HASS No Pass/No Record

[MIT2010]

<p>[Click</a> here for HASS](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass-req/concentration/index.shtml]Click”>http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass-req/concentration/index.shtml) and you will see that

The subjects used for a HASS concentration must all be taken for a letter grade. Students may NOT use their Junior/Senior Pass/D/Fail option for a concentration class. Classes taken Freshman year under Freshman Pass/No Record are considered to be taken for a letter grade, and may be counted towards a concentration.

Does this really mean that even if I take a HASS class during my pass/no record first semester of freshman year, I will still receive a letter grade for that course? Or does this only count for HASS concentration?</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>Well, you get a letter grade for your freshman year courses, even though that letter grade is represented as a P on your external transcript.</p>

<p>They’re just saying that it’s not okay to take a class for your HASS concentration (or any other GIR, for that matter) on junior/senior P/D/F, but it is okay to take a class for your concentration during your first term freshman year.</p>

[Hamster]

<p>Because of P/NR, do you think first semester is the best time to take a HASS that I am interested in but have doubts about my ability to pass? I’m intruiged by Intro to Musical Composition, but I don’t have an amazing musical background (it says no experience required). Maybe I should take something more straightforward for my first semester. =/</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>I think your P/NR semester is a good time to take anything for which the grade worries you a little! :)</p>

<p>For 21M.065 specifically, it looks like people are generally happy with the class and its grading: [url=<a href=“https://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/sse/evaluations/F05/c21M/s21M_065.html]class”>https://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/sse/evaluations/F05/c21M/s21M_065.html]class</a> evaluation<a href=“certificates%20required”>/url</a>.</p>

[MIT2010]

<p>So, even though I will receive letter grades on my internal transcript for first term freshmen year, these first term letter grades WILL NOT be counted in the overall GPA, right? How about course taken in freshmen IAP?</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>First term letter grades are known only to you and God. And your freshman advisor.</p>

<p>Pass/no record is also in effect [during</a> IAP](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/uinfo/academics/grading/grades/class.html#frosh]during”>http://web.mit.edu/uinfo/academics/grading/grades/class.html#frosh).</p>

[mootmom]

<p>For some med school programs, first semester freshman grades are requested by the institution and can be unsealed at your request for that purpose. From the MIT Med School Admissions page:

Please note, that grades for courses taken under pass/no record during freshman year are important to a few medical schools. Although not common among the majority of medical schools, Johns Hopkins University does request to see your freshman hidden grades. To release pass/no record grades contact each individual academic department and have your released grades sent to the MIT Careers Office (12-170). Your released freshman grades (not your official transcript) will be sent with your recommendation letter packet to the schools you apply to. Please submit the Hidden Grades Form to the Careers Office to indicate which grades you want to be sent to schools.

</p>

[kcastelle]

<p>

Pass/no record is also in effect during IAP.

Really? Is this for everybody or only freshmen? And does this mean you can’t take something serious during IAP (by serious I mean a class that will count toward a major or for some requirement like the GIRs or HASS)?</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>Haha, just for freshmen. Sorry.</p>

<p>There aren’t really that many classes offered during IAP. The ones that are 3 units (little mini-classes, really) are often P/D/F anyway, but 12-unit IAP classes are usually on grades for non-freshmen.</p>

<p>But if you take a class during IAP freshman year (or if you take an advanced standing exam during IAP), it will go on your record as a P, or else it won’t go on at all. That doesn’t preclude you from taking anything you want to take, as long as it’s offered during IAP.</p>

[alisonc]

<p>

And does this mean you can’t take something serious during IAP (by serious I mean a class that will count toward a major or for some requirement like the GIRs or HASS)?

</p>

<p>Can’t get HASS requirements done over IAP without pretty spectacularly unusual circumstances, so far as I know; if you’re into relativity but not a physics major, you can hit one of your REST GIR requirements with 8.20 (Special Relativity) over IAP, although there’s tons of awesome ways to fill that requirement so it’s probably not one you should worry too much about tackling. If you opt to take the long version of 18.02 (Multivar Calc) starting in the fall, that will extend into IAP. (Or spring, if you prefer.) I’ve heard really good things about taking a language class over IAP, but I don’t believe it fulfills requirements –</p>

<p>– but there’s more than classes and requirements at MIT. I know people who travel over IAP, people who do UROPs, people who spend time working on their own pet projects, people who just hang out with friends and do all the things they don’t have time for during the term, and of course people who spend one long enjoyable month catching up on sleep… see how fall semester treats you before you decide if you want more of the same or something different during IAP.</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>French I, German I, Italian I, and Spanish I are [always</a> offered during IAP](<a href=“http://student.mit.edu/iap/fc21f.html]always”>IAP 2015 Subjects: Global Studies and Languages). They cover exactly the same material as the fall/spring versions of the classes, just at a much faster pace. These classes can certainly be used to fulfill the HASS requirement (and a concentration requirement, if you plan on concentrating in a foreign language and are starting from the first class in the sequence).</p>