The Pass/Fail Option?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello fellow CCers, I have a relatively important question to ask you folks. Well, at my school, students have the ablility to choose two classes, non-IB, AP, or Honors, and make them a simple Pass/Fail class, meaning the student must get a C- or above to pass. This seems very attractive, for I have a special courseload this upcoming senior year that prevents a very high GPA:</p>

<p>AP Calculus
IB Latin 5
Honors World Civilizations
AP Government
College Psychology (1st Semester) and College Future Studies (2nd Semester)
College Philosophy (1st Semester) and College American Literature (2nd Semester)
Chamber Chior
Yearbook</p>

<p>The specially weighed GPA (for Honors, AP, IB, and College Classes) scale is as follows:
5.2 = +A
4.9 = A
4.5 = -A</p>

<p>The normal wieghed GPA scale is:
4.7 = +A
4.4 = A
4.1 = -A</p>

<p>This is my delema. I am thinking that I should change Chamber Choir and Yearbook to Pass/Fail, for the Chamber Choir only offers an A and Yearbook barely offers an A+, so I would get two 4.4s, while my total weighed GPA is a 4.949. I am 3rd in my class, and if I make these classes Pass/Fail, I can, most likely, become Saluditorian. </p>

<p>However, I need to know, will colleges look down on me for doing this? I will have my IB Diploma by the end of this Junior year, so I took hard courses, but I need to know if the colleges will think I got out easy or something. The Pass/Fail gives you the dredit, but does not affect the GPA at all. Sooo, comments anyone?</p>

2

<p>Ha, there are many typos, so forgive me. :P</p>

3

<p>B
bu
bum
bump
bump!</p>

4

<p>Applying from Antarctica is an interesting perspective :p</p>

<p>I think making Choir and Yearbook Pass/Fail will be fine. If anything, it will make it look like you’re not afraid of the challenge of college courses.</p>

5

<p>Haha, old inside joke on CC from last summer. :D</p>

<p>Thanks, I hope so. Anymore opinions people?</p>

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<p>Somehow, I don’t think that adcoms will view Choir or Yearbook as a core academic class :P.</p>

<p>Go with the P/F. They seem more like ECs than classes to me, and there really is nothing wrong with “P/F”-ing an extracurricular.</p>

<p>I rather like your school system. I wish my school offered the same P/F option, as well.</p>

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<p>Im doing the same thing and it’s awesome.</p>

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<p>I think I will you all. Thanks for the advice! :D</p>

9

<p>Thanks so much for this thread. It’s a perfect example of the gaming that goes on and I don’t blame you a bit. In some states, including my own, the difference between being second or third in a class can mean thousands in dollars difference in merit aid. So, your decision to me is a no-brainer given the circumstances you’ve been given.</p>

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<p>I know. It is really sad that one can warp there scheldue and end up pulling ahead. I feel bad because the girl who is second it is a really good friend of mine. :/</p>

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<p>Yeah. That is sad. I think you should let her remain salutatorian (because you obviously can’t spell - a tragic flaw for a not so tragic hero, eh?). In any case, I think that pass fail could look really bad to colleges, perhaps even indicating that you don’t have a strong enough academic record to pass academic elective classes that really belong as extracurriculars.</p>

<p>What a pity…</p>

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<p>Well, I would say your advice is simply stupid. Let me guess, you are 2nd in your grade? What a pity that you will never be as good as Mad… I mean, whoever is first…</p>

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<p>Well, I wouldn’t be saying anything if I were you, Mr. Third… I’m just saying that perhaps you should let sleeping dogs lie: if she’s worked harder, she’s worked harder. Cheating and using underhanded tactics to get a leg up in rank is not the way to better yourself in the eyes of colleges… and if they wonder why you pass/fail, and you have to admit that you were fluffing up your GPA, then you may seem awfully petty…</p>

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<p>I dont see anything wrong in doing this…</p>

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<p>Being competative is not a crime. I am sure that if I were at your school, I could take you down, and I am sure you would try the smae tactics against you, you hypocrite. :slight_smile: But, wallow in your intergrity, if you will; it will not get you far in the admissions race.</p>