Does a W in a not related class negatively affect your status?

[lilinky]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I tried searching through old posts but didn't see any related answers.

I am about to drop an unrelated class in the school I am currently finishing up my pre-reqs in. I attended the 1st week and was horrified by the classroom behavior. (Students were heckling the teacher throughout the 2 classes I attended. It made me uncomfortable that A) the teacher had so little control over the class and B) that students would do this to a college professor/grad student or no, at all. A joke here or there is one thing- but this was flat out heckling.) I ended up missing the 2nd week of class due to work but decided that I didn't want to continue taking it. I tried to drop the class from my schedule but due to registrar website issues, could not get it dropped from my schedule in time to make the drop cut off. I'm pleading my case with the registrar but I doubt I'll be sucessful. Now if I want to cancel the class it will appear as a W on my transcript. This is a class that I am 100% positive will never be a pre-req for any vet school anywhere (Economics 100 level course).

I don't know if this matters but my math/science GPA is fine, my total GPA is great, and I have not dropped or "W"ed from another course since I started working on my pre-reqs but had 1 W in my first undergrad, 8 years ago, in another non-related class.

What do you guys think? Is this something that will really hurt my chances later on down the road?

 

[thunderhawk86]

Well I withdrew from Chem Dynamics (aka Inorganic II) and I still got accepted to KSU on my first try. Then I took the course at a community college. I believe it comes down to the school and the admissions committee and what they are looking for. As long as you can explain why you withdrew to your interviewers if they ask and put it in a positive light you should be fine.

 

[anxwaiting]

Don't worry about the W....I withdrew from a whole semester and had some pretty terrible grades on my transcripts and made it into Upenn. that being said, I had lots of experience, great letters of recommendation, and just put a sentence saying it was due to a medical problem....hope this helps!! (I forgot, I did apply more than once!)

 

[ZooNose]

I took a W for an applicable class (Virology, oops) because the teaching style was impossible for me to follow - and I got in.

 

[sumstorm]

Don't be sure that it won't ever be a pre-req...since economics fills business pre-reqs for NCSU.

But, I think they may have dropped those for the next cycle (grrrrr.)

 

[No Imagination]

Withdrawing isn't all that bad, but just don't make it a habit.

I had a ton of W's from my early years in undergrad (due to work constraints), it came up on 2 interviews. If its habitual, it indicates to them you can't handle to work load.

That said, a W is a lot better then a C. Sometimes a W in a class will help all your grades that semester if you bit off more then you can chew.

 

[pressmom]

I had a W in biochem for medical reasons, so no, it doesn't hurt you. (Obviously I took it later though.) I wouldn't even bother explaining one W on your VMCAS.

 

[LadyHitokiri]

I took a W for my Calculus class that I took my first semester of undergrad. I didn't feel the need to explain it on my VMCAS. The schools I applied to didn't bat an eyelash over it, especially since I took it the following summer and got a good grade. Especially since your class might not be a pre-req, I think you're fine. 🙂

 

[PythonChick]

Don't be sure that it won't ever be a pre-req...since economics fills business pre-reqs for NCSU.

But, I think they may have dropped those for the next cycle (grrrrr.)

They are dropping them for the next cycle. My two economics classes have been my least favorite in college, so I heartily second your grrrr. I had a meeting earlier this year where a Dean of Admissions spoke and he said they are dropping the requirements and instead considering offering a business class during Vet School, so they will still have econ somewhere.

 

[StayingHopeful]

Those requirements are the reason I had to withdraw my application from NCSU. I agree with the "grrrr"

 

[sumstorm]

I actually think business classes are worth while..but gee.... it cost me most of a semester.

 

[PythonChick]

Math just isn't my thing. I think I learned some valuable things, but it was rather like pulling teeth....

 

[CurrySpice]

It'd be really interesting to see when everyone's school has drop dates because it seems like that must vary a lot.

Our spring semester runs from beginning of February to exams mid-May and we can drop courses up until the end of April.

I wouldn't imagine having one W will matter significantly and your peace of mind over NOT having that class is worth the slight blemish it might put on your transcript.

 

[lilinky]

You guys definately made me feel less nervous about dropping it!

I hadn't realized that econ was a requirement at NC but then again- I've only been focusing on the NE schools' pre-reqs. If I do decide to expand the application net, I'm not too worried about oddball business pre-reqs. I have a full time job in institutional finance and work with some amazing people who have already taught me a lot. I was just trying to lay a more solid foundation for what they are teaching me about their macro views. But given the horrid class that I ended up in, I think I'll prefer to sponge up what knowledge is being shared at my work, instead.

Thanks again!!!!
🙂

 

[lilinky]

Oh, and to respond to curryspice about the W date- I missed the deadline for the regular drop- where it falls off your transcript (which was before the 4th time the class meets) Bleh! I can't belive other schools let you sit through a whole month of classes before having to decide!
(I would have appreciated that!)

I think the W period ends 4 weeks after the D period ends. After that your only option is C or No Credit.

 

[NittanyKitty]

Just to let you know, NCSU just discontinued their business requirement. You now need 0 credits of it to apply in the 2010 cycle. 🙂