Career Considerations for Pass/Fail Grading

Source: https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/career-toolkit/get-recruiting-ready/career-considerations-for-pass-fail-grading/ Parent: https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/

This guide provides information on pass/fail grading considerations for students interested in employment and professional school after graduation, as well as general advice for students interested in graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences.

For information on the academic considerations of pass/fail grading and for more detailed advice on graduate programs in your area of study, contact your academic adviser, your major’s director of undergraduate studies, and faculty specializing in your field of interest. You can make an appointment with your academic adviser at the College Scheduling site, and you can visit the College Catalog for more information on pass/fail grading procedures.

If you’re considering requesting pass/fail grading – whether because of a difficult personal situation, disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, or other circumstances that prevent you from doing your best work – you may wonder how this could impact your prospects for internships, employment, and graduate school.

Career Advancement is here to help you make an informed decision. Individual employers and graduate schools will all have different approaches to pass/fail grading, but this page provides a general overview of career considerations to keep in mind if you’re exploring this option.

To discuss your specific career situation in detail, please don’t hesitate with a Career Advancement adviser.

General Information for All Students

Role of Grades and GPA in Job and Graduate School Decisions

• A limited number of pass/fail courses (especially those taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Spring Quarter 2020 in particular) is unlikely to adversely impact your competitiveness for most opportunities

• Grades and GPA do play a partial but important role in many employer hiring decisions, and they play a critical role in graduate school admissions as well as for some jobs and internships

• In general, most employers and graduate schools prefer to see quality grades over pass/fail grades, especially for opportunities with strict GPA and transcript requirements

• However, many employers and graduate programs review applications holistically, and grades are just one of many ways you can show your skills, knowledge, and leadership potential
• Career Advancement works closely with employers and graduate admissions teams to educate them on the rigor of UChicago’s curriculum, and they take this into account in their evaluation processes

Your Applications and Pass/Fail Grading

• In most cases, one or two pass/fail courses won’t significantly affect your applications, but some employers and graduate programs may hesitate to consider candidates with multiple pass/fail courses without additional context from the applicant
• Many employers and graduate schools have reported that they will be flexible with pass/fail courses taken during Spring Quarter 2020 in particular

• If possible, minimize pass/fail grading for courses that are directly connected to your intended career path or a discipline where you intend to pursue graduate study

• If you do choose pass/fail grading for one or more courses, use these tips to put your best foot forward:

• Provide honest and accurate transcripts and GPAs for all applications

• Highlight previous experiences (internships, research, RSOs, volunteering, etc.) that showcase your qualifications
• Note relevant technical skill certifications and courses where you’ve performed well
• Secure strong letters of recommendation from supervisors or faculty members who can speak to your strengths
• If you feel comfortable, consider explaining why you decided to choose pass/fail grading in your application or interview; Career Advancement advisers can help you determine the best way to go about this

Information for Specific Industries and Opportunities

• Arts & Humanities

• These employers typically evaluate candidates holistically – academic performance is just one factor they consider, and they’re particularly interested in prior experience, clips, and your creative portfolio

• If possible, choose quality grading for courses directly connected to your field of interest (e.g., art history courses for students interested in curatorial careers)
• Students who want to eventually pursue graduate programs (e.g., MFA) should take special care when thinking about pass/fail grading – quality grades are important for graduate admissions

• Meet with a Careers in the Arts & Humanities adviser for personalized support

• Business

• Prior experience is typically the most important factor for business employers

• However, grades and GPA play a significant role in some of the most competitive opportunities in the industry, especially with leading investment banks and consulting firms
• Most business employers, including finance and consulting firms, prefer quality grades but won’t disqualify students based on a limited number of pass/fail courses
• However, they may ask applicants to explain their decision to use pass/fail grading during the interview; students will want to come prepared to discuss their decision-making process
• Regardless of what your transcript or GPA looks like, employers will value prior internship experience, involvement on-campus and beyond (RSOs, community service, etc.), and other evidence of your interests and skills in business
• Students who plan to pursue an MBA should take special care when thinking about pass/fail grading – multiple pass/fail courses could impact their competitiveness for leading MBA programs

• Meet with a adviser for personalized support

• Computer Science and Technology

• Grades and GPA do play a role in technology recruiting, especially with large tech firms, but employers generally prioritize the candidate’s technical skills and performance in technical interviews

