pass/no pass and law school admissions

<p>Hey guys: I'm currently a sophmore at UCSD and I want to go to law school. However, my friend told me something that is making me very worried. He told me a P will be counted as a C and a NP will be counted as a F. I took Spanish Literature pass/no pass so I wouldn't have to worry about grades, and I got a P in 2A and a NP in 2B. My GPA isn't that good, its about 3.5 because I haven't been the most diligent (pretty lazy, skipped class, etc). And I might be getting a NP in my African Music class this quarter...I'll admit that it is my fault, I chose to work more hours and focus more on my harder classes. But how will law school adcoms view this? This was the last p/np class i was planning to take.</p>

<p>P = no effect
NP = F</p>

<p>I already knew that...but thanks for replying anyways. I just wanted to know if a NP will severely hurt my chances for top law schools? I only have 3 classes pass no pass, and I am thinking of retaking the classes i got a NP on. I know that law schools will average your grade with the retake grade, but what happens if you retake it pass no pass again? I figure its better to get a P then to get a F averaged with an A (possibly).</p>

<p>According to the LSAC:</p>

<p>
[quote]

Failing Grades
Any grade notation that signifies failure (such as No Credit, No Credit/Fail, Not
Passing, Incomplete/Fail, Withdraw/Fail, Unsatisfactory, Fail, etc.) is converted to
zero on the 4.0 scale and is included in the calculation of the GPA, even if the issuing
school considers the grade to be nonpunitive. Failure is defined as credit
attempted, but not earned. If a transcript is not clear about credit attempted, LSAC staff
will contact the registrar at the issuing school to confirm whether course credit was
attempted. Incomplete and Withdraw grades considered punitive by the issuing
school will be included in the conversion.
The only exception to this policy is for No Credit, Withdraw/Fail, repeated courses,
and incomplete grades specifically explained under the “Grades Excluded
From Conversion” section, page 25.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/2008-2009/InformationBook08web.pdf%5B/url%5D%5B/quote%5D"&gt;http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/2008-2009/InformationBook08web.pdf

[/quote]
</a></p>

<p>Even if you retake, remember that both grades will show upon your LSAC transcript if your school shows both grades on your transcript.</p>

<p>yes, I know that. I just would like to know how a law school adcom would view the NP if it was for a subject not related to law (ie music). Would it look better to retake the class for a letter grade? It is an easy class, I just got lazy and complacent -_-. Please help! My dream is to go to a law school, hopefully Boalt. thanks!</p>

<p>They are going to view it as simply what it is - a course you did not successfully complete. It does not matter if it was not related to law, it was a failed course and your lSAC gpa will also relfect that accordingly. If you retake the class for a better grade is totally up to you as your college transcript goes to the law school with your original transcript. Unless you just failed the course and are retaking, it will not take a rocket scientist to know that you are retaking at this time to boost your gpa (hey, do what you need to do).</p>

<p>i see. dang that is disappointing to hear...why do they do that?! Thanks for the replies anyways</p>

<p>What about Ws on your transcript?</p>

<p>I'm currently taking a class right now for my general education that I'm getting an A in, except that I want to withdraw because I've been pulling all-nighters (nearly) every-single-day to maintain that A. </p>

<p>I want to apply to Yale in the future, but do you guys suggest I stick it out w/ that class, or is it okay if I withdraw...if that will be my only "W" ever?</p>

<p>*sorry I'm a college freshman, and I don't know anything about anything. :/</p>

<p>I'd say a W would look a lot worse than whatever the alternative is. If you'll get a B- or better, I'd keep it (I'm sure you can easily pull a B+ without the all nighters/extra stress). If you're truly smart, I'm sure your future grades will easily wash it out. A W can't be washed out.</p>

<p>In regards to the OP, isn't it kind of obvious why they do that? Just by choosing to take the class(es) P/NP, you're telling them something about yourself...</p>

<p>Hey, that’s not entirely true about the W. I currently have 9 Ws in my transcript from my community college. Everyone told me that because of that I would not get in as a transfer student to any of the good University of California Campuses. </p>

<p>Well… not only did I in to all the schools that I applied to, but I got a full ride offer from UC, Berkeley. They are paying for tuition, healthcare fee, housing, and some board. </p>

<p>Most of the people that I have talked to tell me the same thing: they look at the whole application, not just the numbers. So, say, like me, you have a lot of Ws, or Ps, etc. They look at the whole picture. Mostly, though, they look at your essay. The numbers are meant to just make sure that you pass a threshold and that your essay is worth reading.</p>

<p>^ college transfer admissions /=/ law school admissions</p>