How does P/F Look for MBA Applications?

Applying to top MBA programs

Senior- I have some lower grades (B range) this semester due to getting COVID around midterms. My overall GPA is pretty solid but this semester would bring it down, and my school offers the ability to take classes P/F due to the pandemic. I have two elective classes with As but the other grades aren't great and would lower it. I'm worried if I took my major classes P/F but left a couple (the easy electives) as grades it will look more suspicious to admissions than just pass failing everything.

Would it be better to just pass/fail the entire semester and then note that it was because of COVID? Or to P/F a few, or to keep all the not so great grades?

 

Just one data point, but the HBS website says, “I am a current college student and some or all of my university classes will be graded Pass/Fail. Will that negatively impact my evaluation for 2+2? — No. We understand that many universities have changed their grading and mode of instruction in response to COVID-19. If there are other factors you think we need to be aware of, please use the “Additional Information” section of your application to explain.”

 

From my reading, this implies if you don't have a good reason (ex: you're just padding your GPA) they're going to penalize you for it. The fact that they are saying you need to explain why you took classes Pass/Fail as part of your application makes that pretty clear. The schools changing their heading system are doing it for kids who are struggling due to outside factors. I'd be careful using this. 

 

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