Pass/fail option? Forum

[ZyzzBrah]

Anyone else have this option (im assuming most schools do)? Thoughts?


Im leaning towards doing this (its my last semester and would need an A or else my gpa will decrease) but am worried that employers may look negatively on it.

[NotMyRealName09]

Employers won't give a crap. Everyone does it. Its a great option.

[BigRob]

I wouldn't do it. Imagine you're an employer. You'd obviously want to closely inspect each applicant's transcript to make sure they didn't take any B.S. courses (i.e. African Law).

Now you're checking out an especially prime applicant's transcript -- 4.0+ GPA, law review, etc. -- and you come across a big, fat "P" where an "A" or an "A+" should be. Think about what you're asking yourself: "Why didn't he get an A? Did he not learn this information? Should I really hire someone to join my litigation firm when it's unclear whether he has memorized black letter Trademark law? What does 'P' stand for?"

Are you sure that's what you want yourself to be thinking when you're considering hiring yourself?

[NotMyRealName09]

I wouldn't do it. Imagine you're an employer. You'd obviously want to closely inspect each applicant's transcript to make sure they didn't take any B.S. courses (i.e. African Law).

Now you're checking out an especially prime applicant's transcript -- 4.0+ GPA, law review, etc. -- and you come across a big, fat "P" where an "A" or an "A+" should be. Think about what you're asking yourself: "Why didn't he get an A? Did he not learn this information? Should I really hire someone to join my litigation firm when it's unclear whether he has memorized black letter Trademark law? What does 'P' stand for?"

Are you sure that's what you want yourself to be thinking when you're considering hiring yourself?

That's never happened ever. You know what the difference is between a 4.0 transcript with no pass fail grade and a 4.0 transcript with several pass fail grades? Nothing. Employers know what pass fail grades are, and refusing to take advantage that option is foolish - not using the option is all risk, zero reward.

[soj]

[MistakenGenius]

Post removed.

[soj]

I wouldn't do it. Imagine you're an employer. You'd obviously want to closely inspect each applicant's transcript to make sure they didn't take any B.S. courses (i.e. African Law).

Now you're checking out an especially prime applicant's transcript -- 4.0+ GPA, law review, etc. -- and you come across a big, fat "P" where an "A" or an "A+" should be. Think about what you're asking yourself: "Why didn't he get an A? Did he not learn this information? Should I really hire someone to join my litigation firm when it's unclear whether he has memorized black letter Trademark law? What does 'P' stand for?"

Are you sure that's what you want yourself to be thinking when you're considering hiring yourself?

That's never happened ever. You know what the difference is between a 4.0 transcript with no pass fail grade and a 4.0 transcript with several pass fail grades? Nothing. Employers know what pass fail grades are, and refusing to take advantage that option is foolish - not using the option is all risk, zero reward.

BigRob knows his shit. Absolutely, if I scoured my applicant's transcript and saw a P, I would ding him without a thought. It doesn't matter how qualified this applicant might be, if he takes a P instead of an A, that's going to be a giant warning sign that he wasn't good in that course, be it African Law, Black Letter Trademark Law, or Maritime Law of Cambodia. Ever lawyer needs to know that shit. Also, everyone knows P's are taken because the student didn't want to work for an A, no employer wants someone who's going to halfass it. A P is the single worst thing that can be on an applicant's transcript. OP needs to man the fuck up.

This is why we don't let 0Ls post in this forum.

[ZyzzBrah]

OP here


Sorry to let the pass/fail dissenters know, but I've already elected that option.