Getting Third W grade....

[blackdog999]

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Hey guys

So I'm kind of extremely worried right now. I just failed my calculus midterm and if I manage to get 100% on 2 more quizzes and my final, I'll only be able to pull off a C. Honestly I just don't think I can do it.

Right now I have 2 W's on my transcript (Linear algebra and Statistics, however I've retaken them and received an A and A-), but I believe I will have to drop and retake calculus.

How bad do these W's look on my transcript? I mean my GPA is roughly a 3.6, but I've heard that a W is worse than an F. I'm really panicking right now and just don't know what to do. I REALLY struggle with math courses, I don't know why. I know a lot of people say that "well as long as you can explain it, then you're fine", but I really have no explanation as to why I'm bad at math. I've studied my butt off but I struggle to no end.

So what do you guys think? Is this W going to kill me?

Thanks guys.

 

[optsuker]

...but probably not deal breaker either.

To the admissions board, withdrawing from classes makes you look like a flaky personality. Do you quit and bail when something gets difficult?
Guess what, optometry school is difficult.

If the class was retaken at the same institution, I wouldn't sweat it. If you W/D & then took it at a community college, it will look bad.

 

[blackdog999]

Yeah I've retaken those courses at the same institution. I just can't seem to understand math the first time around. How bad does it look exactly? If I still manage to get good marks, does it only become something that I need to explain? Or will I actually be turned down by schools because of these W's?

 

[BrownIris]

I had three Ws on my transcripts and have already received one acceptance, in addition to three scheduled interviews. I think a W is better than an F!
Best of luck!

 

[kiwi5frog]

Yeah I've retaken those courses at the same institution. I just can't seem to understand math the first time around. How bad does it look exactly? If I still manage to get good marks, does it only become something that I need to explain? Or will I actually be turned down by schools because of these W's?

I had 4 W's. i got invited to interview the same day my app arrived on campus. they've said that gpa/course load will no longer be a factor once you pass the 1st stage and reach interview stage (scco specific admission)

honestly, i've never heard W's being an issue for optometry admissions. I've never met an adcom who said "W's are worse than F's". if anything, i've been advised that if you think you'll get anything worse than a C (or even a C), drop immediately and preserve your high GPA. (may not be good advice for everyone, but it worked for me.)

you are fine. although your performance in math is a bit alarming. how are you in physics? i'd be less concerned about admissions and more concerned about handling a few optics courses. although some people really rock at physics, but suck at math.

 

[KHE]

Yeah I've retaken those courses at the same institution. I just can't seem to understand math the first time around. How bad does it look exactly? If I still manage to get good marks, does it only become something that I need to explain? Or will I actually be turned down by schools because of these W's?

Every adcom in the universe knows that the reasons students take a "W" 99% of the time is to avoid a poor grade on their transcript.

In the future, you may want to ask your instructors if you can audit the course before you take it for real if you seem to only be able to do it "the second time around."