Waterloo Views on Course Withdrawal

[DaveSch]

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I am currently in my 3rd year BSc. I have always taken 5 courses per term and am doing so again this term. I am seriously considering withdrawing from a course (not a pre-req) because it is likely going to really hurt my GPA.

I have heard that having a withdraw on your transcript isn't generally a big deal for most of the schools in the states. Does anyone know what Waterloo thinks about W's, or if this would harm my chances of getting in?

 

[Habitual Rx]

I am currently in my 3rd year BSc. I have always taken 5 courses per term and am doing so again this term. I am seriously considering withdrawing from a course (not a pre-req) because it is likely going to really hurt my GPA.

I have heard that having a withdraw on your transcript isn't generally a big deal for most of the schools in the states. Does anyone know what Waterloo thinks about W's, or if this would harm my chances of getting in?

My interpretation of Waterloo has always been that they want to see students taking 5 classes per semester. At least, personally, I have been under this impression since day one of undergrad.

However I'm not 100% certain of their views.

 

[DaveSch]

I have seen a few people on these forums that have gotten in to Waterloo with only 4 courses in one semester (but 5 in the majority of the other semesters). However, none of them mentioned having a W on their transcript - which is what I think Waterloo might have a problem with.

 

[jaguilar]

I don't know about getting in, but I have 2 Ws on my transcipt and I have an interview next month. Generally schools don't look down upon Ws unless there is alot of them or in a particular pattern (what my honors advisor told me).

 

[DaveSch]

Thanks, jaguilar. That is a bit of a relief 🙂

Do you have any terms with less than 5 courses?

I'm worried about doing something that would adversely affect my chances of getting in, but at the same time, I'm worried that this course will drag my entire GPA down for the whole semester (including some prereqs) because it is so time intensive.

 

[jaguilar]

I have 2 semesters with only 4 courses, but I have taken summer courses that show I am dedicated. This semester I am taking 6 courses. I don't think that it is a rule set in stone that you have to take 5 courses every semester, they just want to know that you can do really well with at least 5 courses, so that you can handle 7 when you go to optometry school. If they have any questions about why you didn't take a full semester they will ask, a lot of students have reasons that are acceptable.

 

[DaveSch]

Thanks for your replies! Good luck with your interview next month! Let me know how it goes for you.