W's on transcript

[Craiggjjames18]

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At the moment, I have 3 Ws and I anticipate one more. I am in genetics and I wouldn't want to sink my science GPA so close to the application cycle (I hope to apply next cycle). Does anybody know of any cutoffs that may be in place for some schools? Should I be concerned?

Thanks!

 

[Homo sapien]

I'm pre-health too so I am not sure but I think it will show some red flags (as in, he has all these Ws, can he handle it, just like retaking classes would). But if your GPA is still good after, and maybe you can retake some of those classes, maybe it will make up for the Ws.

 

[Pod267]

At the moment, I have 3 Ws and I anticipate one more. I am in genetics and I wouldn't want to sink my science GPA so close to the application cycle (I hope to apply next cycle). Does anybody know of any cutoffs that may be in place for some schools? Should I be concerned?

Thanks!

I had 1 W, which was a gen chem II lab, b/c I really needed to work and there was a time conflict and I missed the add/drop period by one day so I got that 1 W. they didn't ask me anything at interviews regarding the W. But 4 Ws, i'm not sure. they may ask you why you have so many withdrawals, and you should have a better answer than "i didn't want to tank my sGPA so I withdrew." I'm not too sure about whether or not schools will accept 4 W's, so you should call each school you would apply to and ask.

being concerned, you should also look at your ugrad institution academic policies. at my ugrad institution, if you have too many withdrawals or failing grades (for requirement courses), they make you change your major, so check with your adviser on that.

but as long as your sGPA and MCAT score are good, i don't think it should be a problem

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

At the moment, I have 3 Ws and I anticipate one more. I am in genetics and I wouldn't want to sink my science GPA so close to the application cycle (I hope to apply next cycle). Does anybody know of any cutoffs that may be in place for some schools? Should I be concerned?

Thanks!

what is your cGPA and sGPA?

 

[Craiggjjames18]

At the moment, I am sitting at a 3.2 Cumulative and 3.2 Science. The genetics course is a 4 hour class, so I would rather drop then retake, as opposed to settle for a C and put myself in a deep hole. Two of my Ws are from my first year and I have one this year. I will remain in good standings with the University whether or not I do decide to drop. Appreciate the concern.

 

[Homo sapien]

Well what will the C turn your GPA into? If it will still be a 3.0 I would say stick with it, as all the Ws don't speak for your ability to handle the work(they probably will ask) but your GPA is good right now.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

My new science GPA would be a little less than a 3.1. Because I am taking all science classes this semester, my cumulative will drop in the same respect. This concerns me because I am really interested in Barry University and was told their numbers are 3.25 Cumulative and 3.15 Science for those who matriculated this past year. It is evident, I will need to do well on my MCAT to make myself a competitive applicant, but if I drop genetics, then I wont be able to take BioChem next semester. From what I heard, BioChem is a class you definitely want to have under your belt before taking the exam.

 

[Homo sapien]

Well, a little under a 3.1 would not be too bad (such as 2.9 or so), and I think those scores are averages, meanign they have scores above and scores below. I think the whole average for podiatry overall is 2.8+ or so. If it's above 3.0. do well on the MCAT, maybe 22-25, and you still would have a shot. I am not sure about biochemistry, some say it's helpful, some say it didn't matter to them. I know for now (they restructure the MCAT in two years) biochem is not REQUIRED (yes, recommended, but not required) so I, personally, would take the C preferable to getting another W. But that's me. You can call the school itself and talk to them.

 

[Pod267]

if you can, i as well would advise that you don't withdraw from genetics. as long as your sGPA and cGPA is >3.0, and your mcat is >20 and you apply early (as soon as it opens), you should at least get an interview and as long as you don't screw up the interview, i think you would be fine.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

Well, appreciate the help, fellas. Looks like I will keep the genetics course and, if worse comes to worst, I can always take a gap year so I will have two additional semesters on my transcript. Once again, thanks!

 

[natorx]

I am a returning student, with a 6 year gap in between my current transcripts and previous. My old transcripts dating back to 2002-2005 have enough red flags for this entire forum. I get asked about them on every interview, and I must state my life story of transformation from a horrible student into a 3.8 chemistry student.

Basic lesson - even though I'm not accepted yet - have a good story of the why it was like that, and how you changed for the better.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

Right. I had read elsewhere that it would be better to protect your GPA in an effort to prevent from being screened out. It would be easier to explain the Ws as opposed to never having a chance at all. As suggested by Homo Sapien, I tried calling Barry and then have not answered yet :/ The drop date is today and I took the exam yesterday!

 

[Homo sapien]

Good Luck, hopefully you did better than you thought.

 

[predentalguy20]

Right. I had read elsewhere that it would be better to protect your GPA in an effort to prevent from being screened out. It would be easier to explain the Ws as opposed to never having a chance at all. As suggested by Homo Sapien, I tried calling Barry and then have not answered yet :/ The drop date is today and I took the exam yesterday!

Definitely drop it if you can't get B+ or better. Your GPA is NOT that high to begin with.

