Happy fall semester! Classes are now in full swing and hopefully you are settled into your classes and routine. If not, you may want to ask yourself these questions:
- Am I engaged in the material?
- Does the classroom environment fit my learning style and needs as a student?
- Am I worried about my performance?
If you can’t answer these questions positively, it MAY be time to think about your options, including dropping or withdrawing from a class. A withdraw reads as a “W” on your transcript, but there is no grade attached. A dropped class will never show on your transcript.
What if I missed the drop deadline?
Thankfully, you have an additional window of time to decide whether or not to withdraw from a class. Some of the above questions may not have applied to you at first, but now they do. If you feel like you are not going to pass a class or a class is hindering your performance in other classes, withdrawing can be a good option. Generally it is better to have a W on your transcript than a D or F grade.
Talk to your instructors.
It is very important to have a good sense of where you are at with your classes. If you don’t know where you stand, check in with your instructor. Always discuss withdrawing with your instructor before doing so. There may be other options you do not know about, such as taking an incomplete. Withdrawing from a class should be a last resort and not a habit.
A withdrawal can impact your financial aid.
If you use financial aid to help pay for school, you’ll need to talk with a financial aid advisor. They can counsel you about the impacts withdrawing from a class could have on your academic record and your ability to receive financial aid.
Deadlines for late start and condensed classes.
Pay attention to the drop and withdraw deadlines for late start and condensed classes, as they will be different than the traditional classes. You can check your “Detailed Student Schedule” on the Student Tab in eWOLF for all of the drop and withdrawal dates for each of the classes you are registered in.
