Will withdrawing from a course hurt me?

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ekb1701

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I think I just bombed that calc test and I don't even need the class...

I'm a junior and I haven't had math since junior year of high school, so I can't remember any of the algebra they expect you to know.

Suggestions?
 
I don't think schools like to see withdrawls. I think if you can back it up with a legit excuse (not just because I was going to get a bad grade) then they probably shouldn't see a big deal in it. Good Luck.
 
If it is your first W? Not at all.

I've been told COUNTLESS times by professors how much better a W looks than a bad grade. It shows insight that you have a.) recognized the problem and b.) had enough sense to get yourself out of the situation when you had the chance.

I personally have 3 W's on my application and so far they have not hurt me one bit. They aren't because of academic difficulty, so if asked about them in an interview I could explain why I withdrew from each class...but regardless.

I've heard as long as you have 3 or less you are fine. Any more than that = bad news.

Also, you say you don't need calc, but a lot of schools actually require it. So I'd check at places where you want to apply and make sure that you'd be ok by not taking it.
 
I think I just bombed that calc test and I don't even need the class...

I'm a junior and I haven't had math since junior year of high school, so I can't remember any of the algebra they expect you to know.

Suggestions?

You will get W. Adcomm's will ask you why you withdrew, and you will respond "Because the course got extremely hard and I couldn't take it" then you will get rejected guaranteed before you even walk out of the interview.

Don't withdraw unless you ABSOLUTELY have too. You can't afford too many w's on your transcript let alone it being from a pre-req.

If you feel that there's no way in hell that you can continue, that even if you try your hardest you WILL fail, even if you study like never before you WILL fail then a W in that case would be better than an F..Period.

However if you can fight it and you can stick with it, and you believe that if you push yourself harder you can achieve nothing less than a C then STAY.

No sense in withdrawing from a class for the simple fact that you got a less than perfect score on your first quiz.. That happens and will happen so get used to it..... Good Luck...
 
You will get W. Adcomm's will ask you why you withdrew, and you will respond "Because the course got extremely hard and I couldn't take it" then you will get rejected guaranteed before you even walk out of the interview.

Don't withdraw unless you ABSOLUTELY have too. You can't afford too many w's on your transcript let alone it being from a pre-req.

If you feel that there's no way in hell that you can continue, that even if you try your hardest you WILL fail, even if you study like never before you WILL fail then a W in that case would be better than an F..Period.

However if you can fight it and you can stick with it, and you believe that if you push yourself harder you can achieve nothing less than a C then STAY.

No sense in withdrawing from a class for the simple fact that you got a less than perfect score on your first quiz.. That happens and will happen so get used to it..... Good Luck...

More SDN urban legend...go ahead and drop the freaking class...adcoms care a lot more about a bad grade than a W...
 
More SDN urban legend...go ahead and drop the freaking class...adcoms care a lot more about a bad grade than a W...

Yes this is partially true, however what if you do get asked about the W? What's your excuse going to be?

IMO, unless after you received the W you showed an upward trend so that you could explain that the reason you withdrew was because you weren't mature, committed, or determined enough then it's definitely NOT going to help you.

Though like stated above within my previous post if you feel like you truly need to and you feel you truly are going to fail then by all means go ahead and drop it....

All I am trying to imply is that you shouldn't completely give up without a fight... But the hell do I know, it's your life.....

Oh, btw if you drop the course then taking Pre-calc next semester or if your school offers it College Algebra/Pre-Calc TOGETHER (as one class, yeah this exists) should definitely get you up to date since you stated that you can't exactly remember all the math...Good Luck once again!
 
Well, I'm considering a B a bad grade since I've taken over 80 hours and still have a 4.0. But maybe I should stick it out--maybe if I get a B I'll appear human after this semester
 
I have two W's. One was because I changed my major and wasn't doing well in the class that I didn't need anyways and the other I took the next semester and got an A. I really don't think that the W's will hurt. It obviously hasn't mattered that much since I have gotten some pretty good interviews, so I really wouldn't worry about it and focus your time on your other classes (just make sure you do well in those other classes).
 
Yes this is partially true, however what if you do get asked about the W? What's your excuse going to be?

IMO, unless after you received the W you showed an upward trend so that you could explain that the reason you withdrew was because you weren't mature, committed, or determined enough then it's definitely NOT going to help you.

Though like stated above within my previous post if you feel like you truly need to and you feel you truly are going to fail then by all means go ahead and drop it....

All I am trying to imply is that you shouldn't completely give up without a fight... But the hell do I know, it's your life.....

People drop classes all the time; no need to feel defensive about it. Yes, if asked, have an answer, but don't make a big deal out of it. Not sure if the class is required for the OP's major, but calculus is not a pre-req for most medical schools, so why slog through it and make a bad grade?

