“I think it encourages more people to take 50, which is a good thing,” the student said.

But he added that the changes to the grading scheme will make many “skeptical as to whether [CS50 is] a serious course anymore.”

Yet among prospective students, many of whom were under the impression that the course would definitely be offered sat/unsat in the fall, reactions toward the potential change seemed to be mostly positive.

Vinay A. Trivedi ’13, who said he is considering concentrating in economics or philosophy, said that he was initially excited when he heard about the grading change, because it meant he would be able to take the class without having to worry about it significantly increasing the difficulty of his course load.

Knowing that the grading change is uncertain, however, Trivedi said, “It definitely makes me question whether I will take the class or not.”

—Staff writer Gautam S. Kumar can be reached at gkumar@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Evan T.R. Rosenman can be reached at erosenm@fas.harvard.edu.