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Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:52 pm
by Obi-Wan Kenobi
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Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:53 pm
by Knock
Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote:I'm a senior w/ a 3.98 GPA. I'm taking the LSAT in October. I haven't taken advantage of my school's option to take a class pass/fail, and I'm considering using it for my hardest class this semester.

I figure that since anything but an A would hurt my GPA, I might as well concentrate my effort on my other four classes and devote as much time as possible to LSAT prep.

On the other hand, pass/fail obviously doesn't look as good on a transcript, and I already have one (nonpunitive) withdrawal and two semesters with a lighter-than-average credit load for my school (I had AP credits but not enough to finish early).

I'm strongly leaning toward going pass/fail but wanted to get some input. Thanks in advance.
I voted to take pass/fail. LSAT is the most vital thing at the moment, and the last thing you want is a difficult class consuming an inordinate amount of your time.

One pass/fail class won't hurt your application, especially with a 3.98 GPA and a high LSAT score.

Your GPA is basically perfect, so there is basically no reward for getting an A in the class but it would hurt you if you even so much as got an A-.

This is a pretty easy decision, at least looking at it from over here.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:56 pm
by Sentry
Pass/Fail for sure. With that gpa if you pull a 172+ you'll be a lock for HYSCCN regardless of how a P looks on your transcript.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:58 pm
by 5ky
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Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:59 pm
by Knock
Sentry wrote:Pass/Fail for sure. With that gpa if you pull a 172+ you'll be a lock for HYSCCN regardless of how a P looks on your transcript.
While agree with the general sentiment, I think this is a little bit too strong, I think with a 173 you are a strong candidate for H, 172 very strong candidate at CCN; S and Y are black boxes, who knows. It depends what softs OP has.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:00 pm
by St.Remy
So long as you get your transcript to LSAC before this semester's grades are in this won't even be an issue. Get your transcript in now and get all your apps ready for when you get your October LSAT score back. Chances are you won't have to ever deal with this class showing up on your transcript one way or the other.

I voted for pass/fail though because it's senior year and you've obviously worked hard, so why not take a break.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:05 pm
by Obi-Wan Kenobi
St.Remy wrote:So long as you get your transcript to LSAC before this semester's grades are in this won't even be an issue. Get your transcript in now and get all your apps ready for when you get your October LSAT score back. Chances are you won't have to ever deal with this class showing up on your transcript one way or the other.

I voted for pass/fail though because it's senior year and you've obviously worked hard, so why not take a break.
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Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:09 pm
by Knock
Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote:
St.Remy wrote:So long as you get your transcript to LSAC before this semester's grades are in this won't even be an issue. Get your transcript in now and get all your apps ready for when you get your October LSAT score back. Chances are you won't have to ever deal with this class showing up on your transcript one way or the other.

I voted for pass/fail though because it's senior year and you've obviously worked hard, so why not take a break.
Will law schools see the classes I'm currently taking but haven't completed? (Thanks for the help btw).
Not unless you send in your updated transcript after Fall semester (or the adcomms have developed ESP).

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:11 pm
by St.Remy
Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: Will law schools see the classes I'm currently taking but haven't completed? (Thanks for the help btw).
Nope. Also if they do somehow find out and this is the first time you've taken a pass fail class then I cannot stress enough how fine you are. The only situations in which law schools care about pass/failing is when you do it all the time or if you are managing to fail the pass/fail classes.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:12 pm
by Knock
St.Remy wrote:
Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: Will law schools see the classes I'm currently taking but haven't completed? (Thanks for the help btw).
Nope. Also if they do somehow find out and this is the first time you've taken a pass fail class then I cannot stress enough how fine you are. The only situations in which law schools care about pass/failing is when you do it all the time or if you are managing to fail the pass/fail classes.
Yeah, if you fail a pass/fail class it will go into your GPA calculation as an F. But I wouldn't really be worried about that.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:12 pm
by Sentry
Knockglock wrote:
Sentry wrote:Pass/Fail for sure. With that gpa if you pull a 172+ you'll be a lock for HYSCCN regardless of how a P looks on your transcript.
While agree with the general sentiment, I think this is a little bit too strong, I think with a 173 you are a strong candidate for H, 172 very strong candidate at CCN; S and Y are black boxes, who knows. It depends what softs OP has.
I meant with a 172 or higher he'd be a lock for at least 1 of the 6.

Re: Should I Take Advantage of Pass/Fail?

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:14 pm
by Knock
Sentry wrote:
Knockglock wrote:
Sentry wrote:Pass/Fail for sure. With that gpa if you pull a 172+ you'll be a lock for HYSCCN regardless of how a P looks on your transcript.
While agree with the general sentiment, I think this is a little bit too strong, I think with a 173 you are a strong candidate for H, 172 very strong candidate at CCN; S and Y are black boxes, who knows. It depends what softs OP has.
I meant with a 172 or higher he'd be a lock for at least 1 of the 6.
Oh yeah, definitely agree with this! I misunderstood your post, my bad :mrgreen:.