Multiple Pass/Fail classes need explanation? Forum

[RZ5646]

For various reasons I probably couldn't defend in an interview, I'm thinking about taking 2 classes as pass/fail this semester. I've only taken 1 other class as P/F, and after this I probably won't take any more that way. In any case, I'll do at least one class P/F this time around.

Would doing two look suspicious or harm my app in any significant way? For example, if I apply to H, will they ask me why I decided to slack off one semester?

(Yes I have read the previous threads on this and the consensus is that no one cares about P/F, but perhaps someone has some new insight.)

[RZ5646]

For context, we take 5 classes per semester

[Cradle6]

I have directly heard that schools like Harvard look down on P/F classes.

Hard to quantify, but it has SOME effect.

Though I have a feeling that a couple P/F classes won't matter in grand scheme

[RZ5646]

Hard to quantify

This is the issue. My gpa is currently > 4.2, so on the one hand I don't want to jeopardize that, but on the other I don't want to discredit it by making it seem like I took a bunch of pass/fail's to inflate my gpa. I'm not sure when exactly you cross that line.

[Person1111]

I got into HLS with 8 P/NP classes in UG, FWIW.

[Nova]

Multiple Pass/Fail classes need explanation?

no

[RZ5646]

I got into HLS with 8 P/NP classes in UG, FWIW.

Were those ever mentioned in interviews? Were they major classes or gen eds? Did you double up any of those, or was it just one per semester?

I should have mentioned that mine are major classes, which might make it worse. They aren't extremely difficult or important classes though... the reasons I'm considering P/F are just: 1) heard professors are hard, 2) ill-defined grading policies, 3) little interest in the course themes, and 4) two difficult classes in my other major. Idk if those are good enough reasons to risk it or if I should just deal with it and suffer through these classes.

[gatesome]

imo only take a class P/F if it is a radical departure form your general studies. (such as an English major taking a computer science course)

[RZ5646]

imo only take a class P/F if it is a radical departure form your general studies. (such as an English major taking a computer science course)

Is this just your personal opinion or do you have reason to believe not following that could harm one's law school app?

[LoganCouture]

.

[BigZuck]

I probably took like 7 classes pass/fail in college and performed just as my numbers said I should. Actually, I probably over-performed a bit. Didn't get into Harvard though (just T7 on down) but I didn't have the numbers to get into the T6. I wouldn't worry about taking a few classes P/F

[RZ5646]

For those who said they had several P/F classes: Were those major classes?

[Person1111]

One major class, a couple of electives from other departments, and every science/language class I took. The only time it ever came up was in a clerkship interview, where the judge for whom I am now clerking made a joke about it.

I didn't get into SLS or YLS with a 3.94 (from Cal, a pretty grade-deflated school)/175, so it's possible that one or both of them cared about it. I don't think so, though.

[RZ5646]

Thanks for the info. Now that I think of it, the major thing probably doesn't matter for me anyway: I'm doing a double major and all P/F classes would be confined to a single major, so it's not like I'm casting doubt on my ability to complete a rigorous course of study or anything.