Take Easy Course P/F, or Not At All?

[AllDay24]

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I know there are a lot of threads on P/F courses, but I'm only taking four courses this semester, and I was thinking of adding a 5th because I took only four last semester as well and I don't want to make it look like I'm slacking.

Should I take a 5th course P/F (it'll be an easy one, so minimal work)...OR not take it at all? I don't want the P/F to raise any flags, but I don't want to look like I'm taking a light courseload...and I don't want to take this 5th course for a letter grade.

 

[sector9]

I know there are a lot of threads on P/F courses, but I'm only taking four courses this semester, and I was thinking of adding a 5th because I took only four last semester as well and I don't want to make it look like I'm slacking.

Should I take a 5th course P/F (it'll be an easy one, so minimal work)...OR not take it at all? I don't want the P/F to raise any flags, but I don't want to look like I'm taking a light courseload...and I don't want to take this 5th course for a letter grade.

Well AMCAS won't count a Pass/Fail course into your Total Credit Hours for each academic year, so I wouldn't waste my time if I were you because it won't help raise your credit hours for that year to a respectable level.

Further explanation:

Suppose it is your sophomore year right now. The first semester you took 13 credits and now you are signed up for 13 more credits. If you add a 3 credit hour Pass/Fail class, your credit hour total for sophomore year will still only be 26 and not 29.

Those Pass/Fail credit hours go in a separate line on the bottom but aren't shown with the corresponding academic year.

 

[AllDay24]

Well AMCAS won't count a Pass/Fail course into your Total Credit Hours for each academic year, so I wouldn't waste my time if I were you because it won't help raise your credit hours for that year to a respectable level.

Further explanation:

Suppose it is your sophomore year right now. The first semester you took 13 credits and now you are signed up for 13 more credits. If you add a 3 credit hour Pass/Fail class, your credit hour total for sophomore year will still only be 26 and not 29.

Those Pass/Fail credit hours go in a separate line on the bottom but aren't shown with the corresponding academic year.

Thanks for pointing out this subtlety!! Certainly sways me against taking the P/F course.

 

[UnclePhil]

Just take the course normally, if it's easy then it should be no problem.