Dropping a class can be a smart move if staying in it would seriously hurt your GPA or the rest of your semester and you cannot realistically turn it around. Before you do, talk to the professor about where you stand, check the deadlines and ask an advisor and financial aid how it affects your credits, aid and graduation date.
Drop vs. withdraw
Many colleges distinguish between dropping a class early in the term, which often leaves no record, and withdrawing later, which often appears as a “W” on the transcript. Deadlines, refund rules and how a W is treated vary by school, so check your academic calendar and ask the registrar. A single W is generally not a big concern for most students; a pattern of them can raise questions.
Signs that dropping may make sense
- You are failing and the math shows you cannot reach a passing or acceptable grade
- The class is consuming so much time that your other classes are suffering
- You are missing a prerequisite and are lost from the start
- A health, family or work situation has changed what you can handle
- The class is not required and you could take it later, under better conditions
Signs you may be able to stay
- Your grade is low mainly because of one exam, and there is a lot of the semester left
- The professor drops the lowest score, offers retakes or weighs the final heavily
- You have not yet been to office hours or the tutoring center
- The problem is time management, which you can fix (see time management for college students)
Five questions to answer before deciding
- What grade can I realistically get? Use the syllabus to calculate it. Ask the professor directly: “If I do well from here, what grade is possible?”
- Will I fall below full-time status? Full-time enrollment can affect financial aid, scholarships, health insurance, housing, athletic eligibility and, for international students, visa status. Ask before you drop.
- Is the class required, and when is it offered again? Some courses are only offered once a year.
- Does it delay graduation or a prerequisite chain? Your advisor can map this out.
- Will I get any money back? Refund rules usually depend on when you drop.
Before you drop, try this
- Go to office hours this week and ask for an honest assessment
- Visit the tutoring center or form a study group
- Change how you study; see study habits that work in college
- Check whether your school offers pass/fail or an incomplete, and whether either fits your situation
How to talk to parents about it
If a parent is paying, tell them before the deadline, not after. Explain the grade, what you tried, what the advisor said and your plan to make up the credits. Parents: keep the focus on the plan. Dropping one class to save a semester is often the responsible choice.
If dropping a class is part of a bigger pattern of falling behind, read how to help a struggling college student and academic probation.
How a mentor helps
A mentor helps the student make this decision with the facts in front of them: prepping the questions for the professor and the advisor, running the grade math and, if they stay, building a weekly plan to pull the grade up. Mentors are not academic advisors, so official answers come from the school. Sessions are by video in the student’s time zone, with text and phone contact between them, and with the student’s permission parents get progress updates. See mentoring for college students and college burnout if the whole semester feels like too much.
Related
- Mentoring for college students
- Academic probation
- Time management for college students
- Taking a leave of absence
- Failing Classes in College: What to Do Mid-Semester
Common questions
Does a W on a transcript look bad?
One or two Ws are generally not a concern for most students. A pattern of many withdrawals can raise questions, so use them thoughtfully.
Is it better to drop a class or fail it?
In most cases a withdrawal is better than an F, which usually counts in your GPA. Check your school’s policy and the effect on aid before deciding.
Can dropping a class affect financial aid?
Yes. Falling below full-time status or not completing enough credits can affect aid. Ask the financial aid office before you drop.
Get started
Is a student weighing a tough semester decision? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.