How bad is it to drop a prereq and take the easier version later?

[cheesier]

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I'm currently taking Engineering Physics and I feel like I'm in a little over my head (timewise and in terms of difficulty). There are 2 problem sets due a week + quizzes + intense labs, and I'm right near the class average (~55% ). The class is curved, but I'm getting worried and thinking of just taking the W and doing Physics for the Life Sciences later on (this is physics 2 and I took engineering physics 1 previously). This will be the first class that I get a W in. How bad would that look?

BTW, the professor curves to a C+

 

[StudyShy]

You might not be doing as poorly as you think.

If you really think that you're going to bomb the class even with curving, there is no shame in taking the regular old general physics sans calculus. Good luck.

 

[BadHorse]

I'm currently taking Engineering Physics and I feel like I'm in a little over my head (timewise and in terms of difficulty). There are 2 problem sets due a week + quizzes + intense labs, and I'm right near the class average (~55% ). The class is curved, but I'm getting worried and thinking of just taking the W and doing Physics for the Life Sciences later on (this is physics 2 and I took engineering physics 1 previously). This will be the first class that I get a W in. How bad would that look?

BTW, the professor curves to a C+

You're at the average, pull the grade up. Hard science courses often have averages in the 50-60 zone, it's scary the first time but don't fret. Finish the course, work hard and pull a B, don't just do it for your transcript, you have to prove to yourself that you're capable of this stuff, otherwise you'll always doubt your abilities.

 

[Monocles]

You don't need engineering physics (with calc, I'm guessing?) unless it's part of your major requirement for graduation. Med schools aren't going to give you extra points for taking the calc-based as opposed to the algebra-based. With that being said, if you think you're at a risk for getting a C, you might as well drop and strive for an A in the normal physics class.

 

[cheesier]

You're at the average, pull the grade up. Hard science courses often have averages in the 50-60 zone, it's scary the first time but don't fret. Finish the course, work hard and pull a B, don't just do it for your transcript, you have to prove to yourself that you're capable of this stuff, otherwise you'll always doubt your abilities.

I'm not sure I can get a B, though. As depressing as it is to admit it, I just don't have a very high aptitude for this class.

 

[BadHorse]

I'm not sure I can get a B, though. As depressing as it is to admit it, I just don't have a very high aptitude for this class.

It's physics, nobody has a high aptitude for it at first. You can pull your grade up, though, and you need to realize that. You won't always have the option to withdraw.

Everybody gets to a point in their first physics class when they're certain they're going to fail and that they just don't have any talent for the subject, you have to work through it.

Go to office hours, figure out what you're doing wrong, and go easy on yourself. Even now you're at the class average, if you push yourself and try to understand the content you'll be surprised by what you're capable of.

 

[cheesier]

It's physics, nobody has a high aptitude for it at first. You can pull your grade up, though, and you need to realize that. You won't always have the option to withdraw.

Everybody gets to a point in their first physics class when they're certain they're going to fail and that they just don't have any talent for the subject, you have to work through it.

Go to office hours, figure out what you're doing wrong, and go easy on yourself. Even now you're at the class average, if you push yourself and try to understand the content you'll be surprised by what you're capable of.

Theoretically yes, I probably could get a B, but this class is where all of my time is going at this point to the detriment of my other classes. I've also gotten fairly behind because I have had to put in more hours at work the last couple of weeks and have half @ssed the homework so that I could get it in on time. I'm also taking 20 units (dumb idea). In short, my time management has been awful this quarter, and the little missteps I made at the beginning are tripping me up badly now. If it won't hurt me too much, I'm strongly leaning towards withdrawing.

Believe me, I don't want to withdraw, and doing so will hurt my confidence a bit, but I also don't want to be stubborn and get a C just to prove something.