I’m currently a freshman taking 18 units. I realize that my schedule is pretty hectic and I feel like I am going to have some trouble with my GE 2 class, HIST 106 (Chinese History). I wouldn’t say my work ethic is bad but instead I feel like with all the classes I’m taking it might be a little hard to keep up.
I still have to take GE 5 & GE 4 and I definitely don’t mind taking a science course. Should I use my Pass/No Pass option right now or save it for later?
Per their guide:
A maximum of 24 units of undergraduate course work taken on a pass/no pass basis may be used toward an undergraduate degree and a maximum of 4 of these 24 units may be applied to the general education requirements.
If your other classes are going to suffer because of the workload of this GE then P/NP is a good option. Do you feel like it will really help to lighten things and help your other grades? It needs to make a difference, otherwise you should save the P/NP for a GE that has a ton of work. Are you in a writing class like 140 or 150, thinking in terms of work you have, just wondering. I would just decide if this class is really worth using it up now since you only get to use if for 4 credits of GE. There are some annoying GEs you can get stuck with. Maybe this is one, I am not familiar with this workload.
I took WRIT 150 last semester. I definitely feel it’d lower the pressure. This is a history class and I know there are a number of essays and many dates as well as names to remember. I’m not familiar with the workload of a typical GE 5 or 4 class but I do feel that this GE 2 class is quite heavy in terms of workload.
hmmm a lot of essays? Then maybe you need the break it will give you this semester and by doing P/NP you can keep your other grades up which will motivate more going into sophomore year, rather than feeling behind. There is certainly no shame in using the P/NP option, it is a strategic tool in college. Going forward you perhaps will know more about the GEs you register for and can plan accordingly. Even though classes get harder, you will also be a more experienced student as well and will have a lot of P/NP credits you can call upon if needed. My S did this at least once or twice, I don’t know many that come near using all 24 credits, so if it will bring you peace, imo (and its just an opinion) switch while you still can and don’t look back! I know when my S used his, it really helped that term. Good Luck
btw, GE 5 is Arts and Letters, I don’t think you can take that P/NP (but not 100% sure). GE 4 has a lot of interesting but not too heavy work load GEs, some are just plain fun and interesting. I don’t think you would want to do a GE 4 as a P/NP, so you don’t need to “save it” for that category. Talk to friends, they can guide you on a few G4s to have lined up to try to get into that aren’t workload heavy and are actually really cool classes.
Got it. Thanks for the replies everyone!