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Would there be any incentive to take a class as pass/fail rather than withdraw, for my future law school app process/LSAC GPA?

I'm probably looking at a 3.1-3.3 for this class. Got a month left of freshman year and should finish with a 3.9 if I drop the class/take a passing grade (keeping it would drop me to around a 3.81/3.82).

No need to consider the repercussions for any UG credit reqs, outcome is the same either way. I'm just concerned about one option perhaps looking better than the other in the eyes of law schools, or affecting my LSAC GPA differently.

I've seen past threads on TLS asking about withdrawals alone. Asked our registrar and they said my school does not separate Ws into passing/non-punitive or failing/punitive. All that gets put onto the transcript is the W and a digit signifying which week I withdrew the course.

Thanks!

I would take it pass fail if it would give you the credits for the class and allow you to graduate sooner. Otherwise, withdraw.

LSAC doesn't give a flying fart, and neither does any school outside of HYS.

No one cares about pass/fail as long as you don't have like 8 of them or something.

Pneumonia wrote:No one cares about pass/fail as long as you don't have like 8 of them or something.

I had at least 6 I think and no school cared.

6<8 though so maybe the point stands.

Make SURE it's not a punitive withdrawal before you do that. They will often be punitive this late in the semester. What do you mean there are no repercussions for any UG credit reqs? Do you not get credit for the class if it's P/F? If that's the case I imagine a P would look better than a W, all things being equal, but it's not really going to matter either way.

BigZuck wrote:

Pneumonia wrote:No one cares about pass/fail as long as you don't have like 8 of them or something.

I had at least 6 I think and no school cared.

6<8 though so maybe the point stands.

Yeah I had 3 but at my UG 6 was the max that you could do. I guess there comes a point where it would be an issue but idk what that number is. You're right it is probably higher rather than lower though

spleenworship wrote:I would take it pass fail if it would give you the credits for the class and allow you to graduate sooner. Otherwise, withdraw.

Taking it pass/fail would give me credits for my graduation total, but I'd probably end up graduating at the same time with either option.

malleus discentium wrote:Make SURE it's not a punitive withdrawal before you do that. They will often be punitive this late in the semester. What do you mean there are no repercussions for any UG credit reqs? Do you not get credit for the class if it's P/F? If that's the case I imagine a P would look better than a W, all things being equal, but it's not really going to matter either way.

Yeah I was rather paranoid about withdrawing after reading all the punitive withdrawal stuff on TLS. Tried my best to figure out how my school does it and like I said there's no WP/WF, just a W on the transcript. And from what I've gathered, LSAC will count a W as an F only if the school makes it explicit that it was an F? Taking it P/F does give me the credits towards graduating (but not for any areas of focus, major, etc.), but I should be graduating at the same time whether I take it P/F or W.

Pneumonia wrote:Yeah I had 3 but at my UG 6 was the max that you could do. I guess there comes a point where it would be an issue but idk what that number is. You're right it is probably higher rather than lower though

Fortunately my school limits us to 1 withdrawal per year, keeps you honest I guess.

spleenworship wrote:LSAC doesn't give a flying fart, and neither does any school outside of HYS.

Wait so HYS would take note of one W on a transcript?

sodomojo wrote:

spleenworship wrote:LSAC doesn't give a flying fart, and neither does any school outside of HYS.

Wait so HYS would take note of one W on a transcript?

If any schools do it's Y/S, but they probably don't.

sodomojo wrote:

spleenworship wrote:LSAC doesn't give a flying fart, and neither does any school outside of HYS.

Wait so HYS would take note of one W on a transcript?

It's possible

I would rather a P than a W. Both are probably better than a B as long as the W isn't adversely characterized by LSAC.

Did you say that you're a Freshman in college? Why not just take the P and stop worrying about it and go enjoy yourself?