How do MD/DO schools view a Withdraw/W?

[paperaeroplane]

So I took the first semester of Physics last semester, and was doing poorly (probably would have ended up with a B- or lower) and did not think I could do well on the final given my other classes I was studying for. I ended up withdrawing from the course, and it will show up as withdraw on my transcript. This is the first and only course I have withdrawn from. I was just wondering what med schools think of a W on a transcript. Will it put me at a disadvantage, GPA wise (that is, do W's count in your GPA to lower it)? How do med schools view a W? I'm retaking Physics this semester at a different university, and it already seems to be going much more smoothly.

Thanks

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[mulberry]

Honestly, you think you won't get into medical school because there is a 'W' on your transcript? Use your brain!!!!!!!!! sure, you might have to explain the W during an interview (if you make it that far) and you can tell them what you feel is right.

 

[iatros]

don't withdrawl just because you're gonna get a B. that's not a smart move.

and a W isn't going to keep you out of med school but you will have to be accountable for each one.

 

[ejw5075]

I agree with what other people have said, I have 8 credits of Ws and had to explain each one at every interview thus far. If you have a valid excuse it won't matter at all but I'm not sure doing poorly is a good answer.

 

[paperaeroplane]

I guess I am going to have to come up with a better excuse.

 

[PharMed2016]

So I took the first semester of Physics last semester, and was doing poorly (probably would have ended up with a B- or lower) and did not think I could do well on the final given my other classes I was studying for. I ended up withdrawing from the course, and it will show up as withdraw on my transcript. This is the first and only course I have withdrawn from. I was just wondering what med schools think of a W on a transcript. Will it put me at a disadvantage, GPA wise (that is, do W's count in your GPA to lower it)? How do med schools view a W? I'm retaking Physics this semester at a different university, and it already seems to be going much more smoothly.

Thanks

I think that as long as you have a good explanation as to why you withdrew, you should be fine. Myself, I have one withdrawal but that's only because my school decided to offer the course that I had signed up for at a CC (same semester) so I withdrew like five days into the class and started it at my school.

 

[ssss]

As someone who sees many transcripts I don't like to see a W. If you only have 1 and have a very good excuse combined with a good overall GPA, I will let it slide but if you have multiple Ws on your transcript I will exclude you as a possible student.

 

[canjosh]

I had more than one W, was asked about them at a couple interviews. Multiple acceptances, now an MS-1 at a pretty darn selective school.

W doesn't effect your GPA as long as it's not a WF. That would count the same as an F.

 

[EdLongshanks]

I had more than one W, was asked about them at a couple interviews. Multiple acceptances, now an MS-1 at a pretty darn selective school.

W doesn't effect your GPA as long as it's not a WF. That would count the same as an F.

I have 4 or 5 W's and and Au. I was never asked about it. I don't know if it had an affect. All the schools that I interviewed at said that my scholastic ability wasn't in question. They were just looking for fit.

 

[alphelix]

So I took the first semester of Physics last semester, and was doing poorly (probably would have ended up with a B- or lower) and did not think I could do well on the final given my other classes I was studying for. I ended up withdrawing from the course, and it will show up as withdraw on my transcript. This is the first and only course I have withdrawn from. I was just wondering what med schools think of a W on a transcript. Will it put me at a disadvantage, GPA wise (that is, do W's count in your GPA to lower it)? How do med schools view a W? I'm retaking Physics this semester at a different university, and it already seems to be going much more smoothly.

Thanks

I had a W for O chem, but I retook the class and although the interviewer asked about it, it was only because he didn't see that I retook it. They did ask why I dropped it and why I chose to retake it if it was so hard! There may be some explaining to do, but if you show that you didn't give up and if you get a good grade it shouldn't count against you! 🙂

Honestly I think you're fine!

 

[mmdp]

Not sure if it is appropriate for me to ask in someone elses thread since I am new here, but what if the person has 1/2 a year of "w"'s?

I kept starting and dropping because the commute/work schedule wasn't working and I kept thinking well maybe I can do it and it didn't work out! I transferred to another school, is this a good enough excuse? However, it was from a good state school to a small private university so I'm wondering if it will look like I couldn't handle the actual classes.

 

[DrMidlife]

Not sure if it is appropriate for me to ask in someone elses thread since I am new here, but what if the person has 1/2 a year of "w"'s?

I kept starting and dropping because the commute/work schedule wasn't working and I kept thinking well maybe I can do it and it didn't work out! I transferred to another school, is this a good enough excuse? However, it was from a good state school to a small private university so I'm wondering if it will look like I couldn't handle the actual classes.

Life happens. Address it in secondary essays and be ready to answer "what happened?" in interviews.

If you repeatedly signed up for classes from which you repeatedly withdrew, that's a harder line of questioning.

Bets of luck to you.