College Questions

3nticing_d3sir3 · Sep 28th, 2008, 08:37 PM

I am currently in Linear Algebra and Im not doing too well in the class. Im thinking about withdrawing from the class if my grade doesn't improve by the withdrawal period. I would retake the course over the summer or next fall. I wanted to know if any of you have ever withdrawn from a class and what was the effect. I want know the effect because I'm considering going to graduate school.

fabgrabs · Sep 28th, 2008, 08:40 PM

Well, if you withdraw within the time frame of getting a W, that is fine, because once you take the class again, the W is replaced by the grade you get. If it is after the W period, you must be given a grade, and that will stay on your record. This is how it is in California, not sure if it is the same everywhere?

3nticing_d3sir3 · Sep 28th, 2008, 08:50 PM

thanks for the input. I will have to ask about if the W being replaced.

he432 · Sep 28th, 2008, 09:37 PM

I've dropped a few classes and if we drop them before the end of the drop period, it's like we never even registered for the class, nothing on our transcript or anything.

FashionParadise · Sep 28th, 2008, 11:41 PM

I took a class in my freshman year, realized I wasn't doing well, but stuck it out and ended up with a C. I am repeating it this year and am doing exceptionally well. They said they'll take the most current grade, so the C will be gone. Why don't you try to stay and study hard, or are you planning to go to medical school? I'm not sure how that would work out if you withdraw, but hope everything works out for you. Try calling your school academic department to see what the options and outcomes are.

Megs · Sep 28th, 2008, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabgrabs

Well, if you withdraw within the time frame of getting a W, that is fine, because once you take the class again, the W is replaced by the grade you get. If it is after the W period, you must be given a grade, and that will stay on your record. This is how it is in California, not sure if it is the same everywhere?

I am not sure how it works at every school, but it did not work that way for us.

You had a period of time to drop a class without a W. After that you would withdraw but there would be a W on your transcript. And you had a period of time that it was too late to withdraw.

To be sure ask your advisor... you can just walk in and ask really quick.

I took two W's in college. I over-stacked classes and didn't take myself out early enough. But the advisor told me that if you have a few W's it will not affect you or getting into grad school as long as your overall GPA was good, etc.

fabgrabs · Sep 29th, 2008, 12:01 AM

^ Ahh okay..glad I thought about it at the end and added my disclaimer!

I did forget, we also have a period of a couple of weeks when you can drop without the W...then the couple weeks with the W, then the grade.

laureenthemean · Sep 29th, 2008, 12:04 AM

It depends on your school. At UCLA, they didn't give Ws. I forgot what the exact policy was, but you might want to ask a counselor just to make sure.

Megs · Sep 29th, 2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabgrabs

^ Ahh okay..glad I thought about it at the end and added my disclaimer!

I did forget, we also have a period of a couple of weeks when you can drop without the W...then the couple weeks with the W, then the grade.

Yea it works different at all schools. But we had a period with no W, period with W, then period when you could not drop...

yvalenz · Sep 29th, 2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megs

You had a period of time to drop a class without a W. After that you would withdraw but there would be a W on your transcript. And you had a period of time that it was too late to withdraw.

To be sure ask your advisor... you can just walk in and ask really quick.
... But the advisor told me that if you have a few W's it will not affect you or getting into grad school as long as your overall GPA was good, etc.

This is typically the way it works at the majority of colleges in the US, but notations and deadlines/policies may vary from school to school.

Just to clarify, "W" grades do not "get replaced" or "erased" when the course is retaken. What happens, is that the new grade is just posted in the term when the course is retaken.

You do want to check your campus policies (ask an advisor / check the catalog) to see if your campus indicates "withdrawal passing/failing" (WP/WNP or WF). Still won't impact GPA, but will indicate if the student was in good standing in the class when dropped. Only a few campuses will do this. In CA, UC Schools do allow drops, but don't indicate a "W" - they notate the week of the term the course was dropped under the course name, and "impacted" courses may have additional drop restrictions.

uhkiwi · Sep 29th, 2008, 02:23 AM

i dropped 2 courses (received W) as an undergrad and am now in grad school. I don't think any of the interviewers (including those at Columbia and Cal) ever questioned my transcript, and I don't think dropping a course would be a deciding factor

No Cute · Sep 29th, 2008, 02:25 AM

I had never heard of this before as W's stayed on the record along with the new grade, but some schools do replace the W. If your school doesn't, be aware that it will stay on your record and could (not saying it absolutely will or won't) impact graduate school admission, but likely it won't.

candypants1100 · Sep 29th, 2008, 05:04 PM

i dropped self defense (i dont know hwy i even took it to be honest, it was such a lame class) and got a w on my transcript. it had absolutely no effect. i went to grad school, and no one even asked me about it, and i had to go through two interviews to get in, so i guess they had more important things to worry about :)

Megs · Sep 29th, 2008, 05:14 PM

My school did not replace W's either.

