Taking grad classes pass/fail due to COVID Forum

[asafawi]

Hi all,

I'm in my last semester of grad school and, like all of y'all, am now taking my classes online. Will law schools care if I switch all my classes to pass/fail? I'm assuming that since a) its grad school and b) its a pandemic that they won't care. My biggest concern is that I'm pretty sure I'll still get an A in one of the classes since most of the credits were earned before the switch but I figure that if I don't change all three classes to pass/fail then it'll look funny.

[QContinuum]

They won't care. Grad school grades are irrelevant to law school admissions (absent C or worse grades, which might raise a yellow/red flag).

[mastermonkey45]

They won't care. Grad school grades are irrelevant to law school admissions (absent C or worse grades, which might raise a yellow/red flag).

My guy what about undergrad? Is it better to take one or two classes Pass/Fail to keep a 4.0? I get to decide after the grade is submitted whether it counts as a letter grade or a pass.

[Sackboy]

My guy what about undergrad? Is it better to take one or two classes Pass/Fail to keep a 4.0? I get to decide after the grade is submitted whether it counts as a letter grade or a pass.

Law schools won't care about P/F this semester due to Covid. I was on the verge of getting a C in undergrad, which would have ruined an otherwise purely A/A- transcript and decently dented my GPA, so I took a W. I also took two courses P/F. None of CCN/T13 cared; they had no problem handing me acceptances and $$$ in several instances. Protect that GPA.

[QContinuum]

My guy what about undergrad? Is it better to take one or two classes Pass/Fail to keep a 4.0? I get to decide after the grade is submitted whether it counts as a letter grade or a pass.

Law schools won't care about P/F this semester due to Covid. I was on the verge of getting a C in undergrad, which would have ruined an otherwise purely A/A- transcript and decently dented my GPA, so I took a W. I also took two courses P/F. None of CCN/T13 cared; they had no problem handing me acceptances and $$$ in several instances. Protect that GPA.

Agree. In fact, monkey, I'd take those classes P/F even if you get A-s in them. A-s ordinarily are great grades, but in your case they might drag your 4.0 down to 3.9x, and for law school admissions purposes the 4.0 with two (more) Passes is going to serve you better than a 3.9x.

Flip 'em to P/F if you get anything less than an A.

[Smcavoy]

As most law schools are shifting to pas/fail at this point, they won't hold a pass against an application. I know for transfer applications most schools have stated they won't consider pass/fail grades as a negative even if the student chose to receive a pass rather than a numerical grade. I think LORs are going to be a main component of all law apps this year so I would focus there more than anything!

[QContinuum]

As most law schools are shifting to pas/fail at this point, they won't hold a pass against an application. I know for transfer applications most schools have stated they won't consider pass/fail grades as a negative even if the student chose to receive a pass rather than a numerical grade. I think LORs are going to be a main component of all law apps this year so I would focus there more than anything!

Applying to law school as a 0L is very different from applying to law school as a transfer student.

There is zero evidence to indicate that law schools will de-emphasize LSAC GPA in considering applications in the upcoming (2020-21) cycle. LSAC GPA will still be based on (typically) at least 7 semesters' worth of regular grades, so will still be a pretty accurate and informative gauge of 0Ls' undergraduate performance.

[joyma]

My guy what about undergrad? Is it better to take one or two classes Pass/Fail to keep a 4.0? I get to decide after the grade is submitted whether it counts as a letter grade or a pass.

Law schools won't care about P/F this semester due to Covid. I was on the verge of getting a C in undergrad, which would have ruined an otherwise purely A/A- transcript and decently dented my GPA, so I took a W. I also took two courses P/F. None of CCN/T13 cared; they had no problem handing me acceptances and $$$ in several instances. Protect that GPA.

Can I ask did you take all courses this semester P/F or you just P/F the courses you think will dent the GPA? cuz as an undergrad, my campus change the default grade option to P/F but we can still change it back to letter grade. This semester two of my courses I believe I can get A but the other two would dent my GPA so my biggest concern is that should I P/F all courses or just P/F the courses that I will not get good grades? Thanks in advance!

[Smcavoy]

As most law schools are shifting to pas/fail at this point, they won't hold a pass against an application. I know for transfer applications most schools have stated they won't consider pass/fail grades as a negative even if the student chose to receive a pass rather than a numerical grade. I think LORs are going to be a main component of all law apps this year so I would focus there more than anything!

Applying to law school as a 0L is very different from applying to law school as a transfer student.

There is zero evidence to indicate that law schools will de-emphasize LSAC GPA in considering applications in the upcoming (2020-21) cycle. LSAC GPA will still be based on (typically) at least 7 semesters' worth of regular grades, so will still be a pretty accurate and informative gauge of 0Ls' undergraduate performance.

I completely agree! I in no way think (or indicated) that the grades/LSAC scores that already exist are suddenly going to be thrown out the window, just that the pass/fail grades for this year won’t count against students, giving room for the softer parts of the app to hold more weight than they have in other cycles. (And this is the same situation for transfers)