I am currently a sophomore in high school and our school just switched to pass/fail. I am personally very upset, because I go to a very competitive, STEM based school where it is very difficult to get a 4.0 (although not impossible). Fall semester I received three B’s and wanted to do a lot better this semester, and first quarter I obtained all A’s. I was very proud of myself, but I just received the news that it is going to pass fail. Therefore on my transcript, 1st semester has three B’s and 2nd semester is just plainly pass fail. I’m worried about my chances of college admissions diminishing as they can’t see my hard work this semester.
I also read an article where a college will assume a general trend during this COVID-19 pandemic, where they’ll assume general patterns from 1st semester onto next semester. This is absolutely not true in my case, and I don’t want colleges to think that my 1st semester performance is the same as my 2nd semester performance, as I tried significantly harder this semester. How will colleges judge us for grades during these times?
I am truly sorry you are in this position. A lot of high-performing and trying-very-hard-working students feel the same.
Colleges know this wasn’t your choice. Therefore, they will not hold it against you. I would not speculate as to exactly how colleges are going to look at it overall. Don’t assume the grass is greener the other way, either. Some schools are still giving letter grades. Grades in our high school can not go down from what they were on the day the school went online; they can only stay the same or go up (or remain I-for-incomplete until the work is finished). Will colleges therefore look at that as grade inflation?
Don’t feel like your hard work went to waste either. You no doubt developed a work ethic and study habits that will serve you well senior year. The fall will be your time to show them what you can do.
Many high schools are pass-fail for this semester and colleges understand that.
You are only a sophomore. Your junior year grades will be available and they will be more important. (Perhaps be grateful that you’re not a current junior.)
@Groundwork2022 thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. I understand that at these times, grades are difficult to judge and every school is doing something different. I am hoping that colleges will not pay much attention to the 19-20 year as much as the others and hold it accountable.
I feel the same way. I worked so hard for my grades, and my school is also going P/F. I understand why, but I’m still upset and trying to get over it.
I know right! Sophomore year is good time to start showcasing my grades and I don’t have the possibility for that. I hope colleges overlook this year and do not weigh it as heavily
Please, please, please don’t worry about this. Almost every single student on the planet has had their year disrupted. The colleges will have policies in place that take that into account when it is time for you to apply.