Pass/Fail Grading in the Age of Coronavirus: What College Students Should Know
For current college students, one of the effects of COVID-19 and its corresponding self-isolation measures is university-level policy changes to ensure a fair grading process for students. Many institutions—including Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania—are now offering a pass/fail option or have transitioned to mandatory pass/fail grading. If your school has adopted such a policy, you might be wondering what it means for you and your transcript.
First, a bit of reassurance: these changes are intended to remove some of the pressure of this unprecedented situation. Whether you’re learning from home with little peace and quiet, finding your access to reliable technology or internet is limited, or you’re realizing that the effects of coronavirus have taken a toll on your emotional state, a move to pass/fail may help you regroup, refocus, and learn for the sake of learning.
While concerns have circulated about the potential drawbacks of a pass/fail term, colleges and universities are making efforts to distinguish this semester’s pass/fail courses to future employers, graduate programs, and others who might normally look negatively on pass/fail grades.
Note: pass/fail grading does hold the potential to remove some of the punch of a competitive GPA on your resume or in your graduate school applications. So, consider who you are as a career entrant or graduate school-seeker, and consider these details:
Are you planning on using a certification or graduate-level test to differentiate your application for a job or graduate program?
Now may be the time to do so. Some students find these steps easier to accomplish while in undergraduate studies, rather than during an important internship or full-time job post-graduation. If you find yourself with more time on your hands and a little less academic pressure on your shoulders, you can use this time to study for and take such exams. This option is also ideal if you’re worried that a simple “P” (or pass) in a major course may obscure your exact qualifications.
Are you looking to kick your study habit of “memorize and regurgitate?”
If you find yourself stuck in a study pattern of last-minute memorization, but your retention post-assessment leaves something to be desired, now could be the time to revamp the way you study and learn in a lower-pressure environment. Many online lecturers are leaning more on open-discussion formats and comprehension, instead of memorization. Use this to your advantage! As you study—particularly in classes that are prerequisites and learning foundations for future courses—try to emphasize comprehension and application over memorization. This valuable study step should help you to more consistently inventory and apply learned content in future classes and beyond.
But what should you consider if you’re weighing a pass/fail option?
If your institution is offering a pass/fail option (rather than pass/fail grading) and you’re uncertain of whether you should take that option up, here are a few items to review:
Is your GPA in a good spot for upcoming requirements/scholarships, or could it use some work? If you know your GPA could use a boost, and you’re in a solid position to achieve said boost, you might want to consider opting against pass/fail.
Is your current course load comprised of core areas of expertise or pursued areas of interest/curiosity? If you’re confident you can earn a high grade in a core area of expertise you’ll be continuing your study in, and you have the option to take the grade, take it! That said, if you’re branching out into an area of interest that isn’t quite your forte, you may want to consider the pass/fail option.
What level of uncertainty are you facing with COVID-19 changes? If you find yourself without reliable internet access, caring for family members at home, or attempting to handle income insecurity, accepting the pass/fail option could provide you with some well-needed reprieve.
Do any of the above opportunities resonate with you? If you have a certification exam or graduate school entrance exam that you’ve been dreading taking the time to complete, a pass/fail option can allow you the flexibility to commit a bit more time to these preparations than might otherwise be possible. (Just be sure you don’t fall into the temptation to use the pass/fail option to focus all of your efforts elsewhere—some of that core content and prerequisite information will be back in future years of classes.)
While all the changes taking place this semester will come with their own set of benefits and drawbacks, an intentional effort to utilize the former and minimize the latter can help you position yourself for future success.
A lifelong learner and career teacher, Hailey Cusimano is a tutor, curriculum developer, and the host of the Varsity Tutors Test Prep 4 All class series. She was a two-sport varsity athlete as an undergraduate, holds an MBA degree from Rollins College, and spends her free time hiking and running with her two dogs.