“I’d take it(1A) p/np and then take 16A next semester.”
Based on the other comments, it seemed that 16A is a lower level Math class for Business, this is a very very BAD move. Unless you are giving up premed. The worst scenario you can find. First, the med school will see you cannot get by a basic BCMP class and took a Pass grade. Second, the med school will view you try to take a lower level math class to “make up” the sGPA, it will be viewed as Grade Grubbing. Its like if you get an AP 5 in Calc BC and than take an algebra in college. If you have a problem with math, take a lower level math first, then take a more advanced class which will be accounted for as the prereq that is allowed, not the other way around.
OP really should have taken Math 10A followed by 10B, which are selected topics in calculus, statistics, and combinatorics specifically for biology majors and pre-meds, and which is different enough from ordinary calculus courses that it should not be considered a repeat of the OP’s 4 on AP calculus.
As it is now, repeating the AP calculus credit with Math 1A and then not getting an A grade or changing it to P/NP grading will likely look bad to medical schools. Doing the latter and then repeating it again with the lower level Math 16A (calculus for business majors) will likely look even worse.
P/NP grading has one passing grade. UCB, like many schools, does not have ABC/F with three passing grades; it has ABCD/F with four passing grades as the base grading system. So it is not obvious that grade conversions under the ABC/F with three passing grades chart applies to this case.
If it is the case that P in P/NP grading = 2.0 (in which case AMCAS should more clearly state that), then that is a further deterrent against pre-meds being academically adventurous where there may be greater risk of not getting an A grade, since the option of taking grade-risky courses P/NP is not really an option.
@ucbalumnus
Please read my reply in #19, to me AMCAS is very clear.
It is not as clear as you state, because grading systems 42 and 45-48 in the ABC/F with three passing grades section all have additional grades like H (honors?), HP (high pass?), etc. that are equivalent to A and B, leaving P as equivalent to C, which is different from a P/NP system with one passing grade.
Here are my thoughts:
- The math class is a letter grade course, you cannot take a Pass in that class and expect AMCAS not counting it into the GPA
- If AMCAS uses weight 30,33, 42 or 45-48 you will get a 2.0 for that Pass grade for your sGPA and cGPA calculation.
- If AMCAS uses weight 32 you will get a 1.0
I am not sure how each weight is applied, perhaps the school premed committee will put that in the letter or you need to write to AMCAS to get a ruling.
I think this is fascinating for seniors about to apply but for a freshman getting an F in a course, the AMCAS discussion is pretty theoretical at this point: odds are high OP won’t ever apply to med school. Why take the likely risk of ruining a GPA by taking the course for a grade when the likelihood of a med application is logically low for a fest semester freshman and a C would be a GOOD outcome for a student who got an F in a midterm likely to count for 30-40% of the grade?