How bad does a W on a transcript look?

[eli2k]

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Hi. I'm new to these forums, and I have a desperate question needing an answer. I am having some scheduling conflicts with a one-credit course and research. The course is about speakers in the biomedical field talking about their work, an hour each week. I have about fourteen hours left to decide whether to drop or not without a W. I was wondering how medical schools would look over this. I've been struggling with my grades the past semester, too. But if a W on a one-credit course raises a lot of notice from admissions, I'm not sure what to do. Can you please advise?

Thank you,
- Eli

 

[criminallyinane]

I had one. I got into school. Don't worry but don't make it a habit!

 

[eli2k]

I had one. I got into school. Don't worry but don't make it a habit!

Did you have exceptional credentials to go with your application, though? 🙂 I'm not sure if I'll make it. It'll only be once this time because of a series of misfortunes that led to unusual circumstances.

 

[virilep]

I saw getting a B is much better than a W. take the course, and go talk to ur teacher if ur doing poorly. ask them what u need to get done. if u can't make better than a D, take the W.

 

[criminallyinane]

Did you have exceptional credentials to go with your application, though? 🙂 I'm not sure if I'll make it. It'll only be once this time because of a series of misfortunes that led to unusual circumstances.

No, my credentials are far from exceptional. Trust me, one W won't kill you. If you are going to get a C or below, take the W.

 

[LabMonster]

No, my credentials are far from exceptional. Trust me, one W won't kill you. If you are going to get a C or below, take the W.

My advisor said something similar... One or two W's won't kill you, 3 or 4 shows a lack of commitment or poor planning.

 

[ghgi8]

W = Winner

 

[chocolate-e]

I have a W on my transcript, no one has asked about it at any of my interviews, and I got in ... I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Lemmiwinks]

I have a W on my transcript, no one has asked about it at any of my interviews, and I got in ... I wouldn't worry about it.

Same here, but I have 2 W's. I interviewed at a couple top 10 schools too, so it doesn't affect you that much as long as you have a strong GPA and solid MCAT scores. Good extracurriculars are crucial too.

 

[run_4ever]

I just can't imagine that an adcom would care about one or two W's. I dropped a Spanish class because I had simply signed on for too many hours and something had to go. It happens. If you think you can hang on and pull a decent grade out of the class then go for it. But if you need to drop, I wouldn't sweat it. Good luck

 

[eli2k]

No, my problem isn't that my grades are bad in that one-credit course. It's because I have a potential scheduling conflict with it. I can just drop it and hope that the research takes up that time, or I can drop it and research won't take up that time and it will be somewhat of a waste, or I can leave it and hope that the research does not need to take up that time, or I can leave it and if the research decides to take up that time, I can drop it with a W.

 

[run_4ever]

Oh, sorry about that. You did say in the original post that this is a scheduling problem. I got fixated on the part where you said you were struggling with your grades the past semester. Bottom line...I don't think the W will impact adcoms. G-luck.

 

[criminallyinane]

Why don't you just drop it now without the W? What's the big deal? Make up the credits another semester. Why risk having a W or stressing yourself out?

 

[3baerg]

I'll tell you this: in the interview where the interviewer had access to my entire file, she asked questions about the Ws I got.

 

[Karina]

A W is certainly better than two C's (my case). I'm starting med school this Fall, first year applying.

Karina

 

[Crete]

I'll tell you this: in the interview where the interviewer had access to my entire file, she asked questions about the Ws I got in a PE class and genetics. She didn't ask a thing about the F I got in calculus. Yeah..... 😕

TAKE THE "W" NOT THE "F!" That should be common sense. Getting a B or a C might screw up your GPA depending on where it is. If your goal is a 3.6 to apply to med school just calculate what it will do to it. 1 unit probably won't do much and 1 W for a 1 unit class won't do much either. So unless you will get a C or lower, stick with it.

 

[Sabrinne]

Hi. I'm new to these forums, and I have a desperate question needing an answer. I am having some scheduling conflicts with a one-credit course and research. The course is about speakers in the biomedical field talking about their work, an hour each week. I have about fourteen hours left to decide whether to drop or not without a W. I was wondering how medical schools would look over this. I've been struggling with my grades the past semester, too. But if a W on a one-credit course raises a lot of notice from admissions, I'm not sure what to do. Can you please advise?

Thank you,
- Eli

Take the W if you are going to get C or lower. I did the s ame thing and retook the class later. No one has ever asked me about it during my interview. They actually wanted more to know about the one incomplete I had. 😀