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October 22, 2007
"Should I drop (insert class that giving you a lot of grief here)?"
Is it too late to drop a class? Won't I get a "W" on my transcript? Is that a big deal?
Those are good questions, sometimes with no easy answers, but here are some things to think about to help you figure it out.
First: NO, it is not too late to drop a class. You have until Friday Nov 9th to do so. However, the sooner you make this decision the better off you'll be. It will free up time for you to spend on other courses, as well as provide some psychological relief.
Second: YES, you will get a "W" on your transcript (unless this is your first full semester here at UM....first years, transfer students).
Third: How does a W look on your transcript? Here's a simple answer: a W looks a lot better than a D and whole lot better than an E. Will one W really mess up your transcript? One or two W's through your eight semesters at Michigan is not a problem; a W every semester, that's a problem. The concern in this latter situation is about an established pattern of W's which demonstrate that you can't finish what you start. Also for a pre-med student or for another pre-professional student, a few W's in the junior or senior year might make an admissions officer question the student's decision making skills. But again, a W will almost always look better than a lousy grade.
And Finally.....Should I drop the class?
Ok, so when should you withdraw from a course? Sometimes, it is better to "gut out" a tough course even it means settling for “C” rather than withdrawing and paying for the credits again. If, however, you know that you won't pass a course or that you aren't going to be as successful as you need to be, you probably should withdraw from a course. Talking with your instructor can help you get a good sense of how your are really doing in the class, and whether they think you can realistically pull your grade up by the end of the semester. Also, if you're putting so much time and effort into one course that you are harming your performance in other courses, you should consider withdrawing from the problem course.
You should be careful about withdrawing if you're an international student or an intercollegiate athlete. If you aren't a U.S. citizen, you probably need to remain a full-time student to stay in the country. Check with the International Center. If you are an athlete, you need to remain full-time to keep your eligibility. If dropping a course will leave you at 11 credits you may be able to register for a minicourse that starts THIS WEEK (though you will need to register at the Registrar's Office, not through Wolverine Access).
The best tip — if you have doubts about withdrawing from a course, see your advisor and/or instructor, but do it now!
If you've decided you want to withdraw from a course, here's how to do it:
Friday, November 9, is the last day to withdraw from a course for the term. In order to withdraw, you need to a "Late Drop" form (also available at the Newnan LSA Advising Center, 1225 Angell Hall). You'll need to get your instructor or GSI to sign the form, and depending on how you answer some of the questions on the form, you'll most likely need an academic advisor's signature. You can make appointment with an advisor by calling 764-0332.
Complete the form and bring it to the Advising Center. We'll stamp the form, keep part of it, and give you the rest of it to take to the Registrar's Office, and in a couple of days a “W” will appear next to the course on your transcript indicating that you have withdrawn from the course. That is, unless you're a first-year student in your first term. First-year and transfer students during their first term (except if they withdraw from all of their courses) don't get W's on their transcripts.
Posted by yunecs at October 22, 2007 08:00 AM
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