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How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:57 pm
by mhazelm
Hey guys,

Do you think it is a bad idea to take a depth general ed. class as Pass/Fail?

I'm maxed on credits this semester, and the class requires about 250 pages of reading a week plus listening (it's a music class). I would really rather focus on quantum II and my graduate math class and research (plus my other 2 physics classes), so I am thinking of taking the class P/F so that I can put in minimal effort without sacrificing my GPA. But will that look really bad to admissions committees? It's just a music class, not part of my major or even part of a minor - just a requirement to graduate. But I don't want to do it and have it bite me later down the road. I can probably get a B if I don't change to P/F (but I don't like B's), but that will hurt my total GPA.

What do you all think?

Re: How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:06 pm
by fastones3
I don't think it matters one bit... I've taken physics classes P/F and I've gotten some decent offers, so I doubt they really care at all about gen ed classes.

Re: How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:08 pm
by fastones3
Actually, now that I think of it, I've had several gen ed courses where the professors offer easier course requirements (have to write less papers) if the students choose to take it P/F. I think admission folks realize this and as long as it's not a requirement for your major (i.e. QM/CM/EM/SM), then no biggie.

Re: How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:09 pm
by admissionprof
Grades in general ed classes really don't matter. I usually don't really look at the overall GPA, as well---rather I look at the grades in math and physics classes. I would NOT take a physics class pass/fail--yes, some can get away with it, but I'd look down on it.

But make sure you pass. We had one applicant who got an F in human sexuality...

Re: How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:37 pm
by coreycwgriffin
admissionprof wrote:Grades in general ed classes really don't matter. I usually don't really look at the overall GPA, as well---rather I look at the grades in math and physics classes. I would NOT take a physics class pass/fail--yes, some can get away with it, but I'd look down on it.

But make sure you pass. We had one applicant who got an F in human sexuality...
This makes me feel better, considering my 3.0's in things like "Intro to Music" and "Intro to Canadian Studies" that pulled down my overall GPA.

Re: How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:42 am
by astrofan
admissionprof wrote: But make sure you pass. We had one applicant who got an F in human sexuality...
lol.

I assume that was a joke?

Re: How bad does it look to take a gen. ed class pass/fail?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:49 am
by admissionprof
astrofan wrote:
admissionprof wrote: But make sure you pass. We had one applicant who got an F in human sexuality...
lol.

I assume that was a joke?
Actually, it was not a joke. We didn't ask (and we accepted the applicant, since everything else was terrific---eventually, they went somewhere else). One committee member suggested that maybe they failed the lab....(that part WAS a joke..)