<p>I’m not sure I understand the benefits of one versus the other. Is P/F so that you can go out on a limb and try a class in a different area than your strength without worrying about ruining your GPA? How many classes can you take P/F? Do they count towards the graduation requirement? (124 pts) They <i>don’t</i> count towards major requirements, right?</p>
<p>can P/F one per semester in college, i think it may be different in SEAS. you can change a class to P/F in the middle of the semester, in case you didn’t do so hot. you cannot P/F a major class, core class or any language class. if the class you P/F is 4 credits - you get 4 credits toward graduation total.</p>
<p>it is good for students who need the class to stay as a full time student and maybe bombed the first midterm. or as you put it, someone who wants to go out on a limb.</p>
<p>two things of note - one is that is now P/D/F - so if you get a D it shows up, a P is just A-C. second you have the ability in the college only right now to uncover your grade. let’s say you only would take this class P/D/F because you are intimidated by the CULPA review, but end up loving it and get an A - you can uncover and get that A so it boosts your GPA.</p>
<p>You can’t P/D/F classes for your major for the most part, but there are some exceptions. For example, the English department allows you to P/D/F the first class that counts towards your major. You have to check individual departments for their policies.</p>
<p>Do people usually use P/F every semester?</p>
<p>From my experience, no. Only one of my friends has ever used the option, and she ended up uncovering her grade.</p>
<p>admissionsgeek, are you sure that we can’t use p/d/f for any language class?</p>
<p><a href=“Columbia College Bulletin < Columbia College | Columbia University”>Columbia College Bulletin < Columbia College | Columbia University;
<p>"All students registered in Columbia College during the regular academic year may elect one course each semester during the regular academic year on a Pass/D/Fail basis. This is in addition to any courses that are given only on a Pass/Fail basis…</p>
<p>Courses used to meet the stated degree requirements (except those only given on a Pass/Fail basis) may not be taken Pass/D/Fail. All courses used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration, including related courses, are also excluded from this option, except the first such one-term course taken by the student in his or her eventual major, unless otherwise specified by the department.</p>
<p>The purposes of this option are to encourage students to take courses of interest to them outside of the field of specialization and to permit those who have not decided upon a major to test their talents in a particular field that may be of interest."</p>
<p>How does this uncovering work – is it roulette, or are you told what the grade will be before you uncover it?</p>
<p>It seems like the logical maneuver for a CC student is to, each semester, P/F what you think would be the class you’re least likely to do well in. Why wouldn’t anyone do this?</p>
<p>C2002, you definitely know the grade beforehand.</p>
<p>I’ve never done the P/D/F-and-uncover thing because I have too many requirements to fulfill and can’t afford to waste classes. I’d rather take a B and get the class counted towards the major rather than P/F a class when I’m just going to have to take another one to fulfill the requirement. Due to some poor scheduling decisions as a freshman, I have less flexibility in my schedule than I would like for the next two years. I’d really like to double major, and since I’ve already started taking classes towards my two majors, the P/F option just wastes time. I might P/F some electives when I finally have time for them come senior year.</p>
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<p>You see your grade at the end of semester and then choose.</p>
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<p>I suspect that most people would do it if given the chance but the opportunity doesn’t come up that often because of the restrictions. I can’t P/F any class this semester or next semester because they all are core classes, language or in my major. The only time when I p/d/f’d a class was when I registered for Modernist British Poetry last semester but ended up dropping it anyway for a class related to my major.</p>
<p>It can be useful for students taking intro classes to decide on a major, especially if you’re allowed to p/d/f the intro class and still have it count towards the major requirements (I think Principles of Econ is such a class)</p>
<p>“Due to some poor scheduling decisions as a freshman, I have less flexibility in my schedule than I would like for the next two years.”</p>
<p>What mistakes?</p>
<p>I should’ve started on the Global Core/Major Cultures requirement earlier. I thought I had plenty of time to finish the Core, but now the GC requirement just seems like a huge chore because it makes it harder for me to double major. That is, I’d rather have taken some reading-heavy GC class freshman year when I had the time than as a senior when I’ll be taking two English seminars. </p>
<p>I stupidly decided to take stats freshman year. I thought it’d be a useful class, but I really could’ve taken another English class.</p>
<p>I also wish I’d taken six classes freshman year.</p>
<p>If you have any interest in going abroad, minoring, or double majoring, you are most likely going to have to take a full course load of required classes nearly every semester.</p>
<p>This reduces your opportunities to P/F a class. That said, if you P/F in say the first three semesters you are given a fair amount of leeway. I P/F’d a required course in my minor during my sophomore year (before I declared) and I was not forced to uncover to have it count.</p>