If someone finishes college in a timely fashion (4 years), the question of "why did you have 3 Ws?" will not be an issue anywhere...urban legend.

But if someone repeatedly drops pre-reqs and then takes them at a CC during the summer, eyebrows will be raised...not all Ws are equal...
 
Well, I'm considering a B a bad grade since I've taken over 80 hours and still have a 4.0. But maybe I should stick it out--maybe if I get a B I'll appear human after this semester

Maybe, I mean if you get a B in Calc I and then an A in Calc II I believe that shouldn't hurt your 4.0 that much..Correct?

Just think about it... You and only you know the full extent of your capabilities..
 
People drop classes all the time; no need to feel defensive about it. Yes, if asked, have an answer, but don't make a big deal out of it. Not sure if the class is required for the OP's major, but calculus is not a pre-req for most medical schools, so why slog through it and make a bad grade?

If someone finishes college in a timely fashion (4 years), the question of "why did you have 3 Ws?" will not be an issue anywhere...urban legend.

But if someone repeatedly drops pre-reqs and then takes them at a CC during the summer, eyebrows will be raised...not all Ws are equal...

Well I'm in no way feeling defensive nor offensive about it, and if that's what I've portrayed through my responses I apologize.

All I was trying to state is that giving up without a fight has no reasonable excuse IMO...

Though like I've said before if the OP thinks they should drop the class and they've at least tried then go ahead.

I'm sorry I did in actuality exaggerate a bit on the whole W's on your transcript BS.. Guess I got thinking on how my fresh yr I didn't even try and because of that I have over 5 W's on record, but of course the OP's in a completely different sitaution.
 
Maybe, I mean if you get a B in Calc I and then an A in Calc II I believe that shouldn't hurt your 4.0 that much..Correct?

Just think about it... You and only you know the full extent of your capabilities..

Why would you take calc II if you didnt fare well in Calc I? I personally hate calculus (got an A- in calc I) and there is no way I would take calc II unless I had to. As far as withdrawing from calculus goes, might not be a bad idea but you will have to be prepared to answer questions about it.
 
I had to withdraw because I had meningitis and had to take the semester off due to memory issues. Will that affect me negatively about the memory problem? It's almost completely resolved, but will they see me as incompetent to survive in med school due to my past illness?
 
This is Calc 1. I have to take both 1 & 2 because I'm double majoring in biology and chemistry...it's a requirement for chem.
 
I had to withdraw because I had meningitis and had to take the semester off due to memory issues. Will that affect me negatively about the memory problem? It's almost completely resolved, but will they see me as incompetent to survive in med school due to my past illness?

Your chances probably depend on how you have done after the sickness. I dont think it would affect your chances unless there is something that you are having problems with doing that is required for medical school/to become a sufficient doctor. The W's are definitely excusable in your case.
 
This is Calc 1. I have to take both 1 & 2 because I'm double majoring in biology and chemistry...it's a requirement for chem.

Then you absolutely should not withdraw. Hire a tutor, go to extra office hours. . .whatever you have to do to fair well in the class. Especially since (correct me if I am wrong) you are in your junior year.
 
Darn, you have me confused. In your original post, you said that you don't even need the class. Later you said that you need to take both I & II.

Did you really 'bomb' it, as in failed the test, or did you just not perform up to your own hopes, as in getting a B or C? I'm not sure exactly what the story is, but if all you are worried about is having your final GPA be a 3.9__ as as opposed to a 4.0, there is nothing to worry about. It would be better have the calculus under your belt w/the 3.9_ than to NOT have it and have the 4.0. The only people you can impress with that tiny difference are yourself and, maybe, your parents. No one else, not even adcomms, are going to view that as a negative.

If your are REALLY bombing it, as in feeling totally lost and certain you'd fail, then withdrawing makes sense. In that case, it would also make sense to enroll in a lower level math course, too.

You're a junior and a chm major. Have you already taken chemistry and physics? If you have, then you HAVE been taking math because those subjects are really just math 'in the real world', so to speak.

If all you are worried about is getting a B, then lighten up on yourself. Having a B a your records can really take some pressure off. Suddenly, you no longer have the stress of trying to stay 'perfect'. Once you relax, who knows, you might wind up getting an A, in the end. Then you could laugh about how you freaked out over minor things at the beginning of the semester.
 
Your chances probably depend on how you have done after the sickness. I dont think it would affect your chances unless there is something that you are having problems with doing that is required for medical school/to become a sufficient doctor. The W's are definitely excusable in your case.

Good to know. I went abroad the semester afterwards ( this past spring) and had a 3.9 in my abroad courses in Rome (granted the program was a complete joke. Then I took chem I and II this summer and got an A and A-, so my grades have actually gotten better since the semester off, but the courses were considerably easier!
 
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