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

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mhazelm
Posts: 193
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:33 pm

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

Post by mhazelm » Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:57 pm

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?

fastones3
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:02 am

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

Post by fastones3 » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:06 pm

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.

fastones3
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:02 am

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

Post by fastones3 » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:08 pm

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.

admissionprof
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Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:50 pm

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

Post by admissionprof » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:09 pm

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...

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coreycwgriffin
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Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:28 am

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

Post by coreycwgriffin » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:37 pm

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.

astrofan
Posts: 140
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:55 am

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

Post by astrofan » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:42 am

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?

admissionprof
Posts: 369
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:50 pm

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

Post by admissionprof » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:49 am

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..)



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