Pass/Fail vs Actual Grade - How does this affect your GPA? Which is better?

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In my Nursing Terminology class, I have the option to take a pass/fail or an actual letter grade.

I'm not able to really find any documentation saying why one would be better than the other, aside from personal preference.

Have any of you found a reason for your preference? The default is pass/fail. It's an online class (Rio Salado), so I wanted to double check before sending a stupid email to my teacher :)

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.

Well generally pass/fail doesn't affect your GPA. If you pass, you get the credit for the class. I know at my school we can pass/fail certain liberal arts classes. As long as you get a C, it says "pass" on your transcript. If you fail (get less than a C) the failing letter grade will then show up on your transcript and it will affect your GPA. Does that make sense?

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Yep, just wasn't sure if a "pass" would be worth less than an "A", etc.

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Some schools won't accept pass/fail grades as transfer credits or toward higher degrees - a friend of mine had a HUGE problem with this a few years ago and had to re-take a couple of classes (non-nursing program) - so if you have any inclination toward transferring or going on for a higher degree than your current program, I'd go for the letter grade. I'd probably do the letter grade anyway, personally, but that's just me - I like trying to get that A (glutton for punishment, I admit it!).

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Some schools won't accept pass/fail grades as transfer credits or toward higher degrees - a friend of mine had a HUGE problem with this a few years ago and had to re-take a couple of classes (non-nursing program) - so if you have any inclination toward transferring or going on for a higher degree than your current program, I'd go for the letter grade. I'd probably do the letter grade anyway, personally, but that's just me - I like trying to get that A (glutton for punishment, I admit it!).

Hmm, good to know. I'm looking to transfer to ASU for my BSN and then onto a CRNA program later.. that's why I'm picky than I probably should be.

I think I'll have it switched to a letter grade.. I could see that happening and I'd hate to have to re-take anything :)

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Getting a letter grade will help if you get an A, and hurt (unless your GPA is less than 3.0) if you get a B. Pass/Fail will not hurt your GPA unless you fail, but it won't help it either. Several of our courses, including all of our clinicals, are pass/fail (actually satisfactory/unsatisfactory). We don't have a choice, it's just how it's set up - they think it's too subjective to ask an instructor to grade clinical work with a number, so as long as we show up, work hard, and are safe, we pass. It's just a lot of work to do when you can't improve your GPA. I'm planning on applying to CRNA school as well, at my current school among other places, and I don't think they'll hold their own courses against me. It seems pretty common in nursing programs to have a few P/F or S/U classes.

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