Withdraw from 5 credit math course?

[imadome]

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[shaboobly]

If it was not needed, why are you taking it in the first place?

In my opinion, you shouldn't drop it. Just work hard as usual; you can do it!

 

[487806]

I'm currently enrolled in a 5 credit math course that is NOT needed for med school. I have a high possibility of getting a B in the course which would mean losing 5 GPA points. Of course, this puts a significant dent into my sGPA (would drop below 3.9 and probably won't be able to bring it back up to a 3.9 before it's time to apply). Is it worth it to take a W? Specifically, how do research-heavy/top-tier schools view W's? I know at most schools one or two W's aren't a problem but I am looking into research heavy schools.

How do you lose 5 GPA points by getting a B?

 

[DokterMom]

I'm currently enrolled in a 5 credit math course that is NOT needed for med school. I have a high possibility of getting a B in the course which would mean losing 5 GPA points. Of course, this puts a significant dent into my sGPA (would drop below 3.9 and probably won't be able to bring it back up to a 3.9 before it's time to apply). Is it worth it to take a W? Specifically, how do research-heavy/top-tier schools view W's? I know at most schools one or two W's aren't a problem but I am looking into research heavy schools.

A 5 credit math course is a heavyweight -- Dropping from a 3.91 to a 3.89 is NOT going to hurt you perceptibly because they're both great GPAs near the top of any competitive heap. You could even argue that keeping the 5 credit course gives credibility to your GPA by showing you didn't take the easy way out to get it --

That said - What is the value to you and your education of this course? How good it the prof? How useful is the material? Will staying in this class hurt your performance in other classes, possibly depressing your grades elsewhere? And will dropping the class leave you with 13 or fewer for the semester?

Make your decision holistically --

 

[Plue00]

Withdraw, don't risk it.

 

[911 Turbo]

Withdraw, don't risk it.

Wtf?



Don't withdraw - you made your bed, now sleep in it!

 

[487806]

Withdraw, don't risk it.

Yup. Risking the loss of that 3.9 is too hard for OP to handle.

 

[SN12357]

I'm currently enrolled in a 5 credit math course that is NOT needed for med school. I have a high possibility of getting a B in the course which would mean losing 5 GPA points. Of course, this puts a significant dent into my sGPA (would drop below 3.9 and probably won't be able to bring it back up to a 3.9 before it's time to apply). Is it worth it to take a W? Specifically, how do research-heavy/top-tier schools view W's? I know at most schools one or two W's aren't a problem but I am looking into research heavy schools.

You think dropping a few hundreths below a 3.9 is a 'significant dent' in your GPA? More than that, you think it actually matters?

Please go get some maturity and perspective before you attempt to be a doctor.

 

[StephanieZ]

I'm currently enrolled in a 5 credit math course that is NOT needed for med school. I have a high possibility of getting a B in the course which would mean losing 5 GPA points. Of course, this puts a significant dent into my sGPA (would drop below 3.9 and probably won't be able to bring it back up to a 3.9 before it's time to apply). Is it worth it to take a W? Specifically, how do research-heavy/top-tier schools view W's? I know at most schools one or two W's aren't a problem but I am looking into research heavy schools.

 

[sakabato93]

Just stay in the class. A B won't kill your application. A W is worse than a B.

 

[imadome]

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[sakabato93]

What math class is this? Just out of curiosity.

Also, I still contend that a B, even in a 5 credit hour course, will not hurt you as much as W. But its relative, I suppose.

 

[imadome]

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[sakabato93]

A B in a 5 credit course is 15 GPA points (3.0*5) and an A is 20 GPA points (4.0*5). Maybe my use of 'GPA points' is incorrect but I do not know what else to call them.

My school calls them quality points. I think that's the term most schools use.

 

[487806]

A B in a 5 credit course is 15 GPA points (3.0*5) and an A is 20 GPA points (4.0*5). Maybe my use of 'GPA points' is incorrect but I do not know what else to call them.

That's quality points. If anything, your GPA will fall like by 0.03 or so. But not necessarily exceeding by 0.1 unless you didn't take many science courses,

 

[imadome]

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[487806]

Calc 3.

don't withdraw

 

[imadome]

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[487806]

Ah, I apologize for the confusion.

So I can retake the class in the Fall and get an A (much better professor plus I've already learned most of the content).

A B this semester would give me a 3.88 scienceGPA where as getting an A will put me at 3.96.

It defeats the purpose of getting an A if you're going to withdraw and retake it, considering that a B is just fine. 3,88 is pretty good.

Although I'm surprised by that jump to a 3.96. Are you a non-science major?

 

[imadome]

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[ReptarBar]

dude just take the W. having a 3.9 is literally magical when it comes to admissions. adcoms these days don't pour over your transcript looking for little faults...they are inundated with applications and only care about 1) your gpa and sgpa, 2) how well you did in pre-reqs and tougher upper divs, and 3) overall trends.

 

[Euxox]

Let's be rational here. A 3.88 GPA is at or above the average GPA for literally every med school in the country. Just take the B. Ws are meant for extenuating circumstances like family crises and health issues, not GPA protection.

