Problems with phyics... drop?

[amanda62]

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I'm a senior undergrad on my last stretch of 3 prereqs, and I am applying for May 2014 schools since I will not have them done by the 2013 mark (due to a full semester PT internship next spring).

Right now, I am currently taking Physics 1 and doing awful. I have a 62 and a 52 on my last two tests. Now all I have left is one more test and then a cumulative final. Honestly, I have been trying like no other on TOP of all my other classes so this leaves me feeling hopeless. So since I have been already trying, if a miracle was to happen the best I would get is in the low 70s.
1) PT school would not like this of course
2) I am not this type of student, as my GPA is about a 3.4 and my prerequisite average (minus both physics, and stat which are not taken/finished) is about an A-. I am just not a math person at all and could not handle it in this semester with my other heavy workload as a nutrition minor.

Now, I have the option to drop this class right now and take a W for withdrawn on my transcript, and then retake it next fall or summer at my university.

So my question is what do PT schools rather see me do? Should I wait it out and not get a satisfactory score (if not risk failing Physics) and probably just retake it anyways, or have a big fat W for withdrawn on my transcript, (but spare the GPA damage), then retake it again?

 

[GMA2013]

I would withdraw

 

[nomattic]

I'd withdraw. If you were going to pull a C no matter what, then I'd say maybe stick it out. But a lot of schools require at least a C in prereq classes, so you'd be looking at a retake if you got a D or F anyway (unless a miracle happens, as you said). I think one W on your transcript would allow you more leeway in explaining what happened than a concrete D or F, without the GPA damage.

 

[qtran]

Withdraw..!

 

[amanda62]

So PT school will not be discouraged from seeing a W? Also one more thing: if I withdraw I cannot graduate on time... but I have a whole year to spare and three classes to take anyways.

 

[nicolej5]

i think schools would rather see a w than a failing grade. they understand that circumstances arise in life and that sometimes people have to withdraw from a class. if you retake it and get a good grade you are fine. if anything they will ask you to elaborate on it during an interview or an a secondary application.

 

[NewTestament]

Withdraw now. You're applying for 2014, so you have time to retake it. In November 2010 I was in the exact same situation. I did horrible on my first two exams and did okay on my third. I withdrew one week before Thanksgiving. I'm in PT school now.

You can pass this place. Everyone struggles with physics. Get the physics DVD at mathtutorDVD. The instructor in those DVDs is easy to understand. Get a workbook and do extra problems. Work with a tutor once or twice a week. Consider taking physics at your community college. The classes are smaller and you'll get more help from your instructor.

Aim for a B in both your physics classes. That way they don't affect your pre-req GPA, which you want to be as high as possible.

One W won't look bad. It'll look much better than a C or a D.

Kevin

 

[amanda62]

Thanks guys. I am definitely going to take the W since it is well justified.

 

[starrsgirl]

I would withdraw as well. I am a non traditional student with a slew of bad grades from over 10 years ago. The Cs and Fs hurt!!! I have taken a billion A classes since then, but the cumulative GPA still stays low. And, even if you retake the class and get an A, PTCAS still averages both grades. A 'W' doesn't pull down your GPA and it doesn't necessarily say anything bad about why you dropped it. I only wish I had used the 'W' option a few times in my undergrad...would have made a huge difference.

 

[B1990]

Hey guys I am on the same boat with the withdrawing a class!!! HELP!!

My advisor tells me to just fail it and retake it because it will look better for PT school. I do not feel like the advising she is giving is correct by saying to just fail and retake..??? My school gives us 16 units of grade forgiveness meaning that if we fail some classes those 16 units can be used towards that to retake a class....but I am wondering if when i apply to PT school they see that for example I failed chem but retook the class and passed it or if they just look at my most recent grade.??

Right now I am taking biology and have a 64% in lecture and about a 90% in lab. The cummalative is worth 200 points so if I get a high A I can pass this class with a high C or low B...I do not know what I should do if I should study my butt off, withdraw, or fail and retake like my advisor says..PLEASE help I am stressing about this way too much!!

I think that if i were to fail this class and then retake it would look horrible in PT applications that given that last semester was not my semester I failed chem and got a D in precal (which is a pre-req for Physics) I retook chem and got a C and precal I have about an A.

I need you guys' input. Thanks

 

[starrsgirl]

Again, I say withdraw. I have to live with my grades everyday. In undergrad, I got a C- in physiology. I retook it since then and got an A. But on PTCAS my A&P pre req GPA is still really low...I think a 2.8 or something. So it still looks horrible! If I had withdrawn I would have a 4.0 for A &P. I wouldn't run the risk of failing a class...it hurts the overall GPA so much. I guess in my mind, as long as you don't have a ton of Ws, that's the way to go.

 

[nicolej5]

that "advisor" should be fired for giving that crappy advice. never in a million years would an f look better than a w. the gpa hit that would result from an f can be huge, whereas a w wont affect your gpa. you can always explain away a w. an f basically just says you gave up and didnt care.

 

[B1990]

Nicolej5-

This is very stressful now because I took her advice while taking chem and doing horrible but she never mentioned anything about withdrawl..i did not even have any idea what that was. I have always done good in school until last semester and I messed up by failing the class 🙁 and listening to her and taking the advice.

I already felt like PT school was not going to work out cuz of my GPA and now this whole issue of failing the class and retaking it is bringing my hopes down ...I guess I should just study my butt off for the bio cumulative final

Do you think this will really affect me while applying for school???Im stressing out more now

 

[greco13]

drop it like it's hot, drop it like it's hot...