how much do withdrawals effect admission chances

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It depends on how many. They don't look as bad as failing the course, but it may be surmised that you withdrew because you were going to fail. So it also depends on the reason for the withdrawals. Did you have a significant illness or death in the family in the middle of the semester, or were you trying to save yourself from a bad grade? Poor grammar in your application will also affect your admission chances. 😉
 
Just be honest when explaining the W's on your secondaries and I don't think it will have much of an impact. Although I agree with above, try to have <3 W's
 
The tough thing about withdrawing is one does not get the credit for the course so it will put them behind when trying to graduate on time. But if someone withdrew from 3 credit science class and 1 credit lab of same science would that be 2 W or 1W?
 
The tough thing about withdrawing is one does not get the credit for the course so it will put them behind when trying to graduate on time. But if someone withdrew from 3 credit science class and 1 credit lab of same science would that be 2 W or 1W?
If the courses are technically different classes and your grades for each would show up on your transcript separately, you would likely get 2 W's.
 
The tough thing about withdrawing is one does not get the credit for the course so it will put them behind when trying to graduate on time. But if someone withdrew from 3 credit science class and 1 credit lab of same science would that be 2 W or 1W?

I'm guessing that would be 2 W's (at my school it would be). I wouldn't worry about 2 W's, even 3.. But as others have said would not want more than 3 on my transcript
 
And what happens if someone has more than 3. Than they have no chance?
 
And what happens if someone has more than 3. Than they have no chance?

Not to say 3 withdrawals = banishment from medical schools. I know a person with 3+ withdrawals that currently holds multiple interview invitations this cycle. But it does raise a red flag imo. If you were an Adcom, wouldn't you look more favorably at a candidate that has taken and stuck with a rigorous course load rather than one who dodges bullets via multiple withdrawals?
 
And what happens if someone has more than 3. Than they have no chance?
No, they have a chance. So long as there is not a pattern of withdrawals (like a withdrawal every semester for a hard subject...), you'll be fine. And heck, do you think adcoms have the time to nitpick about the number of acceptable withdrawals when they're dealing with 5000 apps? Nope.

Just be ready to explain it in the secondary app or during interviews. Not all school secondaries ask about academic difficulties though.
 
Not a single school I've interview with has cared.
 
What kind of withdrawals... like 5 in a semester (they will be like "dude this student got way sick or something happened")

Or like 2 withdrawals every semester for 8 semester?

I had some F's, D's, C's, and 1-2 W's = Still turned out ok. Admins are a lot more forgiving than you'd expect (or a lot more unforgiving than you expect). (disclaimer - none of those were in math/science)
 
What kind of withdrawals... like 5 in a semester (they will be like "dude this student got way sick or something happened")

Or like 2 withdrawals every semester for 8 semester?

I had some F's, D's, C's, and 1-2 W's = Still turned out ok. Admins are a lot more forgiving than you'd expect (or a lot more unforgiving than you expect). (disclaimer - none of those were in math/science)
Both scenarios how would they look that you are talking about 5 in semester and 2 each semester? Or say someone withdrew 7-8 times like 3 Ws in science classes 3 Ws in science labs and 1 W literature. 1st 2 years but since recovered and no W last 2 years?
 
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