Pass/No Pass: Here’s What You Need to Know

By Danielle Collins ‘20

It’s that time of the semester: registration. Time to find those double dipper GEs, bookmark Rate My Professors, and avoid Friday discussions at all costs. One thing you might be considering is whether or not to take a class Pass/No Pass (P/NP). Here’s what you need to know.

Fast Facts:

• You can take up to 24 units of classes as P/NP
• You can take one GE P/NP (4 units worth)
• To earn a grade of “Pass” (P), you must receive a C- or above as your final grade
• If you earn a D+ or below, your grade is “No Pass” (NP) and you will not receive credit for the class
• Grades will show up on your transcript as either “P” or “NP”
• P/NP grades do not factor into your GPA
  
• You cannot receive credit for your major or minor with a P/NP class (i.e. only take elective and GE classes P/NP)

Timeline:

• You have up until the Friday of the 3rd week of classes to change a class to P/NP
• If you are registered for a class as P/NP, you have up until the Friday of the 7th week of classes to change it to a letter grade

How To Register P/NP:

• Add a class to your CourseBin
• Go to your CourseBin, and on the far right side there is a box that says “Grade Option”

• In the drop-down menu, change the selection from “Letter Grade” to “Pass/No Pass”

• You will receive a message with the rules for P/NP confirming that you want to take this class P/NP (remember you can always change it later)

• Register for the class as normal, and you’re done!

• *Note: this is the same process you will use at any point (before or after registration) to change a class between Pass/No Pass and a letter grade

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My Suggestions:

• Definitely take one GE P/NP! Try to do it for whichever category you think will be the most difficult for you. I saved my P/NP for my very last GE and it made life so much easier!
• If you’re not sure whether or not to take a class P/NP, register for it as P/NP! You have more time to change a class to a letter grade than you do to P/NP (7 weeks vs. 3 weeks). So, see how the first 7 weeks go, and if you think you can get a good grade in the class, change it to a letter grade. If not, leave it as P/NP.
• If you have specific questions about how P/NP will affect your course plan, talk to your advisor!

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