so i have a W...

[streetdoc]

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what does a W do to my application? i see a lot of people scared to drop a class because it will go down as a W. is there anything wrong with one W??? what do adcoms think?
thanks for any help
streetdoc

 

[PrincessCKNY]

I don't mean to freak you out, but I think a W turns into an F if it's not taken care of within a year or so. Check w/ your school/department to be certain. That could possibly explain the fear factor.

 

[Explosivo]

Uh no. An INCOMPLETE usually goes down as an F if not addressed. A W is what it is: A "withdrawal" meaning you officially dropped out of the course. I have one on my transcript for a stupid World Cultures class (personal prob with the prof). If it's only one I wouldn't worry about it at all. If there are several AND if they involve major science classes then it may be cause for some concern.

 

[detm78]

Hi, I had 1 W that I got sometime in Sophomore year.

Then I finished my degree and applied to medical school. However, I decided to take some classes in an extra quarter, but halfway through the quarter I realized I couldn't handle all the courses i took plus volunteering plus applications. So I dropped one class, and got a second W.

Before I dropped it I called all the schools I was applying to to see if it would hurt my application. They said 1 or 2 is okay.

 

[streetdoc]

thanks for the help. i appreciate the replys.

 

[paean]

I have about 6 W's on my transcripts, and I still got interviews at > 1/2 the schools to which I applied. I got more negative comments on my one C+ than all the W's combined. Not that they helped, I got a lot of waitlists, but they certainly don't keep you out of the running.

 

[groundhog]

W's usually work like this. Drop the class before a certain cutoff date and you get a W. A drop after that date results in an F (which can be appealed because of exceptional circumstances - severe injury etc).

 

[Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]]

"W" is better than an "F" GPA-wise so you will get through GPA screening

 

[none]

One W is nothing, but two...well that'll certainly keep you out of every medical school in the country (and the Carribean!)...or at least you need to think that way in the future so it doesn't happen again.

 

[Trowa]

From my own personal experience, I withdrew from basic biology my freshman year, because I felt I could not keep that class in and do well (I just took it the following year). I did get a W and I was worried that schools would hold it against me seeing how it was a premed requiste. Anyway, one W is definitely not a cause of concern. I never got one question as to why I have one W on my transcript. I even asked one of my interviewers (it was closed-file) if one W was a big deal, he laughed and said it was not a big deal. Anyway, don't worry. Worry if there are more W's then A's on your script!

 

[mcwmark]

I had two...and got in.

Just be sure, if it comes up, that you have a good reason for it. Just worry more about that overall GPA...that's what killed me! (should have taken the easy classes...)

 

[missbonnie]

I have a W in Intro to computer science honors. And I work in the computer field now. Kind of ironic. It was also freshman yr.