What's worse? A "W" (withdrawal) or a "C"?

[Unsure90]

What's worse? A "W" (withdrawal) on a transcript or a "C"?

I'm taking *Physics II with a Calculus supplement for the class, making it 4+1 (5) semester units. I'm having a really hard time in it right now. I think I may be able to get a "C" but honestly I'm wondering if I should just withdraw instead to save my GPA.


*None of the pharmacy schools i'm applying to require Physics II. it's just that i'll need it as a biochem major if i transfer to a UC (that is, if i get rejected from all the pharmacy schools I apply to). lol. i go to a california community college right now. so yup. its either (A) go directly to pharm school, or (B) transfer to UC when all the pharmacy schools reject me 🙁


I'm really debating it, because I don't exactly have a lot of time to retake it since i'm squeezing in pharm school pre-reqs into my 2 years here at community college as well as the biochem major courses I'll need in the event that I transfer, instead. oh and those GE courses. Adding on Physics II to one of my remaining semesters here would just add on to the load; or if i don't take it before i transfer, the class might be even worse at the UC i transfer to (that is, again, if I do transfer given that no pharmacy schools want me).


ahhh. its so frustrating. help please 🙁

if you need more background info,
- I got a "B" in Physics I with an "A" in the calculus supplement for physics I.
- the pharm schools i want to get into most are USN, Midwestern CPG, Pacific University, or UOP.
- the UC's i want to transfer to most are UCB and UCLA.
- My prospective GPA after this semester is 3.78 overall (without Physics) and 3.6 Math/Sci (without Physics). If I were to get a "C", it would be 3.65 overall and 3.4 Math/Sci. i don't think my pre-pharm gpa is affected though by physics II so.. i won't include that. haha
- i'm applying this fall for admission in Fall 2010 so there's still some summer courses i am taking that may improve/worsen my GPA not to mention the fall grades i'll send in later sometime in ..January?


..hmm yeah. i can't think of anything else you might want to know. so what do you think i should do?


any help is appreciated 🙂 thank you

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[Artful Dodger]

Toughen up and aim for the best grade you can get. If you do that and get a "C" in the end, you could at least honestly explain that certain grade & the circumstances associated with the grade. However, if you obtained "W" in the course, you may or may not be questioned about it. But if they you are questioned, you must provide a logical & honest answer to it. My question to you is are you up to the challenge or do you think you'll be better off next time?

By the way, Physics 2 was a really hard class for me. Oh my, seriously...one of the toughest classes in the undergraduate level in my honest opinion. But sometimes it's worth going all the way to find out more about yourself. Challenge yourself if you aren't already doing that. Good luck!

 

[ValeRx]

Physics is the worst class ever. It should be taken off of every CoP's pre-requisite list.

 

[diastole]

I'd take the grade. If you get a C, they probably won't ask about it in an interview. If you take a W, they might. You only have so long in an interview so it is best to be talking about your strong points rather than be on the defensive. Now if you do take a W, what grade are you realistically expecting when you retake it? Maybe you could get an A but a B is probably more realistic. You could end up with a C again. The difference in your GPA is not going to be that great. Do the math with the different scenarios and decide if it is worth it.

 

[SHC1984]

I have 4 W and NO C. C is worst b/c it will kill your 4.0! Bringing up your GPA will be very HARD if you get a C.

 

[diastole]

I have 4 W and NO C. C is worst b/c it will kill your 4.0! Bringing up your GPA will be very HARD if you get a C.

Have you had interviews yet? I was wondering if they asked you about the Ws.

 

[Artful Dodger]

I have 4 W and NO C. C is worst b/c it will kill your 4.0! Bringing up your GPA will be very HARD if you get a C.

If you don't have a better reason than "I was hospitalized & had to withdraw", then it's not worth taking the W. Trust me. It's better to continue taking the class. There's nothing wrong with aiming for the very best. Admission committee wants a student that can glide through their curriculum without making any stops. The W you received in an undergraduate class will convince them otherwise. That's why I say it's not worth taking the W, although you do what you want to do...I personally wouldn't, because I am very confident in my ability to absorb a difficulty and spit out motivation to achieve something I really want. And if you don't think it's possible now, you'll surprise yourself in the end if you work hard enough.

 

[vinny808]

I have 4 W and NO C. C is worst b/c it will kill your 4.0! Bringing up your GPA will be very HARD if you get a C.

One W, thats fine, its alright. Your second, third, fourth, adcoms will question the students character.

