Grad school grading and adcoms

[jmelinte]

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I took an extra class in my first term of graduate school, while everyone else was doing research. It proved to be a big mistake because on top of working, I did not have enough time to focus on things, and I am now faced with a rough decision. It is nearly impossible for me to get a B in this class. The policy for dropping classes after the withdrawal dealine at my school is that you receive a WS or WU for withdrawal-satisfactory or withdrawal-unsatisfactory, respectively, based on your score in the class at the time of withdrawal. Thus, my question is should I just take the final and take the C in the class (It is pretty much mathematically impossible for me to pull a B at this point because of my first exam score), or should I take the WU? Which would an adcom look more favorably upon, or at least bother to ask for an explanation? I'm expecting an A and a B in my other classes, so a 3.5. The C would decrease this significantly, but I don't know if a WU would look worse.

 

[1Path]

Ask your prof for an incomplete and explain your situation.

 

[imrep1972]

I took an extra class in my first term of graduate school, while everyone else was doing research. It proved to be a big mistake because on top of working, I did not have enough time to focus on things, and I am now faced with a rough decision. It is nearly impossible for me to get a B in this class. The policy for dropping classes after the withdrawal dealine at my school is that you receive a WS or WU for withdrawal-satisfactory or withdrawal-unsatisfactory, respectively, based on your score in the class at the time of withdrawal. Thus, my question is should I just take the final and take the C in the class (It is pretty much mathematically impossible for me to pull a B at this point because of my first exam score), or should I take the WU? Which would an adcom look more favorably upon, or at least bother to ask for an explanation? I'm expecting an A and a B in my other classes, so a 3.5. The C would decrease this significantly, but I don't know if a WU would look worse.

Jmelinte,

I would have to agree with 1Path. Take the W. *Most* grad programs have a 3.0 cutoff to graduate, so a C is usually a failing grade. *From what I have been told repeatedly* - Med schools are very aware that it is RELATIVELY hard to get a C in a grad class compared to an undergrad class (because it is a failing grade) so that C on your transcript, while not an F, will stand out like one.

Take the incomplete and move forward.

 

[jmelinte]

My professor is looking to see if he can give me a permanent incomplete in the course. Since it's just an elective, I wouldn't have to take it again. If I can't get the I, then I'll have to decide between the W and C. I know that C is basically failing, so W would seem like the right choice. However, my school gives out WS and WU (unsatisfactory), and I would get the latter of the two. Thus, would a withdraw-unsatisfactory look better or worse than a plain C, regardless of the GPA implications?

 

[jmelinte]

I just heard from my prof. I can't get an incomplete. I'm leaning toward the WU over the C. Any ideas?

 

[LaserAls]

I would take the WU over the C... I think the WU and the C will look equally bad, but at least the WU will not factor into your GPA. You can explain any discrepancy in an interview, but you have to get the interview first! A lot of interviews depend on numbers, and a C would significantly impact your GPA. Don't worry, I think you can definitely recover from it!

I just heard from my prof. I can't get an incomplete. I'm leaning toward the WU over the C. Any ideas?