W's every semester (literally)

[mouthwash4hobo]

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Hi,

I'm wondering, does it look incredibly bad if I have W's every semester on my transcript? I have 2 semesters that contain 4 W's and the rest of my semesters have 1-2 W's. I've been going on/off since 2004, fulltime/partime, got a CC diploma inbetween that time and will have a Bachelor's this December if I can manage 12 credits with my two jobs. (I usually start with more classes to get a feel for whether or not I can do them with the jobs that I'm working - which results with a W or 2.)

I'm also working two jobs, one being medically related from my CC diploma.

I guess I'm a nontrad at 26.. anywho, I only have half of my prereq's finished and i'll do the rest after graduation on a part time basis. Some are from 2006 hopefully I won't have to retake b/c so old.

Would just like some honest input.

Thanks,

Mouthwash4hobo

 

[mechengmed]

Sounds pretty bad. My school has a limit of four W's throughout your whole undergraduate time at the school. They literally won't let you drop if you have already used them all and you have to finish the class.

 

[cloverpie]

So it depends on everything else. Do you have a good reason? Good MCAT? I think there was one highly prolific poster here with 11 W's who got into some great schools but he also had a 41 on the MCAT. Anecdotal evidence says that you're probably going to be okay if everything else is stellar.

 

[235788]

Wow OP... Medicine is soo competitive and only 40% or so get in. You have a strong battle ahead of you to show that you are not academically challenged.


I can imagine that you'll end up in the caribbean.


It can be done, but come on. Why would they take you when people with clean transcripts and 3.5+'s are dime a dozen.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

So you have 1-2 W's every semester? Including the last 60 credits of coursework? If that is the case then you aren't showing medical schools you can handle a heavy load without dropping out of a class or two that is taking too much time. It really simply does not look good and you may want to try to amend this by taking a semester or two or a post bacc at full time load and doing well in it.

 

[mouthwash4hobo]

I haven't exactly been a full time student. I've been working as a surgical tech and another job and also trying to take on more than part time, but realize after a few weeks that it is too much. I want to reason that the jobs are why I'm taking W's. It's like, I'd rather overload my semester and attempt at getting finished sooner, but realize some classes take more effort and therefore I cannot take them with the rest of my course load/work for that semester, then I just sign up for it another semester. Does having a late diagnosed learning disability give me any forgiveness with this super messy transcript? Sorry, just wanted ideas if I would even qualify given I'm getting A's/B's each semester even though it's only 2-3 classes/semester.

 

[Wubbles]

I could see this happening the first semester while you're learning to juggle school/work but EVERY time? You'll definitely hit some roadblocks because that isn't how you should deal with tough schedules your whole time in college.

 

[phnerd1105]

I haven't exactly been a full time student. I've been working as a surgical tech and another job and also trying to take on more than part time, but realize after a few weeks that it is too much. I want to reason that the jobs are why I'm taking W's. It's like, I'd rather overload my semester and attempt at getting finished sooner, but realize some classes take more effort and therefore I cannot take them with the rest of my course load/work for that semester, then I just sign up for it another semester. Does having a late diagnosed learning disability give me any forgiveness with this super messy transcript? Sorry, just wanted ideas if I would even qualify given I'm getting A's/B's each semester even though it's only 2-3 classes/semester.

I really don't understand this. Why would you repeatedly overload yourself with classes, and then realize you couldn't put in the work and withdraw semester after semester? It's definitely going to be an uphill battle for you. Working would have shown you were juggling many responsibilities and may have given you leniency, but only for a semester. Your situation basically indicates that you have trouble balancing different responsibilities with a heavy class load. I can't imagine schools looking upon that favorably.

Good luck to you.

 

[Ironmandoc]

 

[deleted357625]

Hi,

I'm wondering, does it look incredibly bad if I have W's every semester on my transcript? I have 2 semesters that contain 4 W's and the rest of my semesters have 1-2 W's. I've been going on/off since 2004, fulltime/partime, got a CC diploma inbetween that time and will have a Bachelor's this December if I can manage 12 credits with my two jobs. (I usually start with more classes to get a feel for whether or not I can do them with the jobs that I'm working - which results with a W or 2.)