 

[adidastoes15]

I just got accepted with 2 W's. My University (SCCP) doesn't even care about W's they dont even look at them (so I was told). They told me as long as its not a WF (or withdrawal with failing), then they don't care at all. I'd check with your individual schools though. Hope that helped somewhat.

 

[ffpickle]

I've never dropped any class for any reason, and suffered because of it.

You aren't a habitual dropper, so take the W and preserve the GPA.

 

[dangerdog]

I've never dropped any class for any reason, and suffered because of it.

You aren't a habitual dropper, so take the W and preserve the GPA.

I have to agree. Put yourself in the admission's commitee's shoes. If you see a W, you can come up with a lot of explainations (family, illness, cost, class time conflict) as long as you don't many of them. Getting a C isn't as open to interpretations, and does directly impact your GPA.

 

[Unsure90]

hm. okay. i've read all your replies and talked to older sister (who's in pharmacy school) and everyone's pretty much said to take the "W" instead, since it would only be my first. 🙂


Ahh I hope everything turns out alright. Thanks for all the help! 🙂

 

[Blinkn09]

Take the W in my Opinion. Save your GPA because once it goes down...its really really hard to bring it back up and you'll never get back to the GPA you currently have. I was in the same situation and called the ad coms for USC, LLU and WesternU; They said that it's ok to have a W on your transcript and that it won't hurt you when the ad coms look at it. I think they mostly focus on GPA unless you have a lot of W's which you probably need to explain.

 

[cdhoward]

I've been on 5 interviews, have 1 acceptance, and it has never come up. I have 2 or 3 Ws. Of course, it will never come up in a closed file interview.

 

[Kirbypuff]

Take the W in my Opinion. Save your GPA because once it goes down...its really really hard to bring it back up and you'll never get back to the GPA you currently have. I was in the same situation and called the ad coms for USC, LLU and WesternU; They said that it's ok to have a W on your transcript and that it won't hurt you when the ad coms look at it. I think they mostly focus on GPA unless you have a lot of W's which you probably need to explain.

I thought W's bring down your GPA on pharmcas... OP should double check how pharmcas calculates W's before taking it.

To answer OP's question, that depends on what school they're applying to. If the schools use the PharmCAS GPA, you really should find out what the W counts as. Most people's PharmCAS GPA's are lower than their school GPA's, I think because of W's, but you should call PharmCAS and ask specifically.

 

[SHC1984]

Have you had interviews yet? I was wondering if they asked you about the Ws.

I have not yet been interviewed by a pharmacy school b/c I took the Jan PCAT. But I have been interviewed in the past and been asked only once. I just told them that I changed my major and no longer need to take Calculus based Physics II, Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry II. I changed my major from a BS in Biochemistry to a BA in Chemistry and minor in Biology. SO I didn't need to take those classes anymore. But I will leave out all the deals. The answer would simply be. "I have changed my major and no longer needed these classes anymore." And I got into the school that asked me that question. 😉

 

[SHC1984]

I thought W's bring down your GPA on pharmcas... OP should double check how pharmcas calculates W's before taking it.

To answer OP's question, that depends on what school they're applying to. If the schools use the PharmCAS GPA, you really should find out what the W counts as. Most people's PharmCAS GPA's are lower than their school GPA's, I think because of W's, but you should call PharmCAS and ask specifically.

A W will not bring up or down your GPA. W is neutral. A C however will bring down your GPA A LOT!

 

[Blinkn09]

A W will not bring up or down your GPA. W is neutral. A C however will bring down your GPA A LOT!

Correct!!!!!!!!!

Take the W, I've never been asked in an interview about my W's (I have 2). You don't want a C to ruin your GPA.

Use this calculator to see where your GPA will be if you plan on getting a C.
http://www.back2college.com/raisegpa.htm

 

[AlXguy]

I'm in a similar situation (taking calc phys I though); my average right now is about 72, which is a C. This average only represents one exam (20% of class average). There's one more exam (20%) and a final (30 %). Other 30% is just homework and quizes. Do you think I should drop or not? The reason I hesitate to drop is because I'm only taking 12 hrs. So, if I drop (including the lab), i'll drop to eight hours and that won't look good at all. Also, I don't want to ruin my perfect gpa. So what do you guys think? If I do drop it, I'll most definitely just finish the physics courses during the summer at a local cc.

 

[NaOH]

So I looked back over my transcript tonight and holy freakin' crap, 5 (five) W's. And absolutely no good stories about how I got in a car wreck or my beloved grandpa died or my parents got divorced.


Time to look at opportunities in the exciting world of lawn maintenance I guess.