<p>I'm starting at Wellesley in the fall and, being the geek I am, have already started researching grad schools. I am wondering how taking courses credit/non will effect my chances for grad school admissions. At Wellesley, you receive credit for a C or better and nothing if you do worse and it isn't calculated with GPA. Ideally, my schedule would be:
First year: 1/4 classes credit/non
Sophomore: 2/4 credit/non
Junior: None (I hope to study abroad)
Senior: 1/4 credit/non</p>
<p>I plan to take science and language classes credit/non. I plan on majoring in Women's Studies and Environmental Studies. This would mean that I take 25% of my classes without being graded. Is this a bad idea? Will grad schools not consider me?</p>
<p>i would take all classes under your major for a grade -- i don't know if those science and language classes that you'll take P/NP are under your major, but ideally P/NP option is given to explore different courses -- such that you can 1) force yourself to attend some class that insterests you, like economics or computer science, all quarter/semester long because you still want to earn a P (which translates into C or better for the class) and 2) that your curiosity reflects on your transcripts</p>
<p>P/NP option is not given such that you get an easy ride out of 1/4th of your core classes -- many professional and grad schools want to see all of your major's classes taken for a letter grade (med, pharm, and dental schools surely do) -- i don't know where you plan to attend after college, but you better research those schools in more detail -- call them and ask them how they'll look upon it -- also, since you'll just be starting out in college, you don't know if eventually you will change your preference in grad schools -- taking classes P/NP may severely limit your choice of grad schools -- you may have to take some classes under your major over again for a letter grade</p>
<p>My school had a policy that all classes required for the degree had to be taken on a letter grade basis. </p>
<p>There was also another restriction on the total number of hours allowed that were taken pass fail (I believe it was about 9 hours in total). </p>
<p>In general, any class that is in any way connected to your field of interest, especially when it comes to grad school, must be taken on a letter grade basis. </p>
<p>The intent of pass/fail is for courses outside of your field of study, such as if you wanted to study a foreign language for your own benefit.</p>
<p>I guess I don't think taking one or two classes pass/fail is a big deal -- I took two classes in my major on pass/fail (and the entire first term freshman year at my school is on pass/fail).</p>
<p>I would be wary about taking several classes pass/fail, but one or two shouldn't hurt you.</p>