Should i take this pass/no pass?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision of whether to take a real analysis honors class for a pass/no pass grade or to drop the class altogether. Participants explore the implications of these choices on future employment and graduate school admissions, particularly in relation to fields like engineering, physics, and finance.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about their fit for pure mathematics and questions the impact of a pass/no pass grade on future opportunities.
  • Another participant suggests that a pass/no pass grade may be preferable to a low letter grade, as employers and grad schools may not be aware of the grading options available.
  • A participant reveals they have the option to drop the class but is concerned about the implications of having fewer units and how to utilize their free time effectively.
  • Some participants propose that dropping the class does not necessitate ceasing attendance or homework completion.
  • There is a question about whether keeping the class would be beneficial if the participant pursues an applied math degree, and whether employers would view dropping the class negatively.
  • One participant notes that applied math heavily relies on analysis, implying that understanding the material may be necessary for future studies.
  • Another participant highlights that the honors class is more challenging and resembles graduate-level coursework, contrasting it with a non-honors option that is perceived as easier.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the value of taking the class pass/no pass versus dropping it. There is no consensus on the best course of action, as concerns about future implications and personal preferences vary among participants.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the potential impact of grades on GPA and future academic or career paths, but there are unresolved questions about how employers perceive pass/no pass grades and the significance of dropping a class.

mobiusdafrost
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i'm taking real analysis honors and its too late to drop the class. i realized after taking this that pure math isn't for me. i intend to either go into engineering, physics, or finance. will taking this class for pass/no pass look bad to employers or grad school admissions?
 
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It'll look better to take it pass/no pass (assuming you still expect to pass) than having a grade of "barely passed" if that's your concern. Future employers or grad schools won't know the course was offered with other options, or you didn't start out that way, unless there will be some indication on your transcript of that. If it's no longer required for any of your future plans, even less harm done.
 
ha i have no clue
 
ok, it turns out i do have the option of dropping the class, but it'll show up as a small notatino on my transcript. i still don't know whether i want to keep the class or not, because if i drop it, i'll have only 8 units this semester, and even though i'll still meet the unit minimum requirement, i'll now have a lot of free time and don't know what to do with it, other than working full time for just this semester

you guys have any advice?
 
Dropping the class doesn't mean you have to stop attending class and doing the homework.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Dropping the class doesn't mean you have to stop attending class and doing the homework.

why would i? i made the mistake of enrolling in this class when pure math isn't right for me. i need advice to prepare for a career either in physics, engineering, or finance

any advice for what to do for the rest of this semester, in which I am taking only 8 units?

i've been thinking of doing undergrad research again, even though i didnt really enjoy my reu that much
 
would it make any sense to keep this class if i end up getting an applied math degree? will employers look down on the fact that i dropped a class? or will employers really care if i end up with only a c- and my resulting gpa is drops from the 3.8 range to the 3.5 range?
 
Applied math is almost all based on analysis. If you're going to go to grad school, you're going to have to learn it eventually...
 
yea but this is the honors class, which is supposed to resemble the grad level course. the non-honors is much easier
 

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