How would taking one course pass/fail impact me?

I'm in a situation where I'm thinking I might not do great in one of my classes.  I've done really well so far in college, with a 3.89 GPA, but this semester, a few of my classes are mostly group projects, and unfortunately, I've been unlucky enough to be placed in a group that really didn't make the class a priority and our overall grade will likely suffer because of it.

I'm doing really well in the rest of my classes, and I'm confident that I'll get an A or an A- in all of them.  While I already have an internship for the summer, I don't want to give the company any reason not to bring me back full time, so I'm trying to figure out if it's best to just take the grade, say, maybe a B, B- if our final project goes horribly, just take the one class Pass/Fail which would be best for my GPA, or take all classes pass/fail which would be the most consistent.  My school has implemented this as a COVID grading option so it'll be reflected on my transcript that way, rather than a regular pass/fail.  While I don't have any plans to go to business school currently, those plans could change so I'm trying to keep that in mind also.

Edit: It is a major class, but not one specifically related to finance or banking.  I am taking an intermediate corporate finance class and I feel much more confident about that

21 Comments
 

Quite frankly, it wouldn't, unless you plan on applying to law school or med school (which are very uptight regarding applicants' transcripts). But MBA programs won't care as long as you don't abuse it

 

Appreciate the straightforward answer, I didn't think it would, especially since I've taken everything for a grade thus far.  I think my main concern was just if it looks bad to take a single class pass/fail rather than everything

 

So it's fine to just take the one course pass/fail? And just explain it if need be for my internship?

 

Escalate the situation to the professor. Free-riders/ Deadweights absolutely suck and they need to face consequences for trying to bring you down with them. Stand up for yourself bud.

Array
 

100% plan on it. We have an opportunity to provide feedback on our groups via a form and I plan on speaking to the professors during office hours.

The only reason it's a pressing issue is because they've only given us a few days to make the grading decision so I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to provide that feedback, other than the forum/email, to the professors before that grading decision needs to be made, and there's no guarantee that they'll see it in time.

 
Most Helpful

I was in your exact position going into a summer internship. I decided to take the P/F for two classes because I didn't want the GPA hit. Given, the two classes were both non-major classes (minor classes not really relevant to the industry). Was never asked about the classes themselves, why I took them as pass/fail, etc. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Now, if the course is something you plan to hang your hat on (ie. investments, corporate finance, advanced electives) be much more careful. 

 

Yeah, I think that's why I'm concerned.  It is a major class, but not a finance one specifically.  I am taking a Finance class, and I'm pretty confident that I can do well in that one.  Like I said, my individual grades have come back fine.  A B+ on one assignment, but everything else was either an A or an A-.  It's the group work that is dragging me down.  I think if it was completely my fault, I'd have no trouble owning up, saying that I screwed up and learning from it, but I don't want to be hurt because of my group members slacking off this semester if that makes sense

 

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