My high school had a program where students could attend the school in eighth grade and take freshman classes. However, the freshman classes that I took in eighth grade such as Biology and Algebra 1 are listed as pass/fail on my transcript. I got an A in all those classes, but the administration said that they will be listed as pass/fail because I took them as an eighth grader, even though I took them in a class with freshman who all got normal letter grades. Now as a junior, I am starting to apply to selective schools such as MIT, Stanford, and ivy league schools and am worried that having pass/ fail classes on my transcript will hurt my chances of being accepted. Had I known that the classes would have counted as pass/fail for me, I would have waited until 9th grade to take them. Does anyone known if this is going to look bad on my transcript and hurt my chances of admission?
It should be clear on your transcript that they’re from 8th grade, yes? And every advanced student is affected the same way?
I wouldn’t worry about it.
It’s listed with my normal high school classes and is not distinguished as being taken in the eighth grade. The school that I go to has grades 8-12, and any freshman classes that I took in the eighth grade are listed on my high school transcript as pass/fail.
Ask your guidance counselor to note why those classes show up as P/F in his/her recommendation. If for any reason he/she does not want to do it, you can write one line in the additional information section of the common app describing the situation. It seems very straightforward and not a big deal.
Also presumably you have taken very advanced classes since. The transcript will indicate semester & year taken so schools will know what grade u were in. They will also see that you are taking advanced classes now as a result of getting a head start back then . They won’t care about not having grades for those early classes.
Seriously, don’t worry. This is normal for your school and it will be apparent when the school profile is submitted with your other school documentation. Not an issue, so please don’t think about it anymore.