 

[Homo sapien]

Well too many withdraws and drops poses a red flag. His GPA is not high, sure, but it is above average for podiatry school, which is 3.0. If getting a C won't lower it to under that, then he should just go with it and also try to do well on the MCAT. If you have too many withdraws/drops, it doesn't look good. Dental/Pre-med GPA needs aren't the same as Podiatry ones (as far as what you can get in with).

 

[predentalguy20]

Well too many withdraws and drops poses a red flag. His GPA is not high, sure, but it is above average for podiatry school, which is 3.0. If getting a C won't lower it to under that, then he should just go with it and also try to do well on the MCAT. If you have too many withdraws/drops, it doesn't look good. Dental/Pre-med GPA needs aren't the same as Podiatry ones (as far as what you can get in with).

So a C is better than a W is what you are saying?? Let me tell you that there has been no proof that W's are red flags. When somebody drops you have ZERO clue why he or she drops. If he or she retakes it and do well than the first W means nothing.

Lower GPA is worse than lots of W's. Ever see on a schools website that states maximum amount of W's you can have? Minimum gpa on the other hand is on every single one of them.

 

[nikkisorous]

So a C is better than a W is what you are saying?? Let me tell you that there has been no proof that W's are red flags. When somebody drops you have ZERO clue why he or she drops. If he or she retakes it and do well than the first W means nothing.

Lower GPA is worse than lots of W's. Ever see on a schools website that states maximum amount of W's you can have? Minimum gpa on the other hand is on every single one of them.

Please don't try to spread nonsense.

Schools definitely take note as to the amount of "W"'s you have and will most certainly question you if you have a "large" amount of them. Now what qualifies as large is subjective. There are many reasons why they question too many Ws. The two main reasons though are A) can you handle the workload? and B) Is this person obsessed with perfection. (Meaning in the past people have withdrawn to save their 4.0 GPAs. ADCOMS except people to make mistakes, we are all human after all) Since you are pre-dent you should know that if you have three or more W's on your transcript you will be asked about it at most if not all your interviews.

Take the C over the W. In the podiatry realm a C won't kill you, especially since it's not a class that's "required" for admission.

Also if your top choice is Barry they won't screen you out due to GPA unless it's ridiculously low.

 

[predentalguy20]

Please don't try to spread nonsense.

Schools definitely take note as to the amount of "W"'s you have and will most certainly question you if you have a "large" amount of them. Now what qualifies as large is subjective. There are many reasons why they question too many Ws. The two main reasons though are A) can you handle the workload? and B) Is this person obsessed with perfection. (Meaning in the past people have withdrawn to save their 4.0 GPAs. ADCOMS except people to make mistakes, we are all human after all) Since you are pre-dent you should know that if you have three or more W's on your transcript you will be asked about it at most if not all your interviews.

Take the C over the W. In the podiatry realm a C won't kill you, especially since it's not a class that's "required" for admission.

Also if your top choice is Barry they won't screen you out due to GPA unless it's ridiculously low.

you are a ****ing idiot.

 

[owlegrad]

Remember that while heated debate is fine, name calling is not. Please remember to let let cooler heads prevail and follow the terms of service concerning appropriate content.

 

[predentalguy20]

The only reason a person would tell another fellow student to take a C over a W is because of competition. Seriously our goals are the same, that is to get into professional school. Have some common sense.

 

[Pod267]

i believe that in the end, the OP is the one to make the ultimate decision. fellow pre-health professional students are simply just providing their opinions, so i don't think there's a need to hurt each other's feelings. when some (including myself) told the OP to simply stick with it do his best is b/c we have seen many pre-pods get into pod school as long as the GPA is >3.0 (which is the gpa OP will have even though he gets a C in genetics). as we all know, withdrawing from a course leads to no course refund and you have to make it up by taking more science courses in the future in one semester, and that may hurt one's gpa even more.

let us all understand that we all are simply here to help each other by providing people with our opinions/experiences. if we rly wanted to screw each other up, we wouldn't post all the helpful advice in other threads. so let's just respect each other's posts/opinions

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

The only reason a person would tell another fellow student to take a C over a W is because of competition. Seriously our goals are the same, that is to get into professional school. Have some common sense.

I mean.... Maybe? Getting into pod school does not require a flawless transcript like it may for D-school/med school. I would probably rather have 1 c on my transcript (most likely get into pod school) then have to retake the entire class over again.

 

[nikkisorous]

The only reason a person would tell another fellow student to take a C over a W is because of competition. Seriously our goals are the same, that is to get into professional school. Have some common sense.

My friend I am sorry to inform you that I have already deposited at my first choice. I am not here to lead anyone astray. For the OP's specific scenario I stand firm that getting a "C" will be better than a "W".

Also in the future don't call me names. I only post when I know what I am talking about. Since you seem so sure i'm an idiot please provide a source where getting a "W" will be better than a "C" for the OP; my sources are admissions counselors, advisers and many admissions publications that you can pick up at any bookstore.

 

[Craiggjjames18]

Once again, thanks to everybody who contributed. It is great to have a community of students at my disposal; however, I did not mean to great a huge divide. All contributions were taken into consideration when making my decision. Thanks again!