<p>What is the difference between pass/fail option and credit/no credit option? I read that you can take max 24 units under this option. Does this apply to major requiremnts too like major STEM classes? Or just electives? What reasons should you drop a class? Withraw a class?</p>
<p>The credit option is the standard. You take the course for a certain number of credits, you get a grade in the course, and your GPA will be weighted based on those two criteria. As far as I know, most (all?) courses required for your major must be taken this way.</p>
<p>Pass/fail is exactly what it sounds like. You take the course and you either pass or you fail based on the professor’s expectations. That’s usually around the C/C- level. If you pass a course with the pass/fail option, you get credit for the course. If you fail, you do not get credit. The catch is that pass/fail courses do not alter your GPA. So it’s good to take a course pass/fail if you want to get credit but you’re not confident you can get a grade that will help your GPA. People use pass/fail when they’re taking electives that are unfamiliar to them. For example, someone studying political science might decide to take a metal fabrication class. They want the credit but since it’s a very unfamiliar subject and they’re afraid they might get a B, they would take it pass/fail. You can only have one pass/fail option per semester.</p>
<p>Dropping a course means you un-enroll before the drop deadline, i.e. before there is any penalty for un-enrolling. Many students (typically sophomores and above) have enough flexibility in their schedules that they can over-enroll, i.e. sign up for a ton of courses, go to all of them for the first week or two, and then drop any courses they don’t like.</p>
<p>Withdrawing means you’ve passed the drop deadline and your transcript will indicate that you withdrew from a class. If you’re doing really poorly in a class, it’s usually a good idea with withdraw from it. You’ll get a W on your transcript but employers tend to be okay with a couple of them. In most cases, it’s better to have a W than a D or an F.</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated. Just to confirm. Register for 21 units and drop 1 or 2 non required classes that you do not like within 2 weeks. Then if you are failing a class “D or lower”, withraw it but not every semester. Pass/Fail is only for non major courses and one per semester.</p>
<p>Engineering students are allowed to take up to 6 credits pass/fail per semester.</p>
<p>Withdraw only as a last resort. Don’t take too many classes and end up getting overwhelmed and being forced to withdraw.</p>
<p>I haven’t taken a single class pass fail in 8 semesters. Don’t think you should automatically.</p>