The Benefits and Drawbacks of Pass/Fail or Credit/No-Credit College Courses

Many college students have considered taking their courses on a pass/fail or credit/no-credit system, but the decision is not always as simple as it seems. Depending on your perspective, the benefits or drawbacks can vary significantly. Let's explore the pros and cons of this grading system and how it might impact your academic and professional journey.

Understanding the Pass/Fail or Credit/No-Credit System

The pass/fail or credit/no-credit system allows students to receive a pass grade without the pressure of earning a specific letter grade. It is an option that can be particularly appealing for general education classes, where many will carry little weight in your future career. However, for major courses, particularly in fields such as STEM, future employers may take a different viewoften a more critical one.

Benefits for General Education Classes

For many students, especially those with a demanding course load or those who are working part-time, the pass/fail or credit/no-credit system can provide a much-needed break from the pressure of rigorous grading. This system allows students to manage their workload more effectively and retain a semblance of work-life balance. For instance, in a general education class like a graduate-level English course, students initially believed that the class was pass/fail. When they realized they would receive letter grades based on their performance, they started taking it more seriously. This change in perspective demonstrates how a pass/fail system can improve academic engagement and performance.

Drawbacks for Major Courses

For courses in your major, particularly in STEM fields, the pass/fail or credit/no-credit system can be less favorable to employers. These classes often demand a high level of expertise and practical skills. Take, for example, a dental school where students are assessed on their ability to perform procedures on patients. The pass/fail system here is not lenient; it is stringent, with 'excellent' performance being the only acceptable outcome. This rigorous grading system ensures that only the most capable students are allowed to continue their education or enter the professional field. Therefore, employers in STEM fields may not view pass/fail grades favorably, as they can indicate a lack of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Grading and GPA Considerations

Grade inflation is a significant issue in many college systems, and the pass/fail or credit/no-credit system can mitigate this problem. It is particularly advantageous for general requirement classes, where a well-rounded education is important, but these classes may not be crucial to your major. Personally, I believe that general requirement classes should be pass/fail because everyone has to take them and while they give one a well-rounded education, they are not crucial to one's major.

However, it is also important to consider the impact of this system on your major courses. For graduate schools, a GPA is crucial in determining your success. Classes that contribute to your major should be graded so that graduate schools can see the quality of your work. If I had the power to set grading policies in the education system, I would establish a two-tiered system:

All instructors would turn in letter grades for everyone for all classes. Classes not in your major would be recorded on transcripts as pass/fail, with A-C being pass and D/F being fail. These classes would not be counted in the GPA. Classes in your major would have a grade and GPA attached to them. Changes in major would mean that previously pass/fail classes now in your major would be re-evaluated and given the initial letter grade.

This approach ensures that you have room to handle more general courses without overburdening your GPA, while still maintaining a strong record in your major, which is crucial for graduate school admission and future employment.

Student Request and Flexibility

Ultimately, students should have the option to request that classes not in their major be listed as pass/fail on their transcripts. However, it is crucial that all teachers submit letter grades for all classes, just in case a student changes their major or if a graduate school requires a letter grade for non-major classes.

Employers generally focus more on a student's major and GPA-related achievements, as these directly reflect their preparedness for professional life. However, for pre-professional students like those in pre-med, pre-vet, optometry, and dentistry, GPA in non-major classes is also important as it reflects the prerequisite skills and knowledge required for their field.

The pass/fail or credit/no-credit system can be beneficial for many students, but it is important to consider its implications for different types of courses and future academic and professional paths.