How bad Does a withdrawal look?

[Chemdude]

Today I received my first Physics 2 exam grade. The test was extremely difficult (about 14 pages in 55 minutes). I am really depressed right now; I feel like all the time I have put in studying for the course has been a complete waste. I also regret taking this physics section because the other physics section has the easiest prof. ever. I can't believe that the 4.0(55 credits) I have been working so hard to maintain may disappear by the end of this semester.

I am seriously considering withdrawing from the course. How bad does a withdrawal look? Would you suggest that I stay in the course if I can maintain a B?

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[Ibn Rushd]

Would you suggest that I stay in the course if I can maintain a B?

Umm ... yes? Why would you even ask that? Getting a B isn't the end of the world. Hang in there, keep trying, and hopefully things will work out for the best.

 

[knuck000]

Stick with it. There have been times when I was completely positive I would get a B in a class, but I worked my butt off anyways and somehow pulled off an A. There are lots of unforeseen things like grade curves, rounding, extra credit, etc that can help you out later.

Just don't give up, then realize at the end of the semester that you could have pulled a higher grade if you had just worked a little harder.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I won't tell you what to do, but here is what I did:

I purposely scheduled more than 15 hours every semester. Whenever the drop deadline came around, I would evaluate my classes. If I thought I could do better with a different prof or if I just couldn't cut it, I would drop my hardest course. I ended up with 3-5 W's. It didn't hurt me one bit. In fact, it really helped my gpa! I got accepted to numerous medical schools and not 1 interview ever brought up those W's. My brothers are now doing the same thing in undergrad.

 

[Bibbed]

I have 3 W's and 4 interviews right now. No one has ever asked about them. That said, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Never withdraw. Not because it would look bad on your transcript but because you shouldn't quit on things. You're obviously plenty smart enough to fix your grade (you said you still have a 4.0), just go fix it.

Only quitters withdraw.

 

[Muffinpuff]

Here's the thing about withdraws, an excuse like because i can't get an A is not gonna flow in a good way. If you're not getting a C or miserably failing or something then stick with it! No one demands perfection out of your GPA. 4.00 is super cool but there's so many factors involved in your app such as activities, research, etc that the 4.00 is only one portion, small one compared to the MCAT and life experiences (hope you have some knowing how much you must spend on academics). So if you're struggling with a C or lower, then withdraw, if not and you can pull a B then stick with it. In the end, a person with straight A's in Physics with a 10 in that PS section on the MCAT is not as attractive as another dued with a less then perfect physics record but a 13 in PS. There's so many things, and honestly, withdraw is not gonna kill you! It won't! I promise. Not is a 3.7 GPA. When I spoke to an admissions officer, they said all 3.8 to 4.0 are considered the same GPA rank and what matters is the MCAT and experiences. If they really get down to asking you about it, and take the time to look in detail at your classes, then you're probably only a step away from being considered for acceptance. Chill, it's okay to drop. You're not a quiter! But on the other hand, it's okay not to be perfect, like get a B in this class.

 

[sully677]

Remember...Harvard only accepts 4.0's. So you will have to drop...

 

[LizzyM]

At some schools and for some adcom members more than 1 or 2 Ws are a red flag. If you have a 4.0 and a W it is a white flag of surrender with "protecting the gpa" writen on it.

Having a single B on a transcript otherwise covered with As shows you're human. Some adcom members tell me that they find that appealing in an applicant.

 

[Chemdude]

Update:

I Just recieved my final grade: A 🙂

I guess this can be a future reference to people who want to withdraw from a course. I'm glad I didn't withdraw. Withdrawing would have looked bad, and I wouldn't have gotten an A.

Keep "withdrawing" as the last option. Make sure you do everything possible to improve your grade before you think about withdrawing.

 

[DrYoda]

Update:

I Just recieved my final grade: A 🙂

I guess this can be a future reference to people who want to withdraw from a course. I'm glad I didn't withdraw. Withdrawing would have looked bad, and I wouldn't have gotten an A.

Keep "withdrawing" as the last option. Make sure you do everything possible to improve your grade before you think about withdrawing.

Congrats man, way to take that lost ground back!

 

[Schlockinz]

Today I received my first Physics 2 exam grade. The test was extremely difficult (about 14 pages in 55 minutes). I am really depressed right now; I feel like all the time I have put in studying for the course has been a complete waste. I also regret taking this physics section because the other physics section has the easiest prof. ever. I can't believe that the 4.0(55 credits) I have been working so hard to maintain may disappear by the end of this semester.

I am seriously considering withdrawing from the course. How bad does a withdrawal look? Would you suggest that I stay in the course if I can maintain a B?

This is why when our physics teachers teach the life science majors, they'll go through the syllabus, and get to the end and say something along these lines, "And now for your favorite part of the syllabus, grading, because you're not taking physics to learn physics, you're taking it to get an A"

Congrats on sticking with it though

 

[otterpop]

Update:

I Just recieved my final grade: A 🙂

I guess this can be a future reference to people who want to withdraw from a course. I'm glad I didn't withdraw. Withdrawing would have looked bad, and I wouldn't have gotten an A.

Keep "withdrawing" as the last option. Make sure you do everything possible to improve your grade before you think about withdrawing.

Congratulations.

 

[Chemdude]

Thanks for the congrats!

 

[katarina90]

Update:

I Just recieved my final grade: A 🙂

I guess this can be a future reference to people who want to withdraw from a course. I'm glad I didn't withdraw. Withdrawing would have looked bad, and I wouldn't have gotten an A.

Keep "withdrawing" as the last option. Make sure you do everything possible to improve your grade before you think about withdrawing.

Awesome! And good advice. Go chemdude!

 

[NiCad089]

.

 

[erskine]

"Any man's finest hour...is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." -Vince Lombardi

Congrats, dude.