Drop a 1 credit class, not related to my major

[Godric]

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Here's the story, I took only 12 credits this semester. One biology course, physics lab and the rest of my classes were general education requirements and one elective. The elective is a one credit course, unrelated to my major, it's about clinical lab sciences. I had the first exam a few days ago I didnt do too well, I got a 78, Only one exam left, and I need to score above a 100 (impossible since exam is only out of a 100), to get an A. So should I drop the class? Or try and get a B+ ?

Things to note, I've never had a W before, but in my first semester I did get a D, and retook the class. And currently my gpa is not stellar, but I believe I do have a strong upward trend going, and I calculated exactly what I need to get and this 1 credit course throws of my dream gpa by tiny bit. I've been keeping a 3.7,3.8,4 for 3 semesters now and I don't want a low gpa from this semester. And finally to get a B+ in the class id have to really dedicate time to it, and currently between mcat studying, my few classes, working and volunteering, my time is being stretched to its limits.

 

[aSagacious]

A) Your grade in a 1 credit class will be inconsequential at the end of the day.

B) Dropping below twelve credits might disqualify you from full-time status (which often does funky stuff with financial aid) so look into this before taking any action.

C) 1 withdrawal (especially from a 1 credit class) is not going to raise any red flags.

 

[StoicJosher]

Here's the story, I took only 12 credits this semester. One biology course, physics lab and the rest of my classes were general education requirements and one elective. The elective is a one credit course, unrelated to my major, it's about clinical lab sciences. I had the first exam a few days ago I didnt do too well, I got a 78, Only one exam left, and I need to score above a 100 (impossible since exam is only out of a 100), to get an A. So should I drop the class? Or try and get a B+ ?

Things to note, I've never had a W before, but in my first semester I did get a D, and retook the class. And currently my gpa is not stellar, but I believe I do have a strong upward trend going, and I calculated exactly what I need to get and this 1 credit course throws of my dream gpa by tiny bit. I've been keeping a 3.7,3.8,4 for 3 semesters now and I don't want a low gpa from this semester. And finally to get a B+ in the class id have to really dedicate time to it, and currently between mcat studying, my few classes, working and volunteering, my time is being stretched to its limits.

Seems like you made up your mind. But if I was you, I would stick with it. The one credit B or B+ wont hurt your GPA much in the grand scheme of things (100+ credits) but it is your call. If you think you won't be able to handle the class with all the other things you are doing, drop it.

 

[Godric]

Dam it, I overlooked the financial aid part. I've never had to think about loosing my full time status because I've always taken 18-19 credits. I have loans and grants, so if I fall below full time does that mean I have to start paying back the loans 😱 , I am not sure if anyone's able to answer that on SDN but if thats the case then I'll just tough it out and try to get a B+.

Thank you aSagacious, and StoicJosher! I am not sure if I would have thought about those points, I was so (still am) fixated on my poor grade that I didn't think it through fully.

 

[twizzlers713]

A) Your grade in a 1 credit class will be inconsequential at the end of the day.

B) Dropping below twelve credits might disqualify you from full-time status (which often does funky stuff with financial aid) so look into this before taking any action.

C) 1 withdrawal (especially from a 1 credit class) is not going to raise any red flags.

that's the big issue

 

[orthomyxo]

Dam it, I overlooked the financial aid part. I've never had to think about loosing my full time status because I've always taken 18-19 credits. I have loans and grants, so if I fall below full time does that mean I have to start paying back the loans 😱 , I am not sure if anyone's able to answer that on SDN but if thats the case then I'll just tough it out and try to get a B+.

Thank you aSagacious, and StoicJosher! I am not sure if I would have thought about those points, I was so (still am) fixated on my poor grade that I didn't think it through fully.

You wouldn't have to start paying back federal loans unless you were to drop below half-time status.

 

[Stumpyman]

a B+ in in a 1 credit class will probably (at the most) lightly brush your GPA. I'd say just stick with it.

 

[Godric]

You wouldn't have to start paying back federal loans unless you were to drop below half-time status.

Thanks, and do you know about thing about the pell grant, tuition aid grant, whether I will have to pay the grant back because I am no longer a full time student? Or if it will have an effect on the grant amount I receive next semester (assuming I am a normal full time student again)?

a B+ in in a 1 credit class will probably (at the most) lightly brush your GPA. I'd say just stick with it.

Your right, but the amount of studying I am going to have to do for this exam is going to be ridiculous (especially for a 1 credit course). If I could I drop it without any consequence to my financial aid, I think I'd heavily lean towards that option.

 

[orthomyxo]

Thanks, and do you know about thing about the pell grant, tuition aid grant, whether I will have to pay the grant back because I am no longer a full time student? Or if it will have an effect on the grant amount I receive next semester (assuming I am a normal full time student again)?

I don't think that dropping below full-time status will affect any of your federal aid, including that in future semesters. I did it a few semesters ago when I dropped a lab and I haven't seen any changes in the amount of money I get. Really the only thing to worry about is any grants/scholarships that you're already getting from your school, because some of them probably require that you be enrolled full-time.

 

[Godric]

I don't think that dropping below full-time status will affect any of your federal aid, including that in future semesters. I did it a few semesters ago when I dropped a lab and I haven't seen any changes in the amount of money I get. Really the only thing to worry about is any grants/scholarships that you're already getting from your school, because some of them probably require that you be enrolled full-time.

Thank you so much. I wen to the financial aid department today and asked them, and they told me its too late in the semester for me to loose anything. I wont have to pay my loans back, and I wont loose any grants or have to pay them back, but I will receive a W (all ready knew that though).
First time in my undergrad career dropping a class, and I did it for a useless class. Had to be done though.