In the past few weeks, the spread of COVID-19 has forced many universities to switch to online instruction. The transition to remote teaching was extremely rushed, and the learning environment has changed dramatically.
Online learning lacks the usual interaction time with professors (office hours), libraries only offer digital resources, and advisors can only be reached via email.
Considering the teaching conditions this semester, many universities have also introduced more courses under a Pass/Fail grading system.
What Is Pass/Fail?
Specific P/F limits vary by institution. Generally speaking, U.S. colleges have two ways of recording grades.
The first is the common Letter Grade—A, B, C, D, F—and the second is P/F. If a course is taken P/F, as long as the final grade is above a certain letter grade (typically C or D or above), the transcript will show a "P" and it will not be calculated into the GPA.
The main purpose of the P/F option is to prevent a course from affecting the GPA, thereby reducing some academic stress, but these courses will also make no contribution to the GPA.
Note that each school's P/F policy is different. Most institutions only allow P/F for non-major classes and limit the number of P/F courses per semester.
For example, the University of Pennsylvania designates a grade of F or higher as a Pass for P/F. A P grade does not affect the GPA. An F grade is calculated as 0.0 and impacts the GPA.
To meet basic curriculum requirements, required courses, major courses, and/or minor courses cannot be taken P/F. Additionally, undergraduates may take a maximum of 8 P/F course units, but the university generally discourages this, especially for freshmen. This is because introductory courses arranged by the school are foundational, and a good time to build a solid GPA.
Current Pass/Fail Course Policies
Due to the pandemic, a small number of universities—such as Columbia, Yale, Harvard, and Dartmouth—have already implemented a mandatory P/F system for all courses, meaning all courses will be uniformly graded as P/F. This approach has also sparked debate among students and parents at these institutions.
Most universities, however, have opened the P/F option for all courses this semester, extended the P/F application deadline, and placed the choice in students’ hands. Many universities now allow students to take any course P/F, including required courses, major courses, and minor courses. Students also have the autonomy to choose which courses to apply the P/F grading system to.
Considering the situations students may face, many universities strongly encourage taking courses P/F this semester. As UC Berkeley Professor Oliver O’Reilly stated, under these circumstances, students’ mental and physical health must take priority over achieving high grades.
How to Decide on P/F Right Now
For students who have the option to choose P/F, it is advisable to evaluate their own GPA and course difficulty. If you feel you can perform normally or wish to raise your GPA, it is recommended not to opt for P/F grading.
For students who find their current courses difficult, believe there are many uncontrollable factors, and worry that their GPA might drop, they can consider the P/F option. Note that once P/F is chosen, it cannot be reversed. Therefore, students must think carefully about their choice. Will the courses decided for P/F affect future course selection? It is recommended that students closely communicate with their school and advisor.
For graduating seniors, some may have already secured post-graduation jobs and feel that GPA no longer matters. But also carefully consider future development paths—whether there is a possibility of pursuing graduate studies.
Academic records may have the greatest impact on transfer students. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse, nearly 40% of college students transfer at least once. Surveys indicate that during the transfer process, on average, 40% of credits cannot be fully transferred to the new school. Therefore, courses taken P/F may face greater difficulties when converting credits after transferring. For students considering transferring, unless there are special circumstances, it is advisable to continue with the letter grade system.
Does P/F Affect Visa Status?
P/F courses still count as credits, so as long as you complete the required number of courses and pass them during the pandemic, your visa status will generally not be affected.
Below is general information provided by the U.S. government official website for your reference:
While studying in the U.S., F-1 students must meet the following conditions:
1) Attend and pass all courses. If factors such as course difficulty prevent you from successfully passing, contact your Designated School Official (DSO) immediately.
2) If you believe you will not be able to complete your program before the end date listed on your I-20, promptly speak with your DSO about extending your study plan.
3) You must be enrolled in at least one course per semester; if you are unable to study full-time, contact your DSO right away.
4) Do not drop out of your program without first confirming with your DSO.
How Does P/F Affect Graduate School Applications?
Without letter grades, undergraduates who plan to apply to graduate school in the future—especially students in the UC system—are usually cautious about using P/F, fearing that a Pass might be interpreted as a C by graduate schools.
Under current circumstances, universities have largely opened up more P/F options, but this does not change the essential nature of P/F grades. For instance, Duke University has uniformly adjusted courses during the pandemic to Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, but the passing standard remains C- or above and will not be factored into the GPA, while students can still opt for letter grades.
Experts point out that P/F decisions across universities nationwide will correspondingly influence graduate admissions policies, especially regarding grades from the Spring and Summer 2020 terms.
Admissions officers are undoubtedly aware of the situation and generally approach each application with respect and empathy. Harvard Medical School, for example, stated that although the school traditionally evaluates transcripted letter grades, it will also accept P/F grades during this period, and applicants will not be disadvantaged.
However, since each university’s P/F policy differs, graduate admissions committees will have different review mechanisms. When comparing an application with letter grades for specific major courses versus one with only P/F, whether admissions officers can remain completely objective may vary from person to person.
For students currently in their junior year, admissions officers generally place significant weight on junior-year major course grades. Currently, most students opt to keep letter grades for major courses.
At the same time, students should note that graduate schools focus on the entire application, not just a single semester. It is more important to take a holistic view of your transcript and the overall impact that P/F choices may bring.
Conclusion
Regarding the new P/F policies during the pandemic, students can decide whether to choose P/F based on school policies, personal circumstances, and course difficulty. In this process, it is recommended that students consult their professors and advisors to make the choice best suited for their current and future development. Because policies change daily, please stay updated with your school’s official website for information.
Although the pandemic has brought tremendous changes to our lives, perseverance will be rewarded. As long as students fulfill their academic responsibilities and have the confidence to overcome this challenge, victory lies ahead.
Partial information sources: US News, official websites of U.S. universities
