Are W's bad on transcripts?

<p>I currently have 5 W's on my transcript and I want to keep it as low as possible but I guess its not happening. Two W's are from the stupid school system it didn't drop me on time. My goals is to get into UCLA as a bio major. I recall reading once around this forum that someone said UC's don't really care about W's? Is this true?</p>

<p>As long as you don't have a lot. I had one W on my transcript and got into USC. I did however include a letter explaining why I got a W. (Me being paranoid)</p>

<p>Schools are pretty understanding when you have a few Ws, just don't make a habit out of it.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply, what is considered a lot? I have 5 on my transcript... I remember something about Berkeley gets a black marker and crossed out W's?</p>

<p>I would consider 5 "a lot", but that is just my personal opinion.</p>

<p>5 is quite a lot. Seeing how u take 5 classes per semester, that's like ditching an entire semester when you are 65% done with it.</p>

<p>this is making me worry... =[ Anyone know what UC's think about W's?</p>

<p>Well, we don't know for sure. You should call a UC counselor and find out.</p>

<p>5 is not a big deal. It is more than most people but it wont kill you. If you have a solid gpa I don't see any reason for you to be too nervous. If you are rejected it wont be because of the W's. You would be MUCH more hurt if those 5 W's were C's. Don't worry about it, whats done is done. You are going to apply either way so its best to push all those chips in and see how the flop comes!</p>

<p>thanks burgler09, I appreciate your reply hopefully UCLA will overlook the W's </p>

<p>When writing in the essay do I have to explain every W?</p>

<p>no, i think that would be annoying to them. Don't do the whole "mistake" thing of the school not dropping it in time. Are the W's spaced out or are they all pretty close together. If they are close together you could use the idea of a lesson learned type deal.. like you didnt really know what you wanted to do but after you realized what you wanted to do you turned things around and don't plan on any more w's and your grades are going up. Don't turn it into "well in W #1 i didnt really like the class, and W#2 so and so didnt like me and W#3 .. you get the point." Don't address them directly but indirectly would work much better. I would say you shouldn't have "W or Withdrawl" anywhere in your personal essay.</p>

<p>well they are pretty close together like my first one was from Jap class in my first year</p>

<p>2nd from trig cause the teacher recommended me that I drop the class</p>

<p>3rd pre cal cause I didnt want to take a C</p>

<p>4th cause the system didnt drop me</p>

<p>5th the same reason as fourth...</p>

<p>so you recommend me not even mentioning the W's on my essays?</p>

<p>IBrian- I am worse than you! I have total 7W's and going to apply Cal,LA,USC.
I know that UC doesn't care about W's but USC does. Hopefully, I will get in to one lol. What's your GPA by the way?</p>

<p>omg, I wish you the best... What is your major and your gpa?</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.4 right now, I'm a Bio Major Planning to transfer by 09 fall....</p>

<p>where did you hear the UC's dont care about W's?</p>

<p>retake the classes(maybe the honors sections) if you can and get a really good grade.</p>

<p>yeah I'm in a worse position, I think. 7 Ws dropped two courses due to illness (diagnosed), and then dropped a semester with 5 classes (undiagnosed, only 1 grade was bad D in biology A in calc, chem,bio lab, and entrepreneurship I couldn't just drop bio though). I really did not like my school and gave me severe depression, I tried to push through it, but it just didn't work. So I withdrew, gonna go to a community college and bring the GPA up. Also a lot of my credits aren't transferable to a lot of schools: Italian, Russian, Intro to communication, Business calc, Wildlife, so I am really far behind now.
Well, to the thread starter, you're in a better position than I am.</p>

<p>im sorry to hear that derek</p>

<p>Ibrian- I heard straight from the UC rep.(UCLA,Cal) My GPA is 3.73 and majoring either psych or soc.... Hopefully my GPA will help! I think we dont hav to worry about W's for UC's... just dont continue anymore! by the way im apply 08 fall.... so i will prove that W's doesn't matter that much lol! i will let u know!</p>

<p>I'm sorry to here that derekc4 I wish you the best in your endeavors'</p>

<p>Torrancecali- seriously, let me know and prove for one and for all to this forum that UCs don't care about Ws. Better get in!</p>

<p>Naw, don't be sorry for me. I'll get by, I"ll just have to do it at a less selective school, and I'll have to call admissions officers to let them know I'm a hard worker, I just made the mistake of not researching a school before attending. It won't happen again.:)</p>

<p>By less selective I mean Whitman, Beloit, Wooster (good schools, just high transfer acceptance rates) as opposed to Williams, Yale, Haverford . Thanks for wishing me well though. </p>

<p>To the thread starter, I'm sure you'll be alright. I've heard for years W's aren't such a big deal in the UC system.</p>

<p>Do they even care about W's in electives or P.E.?</p>