 

[sakabato93]

Let's be rational here. A 3.88 GPA is at or above the average GPA for literally every med school in the country. Just take the B. Ws are meant for extenuating circumstances like family crises and health issues, not GPA protection.

+1.

This is exactly right.

 

[imadome]

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[ReptarBar]

Seems like it's 50/50. Ugh :/

you will never be held back for one W. that is all. never. they will see your 3.9 gpa and think you are a genius.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Withdraw if you have less than 3 withdrawals and you're a 3rd or 4th year.

 

[imadome]

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[Euxox]

Seems like it's 50/50. Ugh :/

Everyone in this thread who was pro-W, except perhaps ReptarBar and TriagePreMed, was being sarcastic. (The SDN community tends to be rather sarcastic on the whole.) It's really more like 90% take the B versus 10% take the W.

A W is a big deal. I've never heard of someone taking a W over a C before, let alone a B. If you were to walk into your academic advising office right now and ask someone if you should take a W over a B, they would slap you across the face. I'm serious.

Take the B. It won't hurt your chances at getting into a top med school at all. The average GPA for accepted students at Harvard and Hopkins is a 3.87, so a 3.88 hardly puts you out of the running.

 

[ReptarBar]

how could you possibly think a C is better than a W? why would they care about a W in an irrelevant course?

all previous threads on this topic agree that one W does absolutely nothing. you need every single advantage possible to get into a top school.

 

[HopefulSlav]

Walk away with your pride and GPA.

 

[SN12357]

how could you possibly think a C is better than a W? why would they care about a W in an irrelevant course?

all previous threads on this topic agree that one W does absolutely nothing. you need every single advantage possible to get into a top school.

The saddest part of this entire discussion is your (and the OP's) belief that a 3.88 vs. 3.96 is going to mean anything for a top school admission.

I don't expect to convince you otherwise, but if you can make yourself believe that it doesn't matter, you'll be a happier, healthier, more mature person. And it is the truth.

 

[487806]

dude just take the W. having a 3.9 is literally magical when it comes to admissions. adcoms these days don't pour over your transcript looking for little faults...they are inundated with applications and only care about 1) your gpa and sgpa, 2) how well you did in pre-reqs and tougher upper divs, and 3) overall trends.

you will never be held back for one W. that is all. never. they will see your 3.9 gpa and think you are a genius.

how could you possibly think a C is better than a W? why would they care about a W in an irrelevant course?

all previous threads on this topic agree that one W does absolutely nothing. you need every single advantage possible to get into a top school.

Ok. We got your humor. Let's restore some seriousness to the conversation.

The saddest part of this entire discussion is your (and the OP's) belief that a 3.88 vs. 3.96 is going to mean anything for a top school admission.

I don't expect to convince you otherwise, but if you can make yourself believe that it doesn't matter, you'll be a happier, healthier, more mature person. And it is the truth.

ReptarBar is being sarcastic.

 

[Euxox]

how could you possibly think a C is better than a W? why would they care about a W in an irrelevant course?

all previous threads on this topic agree that one W does absolutely nothing. you need every single advantage possible to get into a top school.

Okay, maybe a C is worse than a W in some cases, but a B is always better than a W.

MCAT scores, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation are going to matter far more than a .03 difference in GPA.

And if you don't believe me on the B vs W debate, read this thread: Take W or B?

 

[ReptarBar]

The saddest part of this entire discussion is your (and the OP's) belief that a 3.88 vs. 3.96 is going to mean jack diddly for a top school admission.

I don't expect to convince you otherwise, but if you can make yourself believe that it doesn't matter, you'll be a happier, healthier, more mature person. And it is the truth.

it does make a difference, albeit a very tiny difference. you provide no justification as to why staying in the course is the correct option. there is a good chance that he might get a B- or lower because math finals are always ridiculously hard. the only justification is that it is the "normal" thing to do to stay in a course regardless of grade.

i'm just trying to help OP get into his dream school.

 

[ReptarBar]

Okay, maybe a C is worse than a W in some cases, but a B is always better than a W.

MCAT scores, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation are going to matter far more than a .03 difference in GPA.

And if you don't believe me on the B vs W debate, read this thread: Take W or B?

terrible example considering that it's a one unit course.

 

[487806]

I'll bite and assume ReptarBar is being serious.

it does make a difference, albeit a very tiny difference. you provide no justification as to why staying in the course is the correct option. there is a good chance that he might get a B- or lower because math finals are always ridiculously hard. the only justification is that it is the "normal" thing to do to stay in a course regardless of grade.

i'm just trying to help OP get into his dream school.

Bolded is wrong, so your post is disproven.

terrible example considering that it's a one unit course. we are also talking about an 0.08 shift or higher, not 0.03.

😕

 

[Euxox]

i'm just trying to help OP get into his dream school.

I'm just trying to prevent the OP from embarrassing himself in his interview. If even one interviewer asks him about the W and he says "I was afraid that I was going to get a B"...

 

[imadome]

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[ReptarBar]

Although it's difficult to pick apart the sarcasm, I appreciate everyone's responses.

