Does Engineering Grad School Care About Pass/No Pass?

The short answer is: it depends.

Engineering grad schools vary in their policies on pass/no pass (P/NP) grades. Some schools do not accept P/NP grades for any courses, while others allow them for a limited number of courses. Still other schools have a more flexible policy, allowing P/NP grades for any course that is not a core requirement.

If you are considering taking a course P/NP, it is important to check with the admissions office of the schools you are interested in to see what their policy is. You can also check the school’s website or contact the department chair for more information.

Factors to Consider

When deciding whether or not to take a course P/NP, there are a few factors to consider:

The school’s policy. As mentioned above, some schools do not accept P/NP grades for any courses, while others allow them for a limited number of courses. It is important to check with the admissions office of the schools you are interested in to see what their policy is.
The course itself. If you are taking a core course for your major, it is generally not a good idea to take it P/NP. Core courses are typically required for graduation, and they are often used to assess your overall academic ability. Taking a core course P/NP may signal to admissions committees that you are not serious about your studies.
Your own academic record. If you have a strong academic record, taking a few courses P/NP is unlikely to hurt your chances of getting into graduate school. However, if you have a weaker academic record, taking too many courses P/NP may raise red flags for admissions committees.

Alternatives to Pass/No Pass

If you are not sure whether or not to take a course P/NP, there are a few alternatives to consider:

Auditioning the course. Most schools allow students to audit courses without receiving a grade. This is a great way to get a feel for the course and decide whether or not it is right for you.
Taking the course as a pass/fail. Some schools offer the option of taking courses as pass/fail. This means that you will not receive a letter grade for the course, but you will receive a passing grade if you pass the course and a failing grade if you fail the course. This is a good option if you are not sure how well you will do in the course.
Withdrawing from the course. If you are really struggling in a course, you may want to consider withdrawing from the course. This will not affect your GPA, but it will show on your transcript that you withdrew from the course.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to take a course P/NP is a personal one. There are many factors to consider, and the best decision for one person may not be the best decision for another. If you are considering taking a course P/NP, it is important to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision that is right for you.