taking quantum pass fail

[spf15]

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I have applied this cycle. I'm not sure how much grades matter for senior year applications. I'll be taking an upper level physics that's reputed to be very difficult (for my major) this semester, and I'm not sure if I can pull an A, especially with interviews and a job. I'm considering taking it pass fail, but I'm still leaning towards taking it for a grade and striving for the A, especially if my grades won't "matter."

However, my advisor said that I would submit my fall semester grades to schools, which got me a bit concerned. Do grades actually matter at this point?

thanks!

 

[cheechootrain]

I have applied this cycle. I'm not sure how much grades matter for senior year applications. I'll be taking an upper level physics that's reputed to be very difficult (for my major) this semester, and I'm not sure if I can pull an A, especially with interviews and a job. I'm considering taking it pass fail, but I'm still leaning towards taking it for a grade and striving for the A, especially if my grades won't "matter."

However, my advisor said that I would submit my fall semester grades to schools, which got me a bit concerned. Do grades actually matter at this point?

thanks!

Depends. As long as you don't fail a class and fall off the train, you'll be fine.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

No dude, take Quantum for a letter grade. No one is gonna care if you get a C in that class. I enjoyed the class though so this is a biased opinion.

 

[spf15]

any other opinions?

it'd still count as a BCPM, which is why i'm concerned.

 

[kpcrew]

Can you audit it? I feel like a student can easily fail quantum, especially since pretty much nothing is intuitive.

 

[FSU2013]

Quantum was an AWESOME class. Bust your butt, and you'll do fine. If you made it this far, you can make it a little further. I would just take it for a letter grade. If you're taking quantum and going to med school, you're obviously not the kind of person to take the easy way out.

Concerning the original point: no, your grades senior year won't matter. And no one would fault you for getting a C in quantum mech (which you probably won't anyway). The only problem would be if you failed it and it is a course required for graduation - in which case you'd have trouble if it was P/F or A, B, C. Enjoy it!

 

[Long Way to Go]

Does your school allow you to count a P/F class towards your major? Mine doesn't...

 

[sector9]

any other opinions?

it'd still count as a BCPM, which is why i'm concerned.

It sounds like you've already applied, so no, it won't count as BCPM unless you have to reapply. If you reapply and you took it P/F, then it wouldn't be factored into your GPA at all because P/F courses get their own special category

Take it P/F if you don't think you'll do that great

 

[MDforMee]

If it's for your major, at least at my school, you can't take it pass/fail.

Better check yourself, before you wreck yourself.

 

[anguisette]

Well, why are you leaning towards taking it for a letter grade? Is it to prove to yourself that you can get an A, you need it for graduation, that AdComs might look down upon P/F, or some other reason? If you're worried about doing well in the class, I think taking it for a letter grade only has associated risks with very little reward involved. You could do horribly and have to report that in your fall grades, or if you end up reapplying it'd affect your BCPM. If you're taking it just for kicks, why not take it P/F?

 

[spf15]

Well, just in the case that I don't get in to a medical school then I could find an in-between job while I reapply or something. Getting that job may or may not depend on my transcript, that's all. Plus, I feel like some scholarships would prefer to see all my grades, not just a P, but I'm sure a P looks better than a C.

I feel like the P/F could look a bit sketchy, especially since it's in my major. (And yeah, my school allows us to take a number of classes pass fail with no restrictions as to whether or not they're in your major.) I don't think I'd outright fail the class, but I might not do that great in it...

 

[idontcaureuknow]

Well, just in the case that I don't get in to a medical school then I could find an in-between job while I reapply or something. Getting that job may or may not depend on my transcript, that's all. Plus, I feel like some scholarships would prefer to see all my grades, not just a P, but I'm sure a P looks better than a C.

I feel like the P/F could look a bit sketchy, especially since it's in my major. (And yeah, my school allows us to take a number of classes pass fail with no restrictions as to whether or not they're in your major.) I don't think I'd outright fail the class, but I might not do that great in it...

Take it for a letter grade and push yourself. Take it P/F if you think you'll lack motivation to study for it. I found Q-mech fascinating and will always suggest someone takes it for a letter grade and pushes oneself.

 

[spf15]

Definitely can't audit it, as it's for my major. I'm 100% sure that I can take it pass fail even though it's in my major.

It seems like a pretty even split here. :/

Too bad I have no clue where I stand in the class yet...

 

[JESSFALLING]

If you earn a "P", most people will equate that with a "C" in their mind......So, you might as well just take it as A,B,C and perhaps you will do better. Earning a B in QM will not hurt your application!

 

[487806]

I have applied this cycle. I'm not sure how much grades matter for senior year applications. I'll be taking an upper level physics that's reputed to be very difficult (for my major) this semester, and I'm not sure if I can pull an A, especially with interviews and a job. I'm considering taking it pass fail, but I'm still leaning towards taking it for a grade and striving for the A, especially if my grades won't "matter."

However, my advisor said that I would submit my fall semester grades to schools, which got me a bit concerned. Do grades actually matter at this point?

thanks!

Take quantum mechanics. I wouldn't be concerned at this stage, as med school admissions have higher priority here.

 

[anguisette]

Definitely can't audit it, as it's for my major. I'm 100% sure that I can take it pass fail even though it's in my major.

It seems like a pretty even split here. :/

Too bad I have no clue where I stand in the class yet...

Can you wait until after an exam or two before deciding?

 

[spf15]

Can you wait until after an exam or two before deciding?

Nope. this class has only one midterm, and it's in late october. ... past the deadline :/

 

[anguisette]

Well I don't think it matters much either way. If you think you might do really poorly (as in a D), taking it P/F would be risky at my school because you need at least a C for passing in P/F. If you think you'll do fine, just not get an A, taking it P/F is less stress (and less work so you can enjoy your senior year more !) in my opinion. Even if you choose to take it for a grade and don't get an A, one individual class shouldn't affect your chances for med school or anything else. Good luck!

 

[Irish Football]

Don't have any advice for OP, but just want to say that quantum was a truly amazing class - I did not take another class like it during my four years in college. I really felt like my eyes were opened to something that was new - something actually different from all the science that I had taken up until that point. Whether you take it for a grade or not you will enjoy it. Definitely won't regret it OP.