Changing a C+ and a B to W's

[YeOldeMan]

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After bothering the university administration for a little while, I have been allowed me to change a B to a W (medical withdrawal), and the administration is considering allowing me to change a C+ to a W (both BCMP classes -- both for medical reasons, both in the same summer semester). These are two not-so-hot grades I made really early (first semester)...and ever since then my grades have been very good. W's in these classes would yield a stellar GPA. One of these is a medschool prereq (and I've continued to classes that have had it as a prereq), and the other is just a class included in the BCMP (of no particular importance).

So now the question is -- will W's look bad on the transcript? Will they counteract the good done from losing the heavy downward pull of the B and C+? How do the top schools view W's? Unfortunately, the transcript does not denote MW or anything like that, just W...so for them to know it was a medical withdrawal they would have to ask me.

Thanks
YOM

 

[JJMrK]

IMO, a B looks a lot better than a W.

 

[NotAsking4Much]

Despite popular opinion, a few B's and even a C won't kill you, aka a difference between a 3.9 and 3.7 is not that drastic. Like the MCAT, there are diminishing returns.

It's just a pain in the ass to explain a W.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

You want to change a B to a W?! Why? I'd give anything to change my Ws to Bs.

 

[LizzyM]

Two Ws in the same semester/quarter? You are going to have some explaining to do in the interview or on secondaries that ask about bumps in the road. Just say that you had a medical problem that made it necessary to drop the courses. Were you graded for any other courses during that period?

 

[Contrarian]

ugh, not this again. just do a search. the W vs. C thread yields a slew of defensive posts from insecure pre-meds who have gotten C's and think W's bad, and pre-meds who have gotten W's and think C's are bad.

There is no great solution, do whatever you feel most comfortable with. I'd personally rather have a W than a C, but it's up to you.

 

[scattun]

Regardless of how they look, I am pretty sure that you are going to have to retake the pre-req class. And, I think that will raise some eyebrows since it will look on your transcript like you withdrew semester 1, took upper level classes semester 2,3, and 4, and finally took the pre-req class semester 5.

 

[psharma02]

GPA-wise.. what would you consider a C+ and a B?
C+ a 2.5 and B a 3.0?

 

[Maxx4]

Talk about being crazy. Leave the damn B alone!

 

[shiftingmirage]

If you are talking about a series pre-req (gen chem, bio), your school may not allow you to take gen chem II if you do not have a passing grade for gen chem I. So taking the Ws may mess up your class schedule plans.

I would say take the W for the C, and keep the B.

 

[YeOldeMan]

Two Ws in the same semester/quarter? You are going to have some explaining to do in the interview or on secondaries that ask about bumps in the road. Just say that you had a medical problem that made it necessary to drop the courses. Were you graded for any other courses during that period?

LizzyM, it was a summer semester and I was taking two courses. At the moment I have a C+ and a B in those courses...but I will at least be allowed to change the B to a W, and probably the C+ to a W as retroactive medical withdrawals. That is what I am wondering whether I should do. I got sick and was put on painkillers and antibiotics.

GPA-wise.. what would you consider a C+ and a B?
C+ a 2.5 and B a 3.0?

C+ is a 2.3
B is a 3.0

Regardless of how they look, I am pretty sure that you are going to have to retake the pre-req class. And, I think that will raise some eyebrows since it will look on your transcript like you withdrew semester 1, took upper level classes semester 2,3, and 4, and finally took the pre-req class semester 5.

Why bother semester 5? I can take it semester 8.

EDIT:
@shiftingmirage: The class is GenChem I...I have already taken GenChemII, and Orgo I&II, and am in Biochem

 

[LizzyM]

So, will you need to retake Chem I to fulfill the requirements for med school? Does that seem like a good use of your time and resources? Two Ws during the summer and an explanation of your illness would not raise eyebrows.