<p>So I'm in my second semester at Cal, and had a question about taking a class pass fail. I asked a little while back if taking a bio class p/f would look bad, and most said it would; my question this time is about a math class: math 53 (calc 3/vector calc). Since I've only been university for like 1 semester, my science gpa is 3.91, and I would like to keep it that way. So rather than risk the potential of an A-/B+, should I take it pass fail, or will it look bad (I got a 5 on BC and took another math class at Cal (16b), so I'm mostly done with med school reqs for math). I mean, I also want to take math 54 and 55 (linear alg and discrete math), and may just take them pass fail too, since I want to take math courses, but do not want to screw up my gpa - and once again, is this advisable?</p>
<p>Also, do med schools, in general, differentiate between A-'s and A's, or are they all the same? </p>
<p>Lastly, would it look bad if I were to take a lower division math course, after I've taken these higher division ones (e.g. 16A, the precursor to 16b) and make it seems as if I'm just trying to artificially raise my gpa?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Why would you take 16a after 16b? That seems odd.</p>
<p>There are many P/F courses at Cal, my DD had quite a few, including some math 50+ courses. If the math courses are for edification and not for your major and if you have the 1 year of math required with a grade, then yes, you can explore higher level math at P/F.</p>
<p>Take all the courses required for pre-med & the courses in your major for a grade, take any other exploration courses for P/F if you want, obviously the university has a limit to the number of P/F units allowed total.</p>
<p>Yeah, so the reason I would take 16A is exactly what it seems, to raise/secure my overall GPA (which is like a 3.6-3.7) and science gpa. But the main point of my question was will colleges think it weird if I took these math courses pass fail, or would they understand (is there a way I could clarify?) that I was taking them out of interest (I know that too many pass/fail courses are frowned upon). </p>
<p>Also, if anyone knows about the A, A- thing…</p>
<p>For some reason, the premed adviser at DS’s college discouraged him to take any class P/F. This is a school that actually encourages students to take some classes P/F. I guess those in the premed office who write the committee letters set a higher standard than the school in general at his school.</p>
<p>DS followed his advice and did not take any class P/F. But it could be different at other schools.</p>