Pass/Failing an Intro Course for Major Forum

[CALJR11]

Hi, I previously transferred to a competitive private college and I am a second semester sophomore there. Before transferring, I had a 3.77 GPA at a large and well known public school.

I currently am a finance and marketing major. All the courses at the moment are pass/fail optional given the coronavirus situation. As a result, I am considering Pass/Failing Basic Finance. I will likely finish with a B+ or B in the class. Since it's my first semester at the school, this could drastically drop my GPA even though it's not that bad. Without finance, I should have a 3.8-3.9, as I should get A-s or As in my four other classes. With Basic Finance, I anticipate having around a 3.6-3.7. I also have a one credit class that's mandatory to pass/fail if that matters, putting me at 16 credits rather than the usual 15.

My question is whether or not I should pass/fail my finance introduction course. I am torn because even though it's my only finance class thus far and I am a finance major, I figure that it might be more important to have a high GPA. I plan on going into business for 2 years and then attending a top law school. Basic Finance would also be my only pass/fail thus far, along with the one credit course pass/fail I mentioned I'm taking. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Wubbles]

Just do whatever it takes to help your GPA, don't worry about a p/f course here and there.

[maxsteel]

I'm in a similar situation. I'm an econ major international student at a large public school. I'm in my last semester and have a 4.0. But I feel like I'm gonna end up with a B this semester. I really don't know if I should take the p/f option and graduate with a 4.0 and risk raising some eyebrows reviewing my application, or take the B and hurt my GPA. It would probably end up staying above the 75th percentile for perhaps all schools. But it's not a 4.0. :/

[cavalier1138]

I'm in a similar situation. I'm an econ major international student at a large public school. I'm in my last semester and have a 4.0. But I feel like I'm gonna end up with a B this semester. I really don't know if I should take the p/f option and graduate with a 4.0 and risk raising some eyebrows reviewing my application, or take the B and hurt my GPA. It would probably end up staying above the 75th percentile for perhaps all schools. But it's not a 4.0. :/

You already got you answer above. A single p/f course isn't going to raise any eyebrows.

[QContinuum]

Even multiple P/F courses won't raise any eyebrows. Many universities offer certain courses on a mandatory P/F basis. Adcoms typically don't do a line-by-line, forensic audit of applicants' transcripts. They look at LSAC GPA and do a quick scan down the ol' transcript to see if there are any flags (D and lower grades, an entire P/F semester (but see below**), withdrawing from all classes in a semester, excessive Ws (I'd say more than 6 total over the course of a college career), any academic discipline, things of that nature).

**This current (spring 2020) semester, I don't even think adcoms would raise any eyebrows at the entire semester being P/F, because so many schools are moving to mandatory P/F anyway due to the coronavirus pandemic, and even if your school isn't mandatory P/F, adcoms will understand that we're in uncharted territory, and this sudden shift to distance education will impact different students unevenly. I can't imagine any adcom holding a P/F spring 2020 semester against any applicant.