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I just finished 1L at a Top 14 (PMDV) and did not do well second semester, taking my GPA from 3.45 to 3.26. I have the ability to convert a B grade from this last semester into a Pass, which would raise my GPA to 3.32. However, this was my Business Associations class, and I am hoping to pursue corporate Big Law after graduation.

Are there any negative consequences of using the Pass/Fail option and if so, does boosting my GPA outweigh them?

I am guessing this is probably Michigan because I don't know of other schools in that range that allow it. The pass will have 0 implications for doing corporate work after.

It might affect you at OCI because if I saw a pass on a transcript and knew that it was for that reason I might think you would have done worse than a B. Is that the lowest grade you got? I guess it is probably worth doing, but would be an easier call if you could raise your gpa more than .06

You can switch to pass/fail AFTER getting a grade in the class? wtf school did I go to.

Yeah absolutely do this. No one cares about specific subject related classes in law school. You will only use about 5% of what you learned in a Business Associations class in corporate biglaw world.

You should do anything that improves your GPA.

trebekismyhero wrote:
It might affect you at OCI because if I saw a pass on a transcript and knew that it was for that reason I might think you would have done worse than a B. Is that the lowest grade you got? I guess it is probably worth doing, but would be an easier call if you could raise your gpa more than .06

This is my main concern. I received a B+ and two B's last semester, but this is the only class I could use the P/F on.

Anonymous User wrote:I just finished 1L at a Top 14 (PMDV) and did not do well second semester, taking my GPA from 3.45 to 3.26. I have the ability to convert a B grade from this last semester into a Pass, which would raise my GPA to 3.32. However, this was my Business Associations class, and I am hoping to pursue corporate Big Law after graduation.

Are there any negative consequences of using the Pass/Fail option and if so, does boosting my GPA outweigh them?

I used my retroactive P/F on an A- in crim pro, which definitely risks people thinking I did worse than I actually did in that class. But nobody has asked me about it, and you can always explain yourself if they do. Protecting your GPA is important.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I just finished 1L at a Top 14 (PMDV) and did not do well second semester, taking my GPA from 3.45 to 3.26. I have the ability to convert a B grade from this last semester into a Pass, which would raise my GPA to 3.32. However, this was my Business Associations class, and I am hoping to pursue corporate Big Law after graduation.

Are there any negative consequences of using the Pass/Fail option and if so, does boosting my GPA outweigh them?

I used my retroactive P/F on an A- in crim pro, which definitely risks people thinking I did worse than I actually did in that class. But nobody has asked me about it, and you can always explain yourself if they do. Protecting your GPA is important.

Solid humble brag.

Go blue.

eastcoast_iub wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I just finished 1L at a Top 14 (PMDV) and did not do well second semester, taking my GPA from 3.45 to 3.26. I have the ability to convert a B grade from this last semester into a Pass, which would raise my GPA to 3.32. However, this was my Business Associations class, and I am hoping to pursue corporate Big Law after graduation.

Are there any negative consequences of using the Pass/Fail option and if so, does boosting my GPA outweigh them?

I used my retroactive P/F on an A- in crim pro, which definitely risks people thinking I did worse than I actually did in that class. But nobody has asked me about it, and you can always explain yourself if they do. Protecting your GPA is important.

Solid humble brag.

Go blue.

Right? GTFO with that unnecessary humble bragging shit. You're not helping anyone.

OP, I had about 30 total firm screeners, and exactly 1 of them talked about grades with me. I got the strong impression that if you met a firm's overall GPA cutoff, they were going to decide on you based on something other than transcripts, and if you didn't meet their overall cutoff, you had a big uphill (if not completely impossible) battle regardless. I wouldn't necessarily worry about grades outside of the bottom-line GPA. Generic biglaw hiring doesn't seem to parse for that level of detail, so I wouldn't personally sweat the P.

That said, you have either 3 or 4 semesters left, so consider that you'll have a lot of opportunities to really want that P/F back if you only get 2...

UM should publicize their retroactive Pass/Fail grading system more to prospective students. That seems like a huge plus factor.

None.

holy shit how come i just found out about this policy

shoulda gone to michigan godammit