I'm also working two jobs, one being medically related from my CC diploma.

I guess I'm a nontrad at 26.. anywho, I only have half of my prereq's finished and i'll do the rest after graduation on a part time basis. Some are from 2006 hopefully I won't have to retake b/c so old.

Would just like some honest input.

Thanks,

Mouthwash4hobo

It doesn't look great, but you should be fine if everything else is up to par. No worries.

 

[Ellie Arroway]

Something else that would bother me from that rationalization is that (at least at my school) when you with draw (as oppose to drop in the first couple weeks), you still have to pay the tuition. So it sounds like you've spent thousands of dollars on dropped classes, which makes me wonder why you didn't just quit the extra job if you were going to throw away thousands of dollars anyway. If you're going to be in charge of a bunch of med school loans and succeed, sound financial decision-making skills are pretty important.

 

[NightGod]

They're withdraws as in you have a W on your transcript and paid for the class but didn't finish it? Or withdraws as in you dropped the class and still got a full refund? If the former, they won't even show on your transcript, if the later, you've wasted a ton of cash and made your transcript look flaky as hell.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I agree with the above sentiment. It looks pretty bad at best. Reminds me of my ex that had like 14 W's on her before she even had enough units to be a junior.

 

[STAT EKG]

I don't think it'll be such a big deal if (and this is a big if) you can string together 8+ semesters of 15ish credit hours while still working and maintain a solid (3.5+) GPA in mostly upper-level basic science courses.

I think you can mess up pretty badly as long as you string together some quality marks and show schools that you're on a winning streak (and the W's are a thing of the past).

Edit: And I should have added - Even then it'll be an uphill battle, but you'd at least be in the battle. You're not even on the battlefield right now.

 

[JESSFALLING]

OP - You are going to have to demonstrate that you are no longer flaky, which will be a time consuming endeavor.

Step 1: Never withdraw again. If you ever have a medical issue or something else horrible arise (e.g. car wreck severed your legs and you are awaiting your prosthesis), arrange an incomplete and take care of business after your recovery. Do not withdraw!
Step 2: Figure out why your performance has been so rocky. If necessary, drop out of school until you get it figured out. Consider getting tested for ADHD and/or other learning/personality/mood disorders.
Step 3: Complete a few years of challenging coursework (as a full-time student!) with good grades and consistent performance. You may need to quit one of your jobs to do this.
Step 4: Sell yourself.
Step 5: If all else fails, you can always get into a Caribbean school.
Step 6: Ignore Step 5 😀

Good luck.

 

[WorldChanger36]

I mean I have a large amount of Ws on my transcripts like 8 but every semester? Here is how you can get out of your little problem area. If you have strong GPA like 3.5 at least and you have a decent MCAT score I would consider a 1 year strong science masters program. If you can do this without withdrawing, and yes you will have to stop working to, then you will show the schools you have straightened up and are ready to go.

 

[Sandstorm]

Hi,

I'm wondering, does it look incredibly bad if I have W's every semester on my transcript? I have 2 semesters that contain 4 W's and the rest of my semesters have 1-2 W's. I've been going on/off since 2004, fulltime/partime, got a CC diploma inbetween that time and will have a Bachelor's this December if I can manage 12 credits with my two jobs. (I usually start with more classes to get a feel for whether or not I can do them with the jobs that I'm working - which results with a W or 2.)

I'm also working two jobs, one being medically related from my CC diploma.

I guess I'm a nontrad at 26.. anywho, I only have half of my prereq's finished and i'll do the rest after graduation on a part time basis. Some are from 2006 hopefully I won't have to retake b/c so old.

Would just like some honest input.

Thanks,

Mouthwash4hobo

It doesn't look good, Stan...it doesn't look good...

 

[235788]

i mean i have a large amount of ws on my transcripts like 8 but every semester? Here is how you can get out of your little problem area. If you have strong gpa like 3.5 at least and you have a decent mcat score i would consider a 1 year strong science masters program. If you can do this without withdrawing, and yes you will have to stop working to, then you will show the schools you have straightened up and are ready to go.

8!?