I understand that a 3.88 is still competitive at research-heavy schools but I feel as though my GPA needs to be above their averages since I come from a public, state university that is not the most academically rigorous school.

Also, as Reptar mentioned, it's almost a full 0.1 difference in GPA.

^ these guys simply don't understand what is at stake. they are meek individuals who are scared to break the norm in order to maximize chances of success.

the fact that you come from a mid-tier school + it's nearly a 0.1 shift completely solidifies my argument.

cya.

 

[487806]

Although it's difficult to pick apart the sarcasm, I appreciate everyone's responses.

I understand that a 3.88 is still competitive at research-heavy schools but I feel as though my GPA needs to be above their averages since I come from a public, state university that is not the most academically rigorous school.

Also, as Reptar mentioned, it's almost a full 0.1 difference in GPA.

Ignore what Reptar was saying. He/she is being sarcastic and is pulling your leg by disguising posts as serious. Your GPA is fine.

^ these guys simply don't understand what is at stake. they are meek individuals who are scared to break the norm.

Thanks for confirming your sarcasm. 👍

 

[Euxox]

I understand that a 3.88 is still competitive at research-heavy schools but I feel as though my GPA needs to be above their averages since I come from a public, state university that is not the most academically rigorous school.

That's not true. I spoke to a JHU admissions officer just a couple of months ago and she said that the admissions committee doesn't even see your undergrad institution when they evaluate your application. Even for those schools where the admissions committee does take your undergrad institution into account, the MCAT is the "great equalizer." If you have a good MCAT score and a good GPA, no one will care if you went to an easier college.

I don't know what your MCAT scores are, so I can't tell you how strong your application will be at top schools, but I can promise you that a 3.88 GPA will not hold you back. I can also promise you that the difference between a 3.98 and a 3.88 is much less important than the difference between a 3.78 and a 3.88. Past a certain point, increases in GPA and MCAT provide diminishing returns. Qualitative factors like extracurriculars, LoRs, and fit play a much larger role.

 

[ReptarBar]

Ignore what Reptar was saying. He/she is being sarcastic and is pulling your leg by disguising posts as serious. Your GPA is fine.



Thanks for confirming your sarcasm. 👍

what is wrong with you? i clearly said it's a small difference, but a difference nonetheless.

 

[imadome]

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[ReptarBar]

That's not true. I spoke to a JHU admissions officer just a couple of months ago and she said that the admissions committee doesn't even see your undergrad institution when they evaluate your application. Even for those schools where the admissions committee does take your undergrad institution into account, the MCAT is the "great equalizer." If you have a good MCAT score and a good GPA, no one will care if you went to an easier college.

I don't know what your MCAT scores are, so I can't tell you how strong your application will be at top schools, but I can promise you that a 3.88 GPA will not hold you back. I can also promise you that the difference between a 3.98 and a 3.88 is much less important than the difference between a 3.78 and a 3.88. Past a certain point, increases in GPA and MCAT provide diminishing returns. Qualitative factors like extracurriculars, LoRs, and fit play a much larger role.

your argument is not sound because we simply do not know the quality of OP's EC's. if his EC's and LORs are weak, then it only supports the notion that he should maximize GPA.

 

[ReptarBar]

wtf i'm NOT BEING SARCASTIC. i clearly stated it's a SMALL DIFFERENCE but that if you want to get into a top school then i personally would maximize my gpa. what is so ridiculous about that?

read my previous posts and you will see that i am a hardliner who cares about maximizing chances of success.

 

[imadome]

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[Plue00]

Sarcasm is a bit difficult to discern on the internet.

I appreciate everyone who responded maturely and provided sound advice.

Lol, I wasn't being sarcastic.

If you're in your first/second year, definitely withdraw. Keep your 3.9 or whatever and move on. If you're in your last year, you could go either way.

I wouldn't take a B from a class that's not required... It's 5 credits of a B (possibly lower, you never know).

 

[ToldYouSo]

A withdrawal is worse than a B, which isn't even a bad grade (especially for calc 3) except for the pre-med paranoia that says otherwise. Stick with it and actually learn how the world works.

 

[imadome]

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[487806]

Okay, I'll take your word on this. Getting an A is going to take a miracle but sitting on SDN won't help.

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate it!

PS - I am a huge fan of sarcasm but Reptar took it way too far IMO (assuming he is pulling my leg), ah well. 😳

Glad we could help. Good luck.

what is wrong with you? i clearly said it's a small difference, but a difference nonetheless.

Well duh. But such difference isn't emphasized by any medical school (including Top 20). That's where you're wrong.

wtf i'm NOT BEING SARCASTIC. i clearly stated it's a SMALL DIFFERENCE but that if you want to get into a top school then i personally would maximize my gpa. what is so ridiculous about that?

read my previous posts and you will see that i am a hardliner who cares about maximizing chances of success.

Your pseudo-rational arguments isn't helping OP's case. Once a 3.8+ mark is surpassed, the marginal benefit of obtaining that slight increase diminishes sharply. This is where other factors (like MCAT and ECs) come into play.