Take a W and retake in fall or tread on?

[C@rol]

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Hello,

I am currently taking Genetics. Since it s a summer class it is going by twice as fast and I have only 3 weeks left.

To make long story short: I have been really sick for almost 3 weeks. My entire body aches and I can barely get out of bed. I've previously had pneumonia, which makes me worry I could get worse or it could take a while for me to recover.

I have been going to class, doing the homework and trying to study. However, when studying I have great difficulty focusing (feel too tired and sick), which I feel led me to getting a 80% and a 75% on my last two midterms. The next one is coming up and I only feel worse than I did before, BUT the drop with a W date is before it.

The class is broken down as follows:
-Lab: 25%
-Midterms: 40% (3 midterms, lowest gets dropped so only 2 count)
-Class response: 10%
-Final: 25%

I think I'll be getting an A- in lab and a solid A in class response but I'm worried about doing well on the last midterm and final. So, should I take a W and retake this course in the fall, or take my chances and keep going?

 

[C@rol]

Idk if this relevant but I'll be starting my sophomore year this fall and taking Orgo, Scio, and Biostats. My current GPA is 3.78/4.

 

[samac]

Even if you get a B you'll be fine. I'd rather have a B than a W.

 

[Ukpremed]

B>C>W

 

[electrophile1984]

I'd take a W over a C (given that it was my first or second one). But I'd take a B over a W.

 

[Alejandro]

To be honest, for me, this is a no-brainer. Just tread on. That's the simple answer.

The long answer: Ultimately even if you got a C, it won't dent your GPA that much. In fact, I had a couple C's in undergrad and I still had a fruitful application cycle. A W makes me concerned because then you'll have to explain it, and to some extent, unless you're just like hospitalized, its harder to make it into a compelling withdrawal. The hypothetical C will impact your gpa marginally. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[C@rol]

Yes, it would be my first C. My lowest grade so far has been a B in Calc & Differetial Eq..

So, a B is better than a W. But what about a C?

I can use this coming week and a half to see how I feel and whether I understand the material. If I continue to feel bad or worse then I can only guess I will end up with a C in the class. If this is the case should I opt for the W or take the C?

I looked over my past 2 exams and feel I could have gotten A s on them had I not been coughing my lungs out during. I really do believe that if I were fine I could get an A on this class (I'm not being cocky or delusional, I wouldn't say the same for a math or chem class!). But like, Alejandro pointed out, I don't want to be in a rough spot later trying to explain myself...

 

[Mad Jack]

A W in a prereq is better than a C, because a C is going to end up forcing you to retake anyway.

 

[deleted577188]

Yes, it would be my first C. My lowest grade so far has been a B in Calc & Differetial Eq..

So, a B is better than a W. But what about a C?

I can use this coming week and a half to see how I feel and whether I understand the material. If I continue to feel bad or worse then I can only guess I will end up with a C in the class. If this is the case should I opt for the W or take the C?

I looked over my past 2 exams and feel I could have gotten A s on them had I not been coughing my lungs out during. I really do believe that if I were fine I could get an A on this class (I'm not being cocky or delusional, I wouldn't say the same for a math or chem class!). But like, Alejandro pointed out, I don't want to be in a rough spot later trying to explain myself...

If you ask two people what's better between a C and a W you'll get five answers. Take whichever you feel comfortable with. For some people a C would ruin their GPA.. But you're so early in your academic career that it won't affect you that much by junior year. I'd keep going.

 

[DoctahMayB]

Yeah I agree with most of the previous posters. It's probably better to get the grade than the W. I've heard adcoms would look unfavorably at it as gpa protection unless you had a really compelling reason. Besides you might do better than you think.

 

[samac]

A W in a prereq is better than a C, because a C is going to end up forcing you to retake anyway.

It isn't a prerequisite. It's genetics.

 

[625233]

B>C>W

Naw sahn

 

[GrapesofRath]

A W in a prereq is better than a C, because a C is going to end up forcing you to retake anyway.

Definitely a difference between a C and a C- worth noting for those its relevant to. There was a thread a week or two ago where @gonnif said retaking C's and higher isn't looked particularly favorably upon by MD schools for a variety of reasons. Now a C- itself that is a different story as we all know. While you can debate which is better a W or C- that's largely irrelevant here.
1) There's no good way of really knowing before final grades if you are going to end up at a C or C- if you are near that borderline when the final is often 30+% of a person's grade in a number of classes
2) This entire thread itself just screams classic SDN. The OP has a B right now. A B in a rather difficult class. The average MD science GPA is around a 3.6. A 3.6 includes an number of B's. Oh and that 3.6 includes the "easier" science classes at a school and in many cases filler classes like research, required seminars for a science major etc. that are often grade boosters. Perspective people, perspective.

 

[Banco]

B > W > C.

 

[RedPhys]

A W in a prereq is better than a C, because a C is going to end up forcing you to retake anyway.

Why would a C force you to retake? I think most (if not all) schools give credit for a C.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Why would a C force you to retake? I think most (if not all) schools give credit for a C.

You're right. A C doesn't force a retake. Although a few might compel someone to take additional courses to boost the gpa.

 

[MrLogan13]

If you'll get a B, stick it out. If you're in danger of a C or below, take the W and get out of there.

 

[Mad Jack]

Why would a C force you to retake? I think most (if not all) schools give credit for a C.

If it's a prereq, you're looking at a retake because it'll hurt your app substantially if you don't. If it's just some random course, you can eat a C.

 

[NeuResurgens]

If you have an A currently, don't take a W. W's are really only for Cs or worse and should only be used 2-3 times at the very most.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

If it's a prereq, you're looking at a retake because it'll hurt your app substantially if you don't. If it's just some random course, you can eat a C.

I think later courses can make up for that grade though. For example, if you get a C in gen chem 2, but As in organic, I don't think anyone is gonna care about that C.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

If it's a prereq, you're looking at a retake because it'll hurt your app substantially if you don't. If it's just some random course, you can eat a C.

For a DO school... retakes wouldn't work for grade replacement via MD schools.

 

[Mad Jack]

For a DO school... retakes wouldn't work for grade replacement via MD schools.

Not for replacement, but they still matter when people are looking at your app.

 

[RedPhys]

If it's a prereq, you're looking at a retake because it'll hurt your app substantially if you don't. If it's just some random course, you can eat a C.

Eh .. I agree with @Cyberdyne 101 that as long as you do well in upper div courses you should be fine ...

 

[The Cheat]

You sound like you aren't in bad enough shape for a W. The only time, from what my advisors told me, to take a W is when you are going to get an F. There will be a lot of time left to make up any bad grade in genetics. You also got the MCAT to balance out any GPA deficits.