Taking two classes P/NP to avoid A-?

[FutureMDdoc]

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I'm a freshman who is taking two courses (not prereq) that I am in danger of getting an A- (though I might get an A). Would taking a P look like a C if I have a 4.0 (mostly A+'s) for the rest of my courses? How would it impact my app? One course is an upper div math course and the other is a programming course.

 

[FutureMDdoc]

Would two P's in non-prereq courses have any negative impact when adcoms look at my transcript?

 

[KeViN2502]

Yes -A is completely close the door to Medschool, you should consider changing your major

 

[FutureMDdoc]

I guess I will just take the letter grade then. Time to remove that 4.00 from my resume 🙁

 

[KnightDoc]

I'm a freshman who is taking two courses (not prereq) that I am in danger of getting an A- (though I might get an A). Would taking a P look like a C if I have a 4.0 (mostly A+'s) for the rest of my courses? How would it impact my app? One course is an upper div math course and the other is a programming course.

It will impact your application exactly like a C would -- probably not at all since it's only two classes, but your 4.0 will definitely have an asterisk next to it. What is an adcom supposed to think? That your Ps are also As, or that they are the lowest grade possible? If they are conservative, they will assume the worst. This should be obvious to you!

The assumption is NOT that your P is just like all of the other grades that you didn't mask -- they assume you are hiding something (because, after all, you are!), and you would be very foolish to hide A-s because you think you are gaming your GPA to maintain a 4.0. Adcoms are not stupid, and this (taking classes P/F to hide less than desirable grades) has been going on long before COVID.

 

[FutureMDdoc]

The assumption is NOT that your P is just like all of the other grades that you didn't mask -- they assume you are hiding something

This is what I was wondering. Thanks.

 

[KnightDoc]

This is what I was wondering. Thanks.

Yeah, but think about it logically -- if you had As, like all your other grades, why would you elect P/F?

 

[Belphegor]

TAKE THE A-

 

[M&L]

Definitely keep the grade... Also.... I think it is so great that you are so hardworking and ambitious. More ppl should be like you... that being said, - i apologize for giving unsolicited advice.. but you need to learn how to cut yourself some slack before you drive yourself crazy. At least learn that by the time you get to medical school. Because if you feel like that about each grade, you will literally loose it when you get 70-75 on the first exam. I'm just saying.

 

[Ihave Nonamè]

Are you kidding?

 

[M&L]

Are you kidding?

i mean.... are you surprised? Medical field is full of weird ppl or type A (i am both sort of. hahha)

 

[Goro]

I'm a freshman who is taking two courses (not prereq) that I am in danger of getting an A- (though I might get an A). Would taking a P look like a C if I have a 4.0 (mostly A+'s) for the rest of my courses? How would it impact my app? One course is an upper div math course and the other is a programming course.

Who told you that you need a 4.0 GPA to get into med school? They were lying.

And a 4.0 GPA is like virginity; there's a time to lose it.

Thinking that you're "in danger of getting an A-" is itself a dangerous thought process.

 

[Ihave Nonamè]

i mean.... are you surprised? Medical field is full of weird ppl or type A (i am both sort of. hahha)

But seriously, I wouldn't trust a doctor that I knew cried over an A-. They are unable to consider the bigger picture. And constantly stressing over being perfect often leads to absolute and utter failure at some point...

 

[Goro]

But seriously, I wouldn't trust a doctor that I knew cried over an A-. They are unable to consider the bigger picture. And constantly stressing over being perfect often leads to absolute and utter failure at some point...

Indeed, perfect is the enemy of good. I have found that students who were perfectionists often tried to learn everything and ended up learning nothing.

And they also always in our offices annoying us about why their 95 on an exam should actually be a 96. Some of them would use mathematics so contorted that they actually warped space-time and my desk started flying faster than the speed of light.

 

[M&L]

But seriously, I wouldn't trust a doctor that I knew cried over an A-. They are unable to consider the bigger picture. And constantly stressing over being perfect often leads to absolute and utter failure at some point...

True ... but hopefully a lot of ppl who are like that in undergrad change by the time they get into medical school or soon after .

 

[DarklingThrush]

I guess I will just take the letter grade then. Time to remove that 4.00 from my resume 🙁

You’re a freshman... that 4.0 probably wouldn’t last over the next 3 years anyway. Relax. Good grief. A- is perfectly acceptable.

 

[whosehouse]

Might have to change your username to FutureDOdoc now

 

[M&L]

ok, guys, lets all cut the OP some slack. You remember how scary it is? So much pressure, you always want to get into T10 🙂). It is tough out there.