 

[235788]

I haven't exactly been a full time student. I've been working as a surgical tech and another job and also trying to take on more than part time, but realize after a few weeks that it is too much. I want to reason that the jobs are why I'm taking W's. It's like, I'd rather overload my semester and attempt at getting finished sooner, but realize some classes take more effort and therefore I cannot take them with the rest of my course load/work for that semester, then I just sign up for it another semester. Does having a late diagnosed learning disability give me any forgiveness with this super messy transcript? Sorry, just wanted ideas if I would even qualify given I'm getting A's/B's each semester even though it's only 2-3 classes/semester.

give us some figures. GPA/Credit Hours/Science GPA

 

[WorldChanger36]

8!?

Yep 8... So hard to believe?

 

[Sandstorm]

Yep 8... So hard to believe?

That's not a great track record

 

[Praefectus]

That's not a great track record

Med schools expect 1-2 max...

 

[Sandstorm]

Med schools expect 1-2 max...

I had three but I had major abdominal emergency surgery halfway through one semester. I agree with praefectus, in the absence of a really good excuse, you should not have more than one or two.

 

[Praefectus]

I had three but I had major abdominal emergency surgery halfway through one semester. I agree with praefectus, in the absence of a really good excuse, you should not have more than one or two.

Something like that would be acceptable. I'm curious if your school has an "incomplete" policy. Or would that only kick in towards the end of the semester?

 

[Sandstorm]

Something like that would be acceptable. I'm curious if your school has an "incomplete" policy. Or would that only kick in towards the end of the semester?

Oh I'm done with apps I'm matriculating next month :-d. Nah I just withdrew and re took them the. Indicated why on my app

 

[WorldChanger36]

Med schools expect 1-2 max...

O rly?... I have never read this on any school website or heard this from a school admin. Seems to kind of go against what LizzyM was stating in past threads. She seemed to promote as long as you show an upward tread and you retake the classes successfully you should be fine.

I have failed classes too. You get up brush yourself off, retake and move on. Not a big deal.

 

[Sandstorm]

O rly?... I have never read this on any school website or heard this from a school admin. Seems to kind of go against what LizzyM was stating in past threads. She seemed to promote as long as you show an upward tread and you retake the classes successfully you should be fine.

I have failed classes too. You get up brush yourself off, retake and move on. Not a big deal.

Yeah but it seems you said no upward trend ie you kept biting off more you can chew then withdrawing

 

[Sandstorm]

Yeah but it seems you said no upward trend ie you kept biting off more you can chew then withdrawing

We aren't out to get you. Just being honest about it not appearing good so you should be prepared to explain

 

[WorldChanger36]

Yeah but it seems you said no upward trend ie you kept biting off more you can chew then withdrawing

Most of the withdraws are very early in UG... After that I maintain 20 hour semesters and only had another two Ws... because of a funeral I had to go to and could not get any kind of extension. So you have it backward.... The beginning is a crap pile the end is what schools would expect from pre meds. I am even doing a masters program to prove myself even further. It is all well talked about in my personal statement.

I am sure I will do just fine and if at the interviews they want to know why so many Ws it isn't a problem to explain. 😉

 

[Sandstorm]

Most of the withdraws are very early in UG... After that I maintain 20 hour semesters and only had another two Ws... because of a funeral I had to go to and could not get any kind of extension. So you have it backward.... The beginning is a crap pile the end is what schools would expect from pre meds. I am even doing a masters program to prove myself even further. It is all well talked about in my personal statement.

I am sure I will do just fine and if at the interviews they want to know why so many Ws it isn't a problem to explain. 😉

Seems you've got it figured out then

 

[NightGod]

Most of the withdraws are very early in UG... After that I maintain 20 hour semesters and only had another two Ws... because of a funeral I had to go to and could not get any kind of extension. So you have it backward.... The beginning is a crap pile the end is what schools would expect from pre meds. I am even doing a masters program to prove myself even further. It is all well talked about in my personal statement.

I am sure I will do just fine and if at the interviews they want to know why so many Ws it isn't a problem to explain. 😉

Unless it's an SMP designed to prepare you for med school, adcoms aren't going to care all that much about a Master's program.