• However, technical roles in other industries (e.g., software engineer for a financial firm) may place a stronger emphasis on your transcript and GPA
• If possible, avoid pass/fail grading for courses in math and computer science
• Students who plan to eventually pursue graduate study in computer science or data science should take special care when thinking about pass/fail grading – multiple pass/fail courses could impact their competitiveness for leading programs and scholarships

• You can make yourself a stronger candidate by:

  • Highlighting internship and research experiences
  • Noting your technical skills and certifications
  • Maintaining a portfolio of technical projects
  • Networking with alumni and recruiters
  • Meet with a Careers in Computer Science adviser for personalized support

• Government and Policy

• Recruiting for government and policy positions is typically a holistic process where grades and GPA play a partial role in your application

• High-profile federal agencies (e.g., the State Department, the FBI, the CIA) and positions that require security clearances may place greater emphasis on strong transcripts and GPAs
• If you’re planning to apply for a specialized position (e.g., researcher for a specific policy issue at a think tank), try to use quality grades whenever possible for courses that are directly connected to your area of expertise

• Meet with a Careers in Policy, Government, & Nonprofits adviser for personalized support

• Graduate School Programs in the Liberal Arts and Sciences

• Your transcript is a very important component of your graduate school application

• If you plan to apply to graduate school, try to take as many courses for quality grades as possible
• Avoid pass/fail grading altogether if possible for courses in your intended graduate discipline
• While one or two pass/fail courses are unlikely to adversely impact your application (especially if they’re outside of your discipline), try to minimize them if you can
• Graduate schools will likely be more lenient with pass/fail courses taken in Spring Quarter 2020

• If you decide to take multiple courses or important major courses pass/fail, here are some additional ways you can demonstrate your skills and qualifications:

  • Highlight your research projects and other relevant experiences
  • Submit high-quality writing samples and list any papers you’ve published or presentations you’ve given
  • Ask for letters of recommendation from faculty members who taught courses where you performed well and can speak to your strengths and potential
  • Consider explaining your decision to choose pass/fail grading in your application
  • Meet with a Career Advancement adviser for personalized support, and you’re also strongly encouraged to contact your major’s director of undergraduate studies and faculty specializing in your field of interest

• Law School

• Law schools weigh your transcript and GPA heavily in admissions decisions

• Use quality grades for as many of your courses as possible: multiple pass/fail courses could negatively impact your law school application and eligibility for merit scholarships
• However, it’s unlikely that law schools will look unfavorably on a single pass/fail course or pass/fail courses taken in Spring Quarter 2020

• If you do have multiple pass/fail courses on your transcript, it’s important to:

  • Prepare well for the LSAT so you can get a strong score
  • Secure compelling letters of recommendation from faculty members who can speak to the high quality of your work
  • Consider explaining your decision to choose pass/fail grading in an addendum to your application
  • Meet with a adviser for personalized support

• Medical School

• Your grades and GPA play a very important role in medical school admissions

• Medical schools have a strong preference for quality grades when they make their decisions for both admissions and merit scholarships
• If possible, avoid pass/fail grading altogether for required pre-health courses

• If you decide taking one or more courses pass/fail is your best option, you can strengthen your application by:

  • Highlighting research experiences
  • Demonstrating your commitment to serving others with opportunities like volunteering, tutoring, etc.
  • Explaining your decision to choose pass/fail grading in your application
  • Meet with a Careers in Healthcare adviser for personalized support

• Nonprofits

• Nonprofits typically evaluate candidates holistically

• Their top considerations are usually prior experience and a strong commitment to the organization’s mission
• Large nonprofits with highly competitive programs such as Teach for America may place greater emphasis on grades and GPA

• Meet with a Careers in Policy, Government, & Nonprofits adviser for personalized support

• STEM

• A strong transcript and GPA are important for both academic and industry roles in STEM

• While most employers are unlikely to react negatively to a limited number of pass/fail courses, it’s best to avoid using pass/fail grading for multiple courses
• If possible, avoid pass/fail grading altogether for courses directly connected to your intended career path (e.g., chemistry courses for chemical engineering jobs)
• Students who plan to pursue STEM graduate school one day should take special care when thinking about pass/fail grading – multiple pass/fail courses could impact their competitiveness for leading programs and scholarships

• Regardless of what’s on your transcript, you can bolster your applications by:

  • Highlighting internship experiences
  • Getting involved in research
  • Engaging with RSOs and co-curricular programs such as Engineering Fellows
  • Building relationships with faculty and recruiters