyway, I apologize if I just pissed off basically everyone, but SDN has been mega helpful thus far and I appreciate everyone on this thread. Thanks y'all!

No one would care. But this would also be an incredibly silly course of action.

Your pride will suffer several wounds over the course of your medical training, so you might as well get over it now.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Literally, no one would care about this...but why do this? You can show them you are human, haha. Also, how did you not get any interviews with a 4.0? How was your MCAT and the rest of your application? I know you weren't asking for help on that, but I was just curious if you are ok to share.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Hahahaha my MCAT is also strong (>515) but I have weaker ECs . I wouldn’t say they are bad at all, but I guess MD is super duper competitive lol. I thought I’d have at least a few. Also my school list is apparently quite heavy on low-yield schools so that might play a factor. This should go to show GPA and MCAT is only a fraction of ur app!

Eeek. Yeah, applying smart and broad is just as important as the rest of the app. You gotta make sure you get those hours up for volunteering and such as well. I am sure if you get those up you will have success. See you on the other side.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Thanks bro I appreciate it. But just to verify, you don't think adcoms will care if I P/F? I'm really struggling with this decision and lowkey between my new job, school, and just some personal/family stuff, I'm dreading this class so much and I just want to (for once in my life) take a break from academic rigor without harsh consequences.

I cannot speak for all ADCOM. My point is that it is not going to change the OUTCOME of your application to medical school.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Ya know what else adcoms won't care about? The difference between a 4.0 and a 3.97

Frankly, if you change it to P/F it's pretty easy to assume you did it to protect your GPA. And because it's such a weird thing to do, I might suspect your grade was going to be worse than an A-/B+. But given that it's done against a backdrop of all A's and hasn't been a pattern, it's not going to deter anyone from offering you an interview that you otherwise would have gotten.

There are no harsh consequences here. I think you are overanalyzing your decision because you are second-guessing a lot of things given your lack of success thus far this cycle, and you are irrationally worried about a POTENTIAL tiny blemish. In reality, this one class, regardless of whether you get an A, a B+, or a P, is not going to determine your future application success if you wind up having to re-apply.

 

[Goro]

A 4.0 GPA is like virginity....there comes a time to lose it. Getting a B in the class shows that you're human.

Perfectionism is a trait that is selected against in med school admissions.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Ya know what else adcoms won't care about? The difference between a 4.0 and a 3.97

Frankly, if you change it to P/F it's pretty easy to assume you did it to protect your GPA. And because it's such a weird thing to do, I might suspect your grade was going to be worse than an A-/B+. But given that it's done against a backdrop of all A's and hasn't been a pattern, it's not going to deter anyone from offering you an interview that you otherwise would have gotten.

There are no harsh consequences here. I think you are overanalyzing your decision because you are second-guessing a lot of things given your lack of success thus far this cycle, and you are irrationally worried about a POTENTIAL tiny blemish. In reality, this one class, regardless of whether you get an A, a B+, or a P, is not going to determine your future application success if you wind up having to re-apply.

Agree. Take the L and get that A- Hahha

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm trying to remember the number of times faculty discussion on a P/F grade has come up during deliberations over the last few years... nope. I can't think of any, and considering the allowances for COVID-19 for opting in or out of pass/fail grades, I can't think any will be occurring for courses taken in calendar year 2020 (if that is the policy of that admissions committee).

It's up to you on how important getting "summa cum laude" or Phi Beta Kappa is attached to your name at commencement and what those rules are. 3.97 vs. 4.00 means nothing to adcoms.