Thinking of taking a W this semester

Navy555

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Jan 23, 2020
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Hi everyone,

I'm a college student who is getting absolutely rocked in one of my classes. The class is a business one, therefore it has no relation to the STEM and humanities courses one would take at the USNA. As a result I'm considering taking a W in the course. I understand this isn't a good look, however I feel like it's better than getting a terrible grade and having my GPA drop as a result.

Wondering if anyone had any advice or feedback.

Thank you
 
Hi everyone,

I'm a college student who is getting absolutely rocked in one of my classes. The class is a business one, therefore it has no relation to the STEM and humanities courses one would take at the USNA. As a result I'm considering taking a W in the course. I understand this isn't a good look, however I feel like it's better than getting a terrible grade and having my GPA drop as a result.

Wondering if anyone had any advice or feedback.

Thank you
Exhaust EVERY resource before making this decision:

-Work in the class all the way until the last day to drop, and then reevaluate your grade.
-Communicate, communicate, communicate with your professor to see what options are available to improve your grade. Lots of college courses have a heavier weight in the 2nd half of the course, so if there is still a lot of points/percentage left, you may be able to dig in and pull out a B. And communication can go a LONG way to helping your grade. Professors will often help those who admit they got in over their heads but they want to work hard to save it, not just throw in the towel.
-Consult your college's tutoring/success center for tutoring/one-on-one help.
-Find someone else in the class that is doing well and ask them how they are studying.

Even if you end up dropping, at least you will have done everything you can, but most of the time if you communicate and do your due diligence, you can pull out a workable grade. Also, remember this experience, and use these strategies at the FIRST sign of struggle next time to get better outcomes.
 
Keep in mind that, throughout your educational career (including USNA if you make it there), there will be a course every now and then that beats you down. For me, it was Calc III at USNA.

While you have the option of dropping your current course, you won't always have that option in higher education or in life. At USNA, for example, most courses cannot be dropped or withdrawn from.

It's one thing to drop a course early on b/c you realize your course load is too great or you just hate the course. Dropping b/c it's "too hard," is . . . well . . . only you can make that decision.
 
My general thoughts on Withdrawal:
Things to consider when thinking about Withdrawing from a class:

1) TALK TO YOUR ADVISER before you make any decisions

2) Will taking a W move you from full time to part time? Full time is usually 12 credits (check your college). If you are part time you are not eligible for financial aid or living in dorms.

3) Is this class needed for your major? If you don't take it now, will you have to take it again? Will it cause you to fall behind in keeping up with your major classes?

4) Why are you getting a C/bad grade? What happens the next time you get a C? W again? One W is okay, but a pattern shows that you have difficulty with college.

5) Will Withdrawing from a course make it difficult to graduate on time? Will you need to make it up in summer $$ or do you have extra credits from HS?

6) Can you raise your grade? Check this post for ideas


7) If this course is in your major, is this the right major for you? If you are pre-med but are getting a C in Biology, maybe this is not the major for you. If you are getting a C in an elective, that is another story.

8) Sometimes W's are necessary. My daughter was in the hospital for a week early in the semester...she Withdrew from a course because she would not be able to catch up on all her courses if she kept all the classes. A W here or there is no problem, but a pattern of them looks like you have trouble with college work.
 
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