Withdrawing from a course after being accepted?

[turnbackhelly]

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I'll try to make this as short as possible... basically I'm taking Biochem II this semester, for 2 reasons:

1. My Ohio State acceptance was conditional upon completion of this course (I needed 1 more credit of biochem beyond the Biochem I lecture I took last summer), and that was the only acceptance I had going into spring semester. Of course I wasn't going to mess around and NOT take it in case I wasn't accepted anywhere else.
2. I have a fairly light load this semester anyway and figured taking Biochem II might make my life a tiny bit easier in vet school next year.

The problem: the class is horrible. And this is coming from someone who LOVES chemistry, tutors both semesters of organic, etc. Both the course and the professor are extremely disorganized, and in my opinion, the professor is pretty lazy. She will often show up to class and announce "There's no lecture today, I don't really feel like teaching." 😕 When she DOES lecture, the material is disjointed and she often skips material that she doesn't "feel like" teaching. Similarly, she allows the class to dictate what is and is not taught - which is nice if this means tailoring the material to the collective interests of those in the class, but not so nice when it means that she will forgo teaching METABLOISM (hello?!) because the class "doesn't feel like learning it." The bottom line is that I'm 100% certain that taking this class will leave me no better prepared for vet school, and since I will not be attending the OSU, both of my reasons for taking the course in the first place are kind of moot.

I'm extremely frustrated by this course, to the point where it actually makes me angry to be there because it feels like such a profound waste of time. Since my acceptance to the school I will be attending was NOT conditional upon completion of Biochem II (although I did e-mail them to double, triple check - still waiting to hear back), and because I'd really rather not be miserable in my last semester before vet school (I've got the next 4 years to be miserable, right? 😳), I would really love to withdraw from this course. I've never withdrawn from a class in my life - the W on my transcript doesn't bother me, nor does losing the money that I spent on the course (that's how much I hate it), but I guess I just feel like withdrawing would make me a whiney quitter. I'm doing well in the course so far, but the part of me that knows I would be SO MUCH HAPPIER without it really just wants to withdraw and enjoy my last post-bac semester before I need to move away from my awesome job and awesome friends here. (Which reminds me - withdrawing from the course would enable me to pick up some extra hours at work = $$).

Would withdrawing from the course be unreasonable? What would you all do? Thanks in advance for any insight - you guys are the greatest! 😍

 

[Ben and Me]

Drop it like it's hot.

If you don't want the W, is there any way you can switch to taking it "Pass-Fail"?

I doubt it will make life in vet school any easier - my biochem class in undergrad was not at all helpful for last semester, and that was just Biochem I. Biochem in vet school is much more body systems-based than chemistry based. For example, we talked a lot about the biochemistry behind how eyes work, how muscle contractions happen, etc. In my experience, that wasn't even touched upon in undergrad biochemistry. My undergrad physiology course was much more helpful!

 

[Crazy Hippos]

After I got into Ohio, I dropped 3 of the classes I didn't need. Yes, they probably would have helped me out in vet school, but I think it's important to enjoy this time before vet school so you're not burnt out by the time you arrive there. As long as Cornell gives the ok, I think you should be fine (and no, I don't think it makes you a quitter).

Here's a thread I found from a few years ago:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=372415&highlight=dropping+a+course

I think the general consensus is that it's ok. 🙂

 

[The Mad Penguin]

I actually contacted Jennifer Mailey with a similar question (it wasn't Biochem II, but a psych class that I didnt need and wanted to drop because I wanted to focus more on my thesis) and she was fine with it. I was a little worried that it would reflect badly on me, but then I figured...screw it, Im in already and dropped it. Now I can enjoy my last semester in peace and so should you!

PS Im actually still taking Biochem II since I originally thought cornell required it (apparently its just "recommended")...and it does in fact suck. Hard. My school only offers it with the lab. Man, thats what I get for speed reading through requirements

 

[turnbackhelly]

Thanks a lot for your responses guys, I really appreciate it. I definitely feel much better about withdrawing. I'll probably still wait to hear back from Jennifer Mailey but I can't imagine her telling me it's a problem.

Also, Ben and Me, excellent suggestion about taking it pass/fail... to my knowledge the school doesn't allow courses to be taken pass/fail, but after doing some research it does seem like I could audit the course (provided the instructor signs off giving permission). An AU would certainly look better than a W, but to be honest I'd also probably just stop going to the class. So if the prof has a problem with me auditing and never showing up again (lol), I won't be losing any sleep over a W.

Thanks again!

 

[ADM1220]

Does anyone know how K-state and Florida view withdrawing from non pre-req courses? I'd really like to withdraw from 2 non pre-req classes so I can get some personal stuff in order before moving.

I have contacted admissions for both schools and I'm awaiting replies. Just wondering if anyone here knew the answer. Thanks!

 

[dyachei]

depends on the school. Your best bet is to wait for replies