Now we had something called Freshman forgiveness, and in your first 45 hours (I think it was) you could drop a class or fail it and do something called freshman forgiveness - meaning no W and new grade would replace it.

grammyr · Sep 30th, 2008, 09:21 PM

If you are really concerned talk to the teacher. My son was ready to drop a class he was sure was going to fail. He spoke to the professor and she was really stunned. He was the top student in the class! He had no idea. No he loves the whole subject and wants to change majors! If the prof agrees, drop it and retake when your are ready, maybe a different prof? Or a summer course would be less stressful. Is it a req for your degree? If not, why stressit?

Sep 28th, 2008, 08:37 PM	#1
3nticing_d3sir3 Member	College Questions I am currently in Linear Algebra and Im not doing too well in the class. Im thinking about withdrawing from the class if my grade doesn't improve by the withdrawal period. I would retake the course over the summer or next fall. I wanted to know if any of you have ever withdrawn from a class and what was the effect. I want know the effect because I'm considering going to graduate school.

Sep 28th, 2008, 08:40 PM	#2
fabgrabs J'aime l'ananas! Location: California	Well, if you withdraw within the time frame of getting a W, that is fine, because once you take the class again, the W is replaced by the grade you get. If it is after the W period, you must be given a grade, and that will stay on your record. This is how it is in California, not sure if it is the same everywhere? __________________ How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. - Coco Chanel

Sep 28th, 2008, 09:37 PM	#4
he432 sofa king awesome Location: Ottawa & Toronto	I've dropped a few classes and if we drop them before the end of the drop period, it's like we never even registered for the class, nothing on our transcript or anything. __________________ R.I.P. Goobler July 18, 2008

Sep 28th, 2008, 11:41 PM	#5
FashionParadise Glamour Queen Location: The Old Dominion	I took a class in my freshman year, realized I wasn't doing well, but stuck it out and ended up with a C. I am repeating it this year and am doing exceptionally well. They said they'll take the most current grade, so the C will be gone. Why don't you try to stay and study hard, or are you planning to go to medical school? I'm not sure how that would work out if you withdraw, but hope everything works out for you. Try calling your school academic department to see what the options and outcomes are. __________________ Christmas Wishlist: 12 Juicy charms, 11 Coach bags, 10 pairs of Jimmy Choo shoes, 9 Dior and Coach headbands, 8 Vicky's "stuff", 7 LV bags, 6 sunglasses of various designs, 5 Burberry scarves, 4 Tory Burch flats, 3 Burberry trench coats, 2 Chanel bags, and 1 partridge in a pear tree

Sep 29th, 2008, 12:01 AM	#7
fabgrabs J'aime l'ananas! Location: California	^ Ahh okay..glad I thought about it at the end and added my disclaimer! I did forget, we also have a period of a couple of weeks when you can drop without the W...then the couple weeks with the W, then the grade. __________________ How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. - Coco Chanel

Sep 28th, 2008, 08:50 PM	#3
3nticing_d3sir3 Member	thanks for the input. I will have to ask about if the W being replaced.

Sep 29th, 2008, 12:04 AM	#8
laureenthemean CL Authenticator '08 Location: Los Angeles	It depends on your school. At UCLA, they didn't give Ws. I forgot what the exact policy was, but you might want to ask a counselor just to make sure. __________________ See my shoes here! See my purses here! Join the revolution, list on bonanzle.com! Buy now, think later!

Sep 29th, 2008, 02:23 AM	#11
uhkiwi Member	i dropped 2 courses (received W) as an undergrad and am now in grad school. I don't think any of the interviewers (including those at Columbia and Cal) ever questioned my transcript, and I don't think dropping a course would be a deciding factor

Sep 29th, 2008, 02:25 AM	#12
No Cute I'm an "aunt"!!	I had never heard of this before as W's stayed on the record along with the new grade, but some schools do replace the W. If your school doesn't, be aware that it will stay on your record and could (not saying it absolutely will or won't) impact graduate school admission, but likely it won't.

Sep 29th, 2008, 05:04 PM	#13
candypants1100 Member Location: candyland	i dropped self defense (i dont know hwy i even took it to be honest, it was such a lame class) and got a w on my transcript. it had absolutely no effect. i went to grad school, and no one even asked me about it, and i had to go through two interviews to get in, so i guess they had more important things to worry about :)

Sep 29th, 2008, 05:14 PM	#14
Megs	My school did not replace W's either. Now we had something called Freshman forgiveness, and in your first 45 hours (I think it was) you could drop a class or fail it and do something called freshman forgiveness - meaning no W and new grade would replace it. __________________ Enter our fabulous November giveaway sponsored by Adriana Castro!!!! Check out our latest press, Purse Blog in the Miami Herald!

Sep 30th, 2008, 09:21 PM	#15
grammyr soon-to-be grandma Location: New York	If you are really concerned talk to the teacher. My son was ready to drop a class he was sure was going to fail. He spoke to the professor and she was really stunned. He was the top student in the class! He had no idea. No he loves the whole subject and wants to change majors! If the prof agrees, drop it and retake when your are ready, maybe a different prof? Or a summer course would be less stressful. Is it a req for your degree? If not, why stressit? __________________ Dear Santa, define "good"