How bad is withdrawing from a course?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of withdrawing from a course, particularly in the context of maintaining competitiveness for admission to top schools. Participants explore the potential impact on academic records and future opportunities, considering the workload and personal circumstances of the student.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the consequences of withdrawing from a course and its potential impact on their chances of admission to a top school.
  • Another participant suggests that if the workload is overwhelming, it may be better to withdraw early rather than struggle through the semester, indicating that two weeks into the course is a reasonable time to assess one's capacity.
  • It is noted that having a "W" on a transcript may require an explanation but is not necessarily detrimental if the reasoning is sound.
  • A participant argues that withdrawing is preferable to failing, emphasizing that the effort put into a course before withdrawing could detract from performance in other classes.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that having a slim schedule with fewer courses may be beneficial, as it could imply engagement in research activities, which are valued by admissions committees.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that withdrawing is better than failing, but there are differing opinions on the timing and implications of withdrawing versus dropping a course. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action for the individual in question.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about the importance of grades and research experience in graduate school admissions, but these assumptions are not universally agreed upon. The discussion reflects differing perspectives on how to balance course loads and academic performance.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering course withdrawals, particularly those aiming for competitive academic programs, may find this discussion relevant.

JVanUW
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Long story short, I'm taking 19 credits of science and math, and 2 weeks into the semester is the drop deadline. I'm wondering how bad it would be if I didn't drop anything and then later in the semester I had to withdraw? I would very much like to stay in the running for a spot at a top school. Would this impact it substantially? Thanks
 
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Why would you have to withdraw? If it's because the work load is too great, my suggestion is to make that choice now and save yourself the hassle later in the term. Two weeks into the course should give you an idea as to whether you can handle all of the courses, and if it turns out that there is a course giving you some troubles, I would suggest dropping it before the deadline, rather than pushing yourself to exhaustion till mid semester.

That being said, having a "W" on a transcript may require explanation, but it is not a deal breaker if the explanation is reasonable.
 
JVanUW said:
I would very much like to stay in the running for a spot at a top school. Would this impact it substantially? Thanks

Withdrawing is a lot better than failing. The danger is not so much that you withdraw, but if you put a lot of effort into a course that you later have to withdraw from, that takes time from your other classes, which lowers your grades there.

Also one reason grades are important to graduate schools is not so much to show how smart you are, but they are a test of organizational and planning ability.
 
To agree with others:
Withdrawing is better than failing... dropping and showing no evidence of a course is better than withdrawing. Then the committee can perhaps assume you are making time for research, etc. if the schedule looks slim.

You are, indeed, making some time for some form of research with a faculty member (or national lab, etc... if this is in your locale)... right? THIS is what top schools will really want to see from you... a strong research background, hopefully documented by some publications and presentations. Strong transcripts are just part of the picture.
 

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