<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I'm a freshman here at Penn. I'm only taking four classes this semester. I want to drop one of them because I'll be getting xfer credit for it anyhow and it's just not working out for me. Problem is, it's after the "add" period, and I can't find any way to get into another class. I'm literally losing my mind over this class. Please help.</p>
<p>thx</p>
<p>You can take three classes this semester. The drop deadline for most classes is this Friday.</p>
<p>Just realize that if you can’t handle four classes now you’re going to be screwed later on…</p>
<p>I can handle four classes just fine lol… </p>
<p>I can’t take just three because it will mess up my fin aid and it looks terrible on my transcript.</p>
<p>Make the tough class pass/fail. ou can do that before Friday. It still counts as you taking 4 classes.</p>
<p>Here are the parameters of my situation, to be more specific:</p>
<p>1) I have already earned credit for the class I am in over four years ago; the
xfer process at this University is a bit ambiguous (so I just found out I am eligible for
credit) which is why I initially decided to take this class.</p>
<p>2) I feel confident that I could test out of this class and the next class if given the opportunity to just study the material over a few week period.</p>
<p>3) This class does not go in any coherent direction at all and I feel my time would be better spent self-studying and testing out.</p>
<p>4) If I get out of this class, I drop down to three, and kill my financial aid package.</p>
<p>5) If I get out of this class, I drop down to three, and my transcript looks awful.</p>
<p>Basically, to sum it up, I already have credit for this class, can easily test out of the next class in its sequence, and start the other class next semester. This class goes in no coherent direction at all, is completely exam-based for the grade, and quite frankly, I’m not really too excited to destroy my GPA over what I view as pedantic ambiguities between the lessons taught in class/ in book and the material on the exams. Unfortunately, there was no way to gauge my performance in the material by the add/drop date of September 19th as the class wasn’t given any type of grade assessment until the 3rd. I know the material, but somehow (fate) it appears as if I completely bombed the exam because the partial grading this prof does seems insanely harsh… I don’t want to be in this class any longer, but I need something to fill this “hole” if I drop it. Taking it P/F will make me look foolish… I’m really stuck here, I already talked to my advisor, he wasn’t much help… so um, yeah…</p>
<p>Needing advice quick. Something I can apply to my situation.</p>
<p>You can’t add any classes at this point. Period. It sounds like you know what the consequences are if you drop down to three. You have your options.</p>
<p>You’re at Penn now, and I hate to say it, but it’s time to grow up. If you’re afraid of looking “foolish” by taking the class P/F, your priorities are in the wrong place. If 3 classes is too few to take acceptably to you, you should have considered that before taking only 4 classes. Many of your peers will take 6, 6.5, or even 7 classes successfully over the coming semesters. Tough it up, and finish your classes.</p>
<p>If dropping the class will mess up your financial aid, you can’t drop the class. But here’s the critical weak point in your analysis: “Taking it P/F will make me look foolish.” </p>
<p>To whom? How? You are a first-semester freshman. You apparently plan to take more advanced courses in this field. No one is going to give a rat’s butt if you take one class pass-fail. It’s the smart option here, so it’s what a smart person would do, especially since all of your other options seem, well, dumb.</p>
<p>^^^ Listen to JHS! and mattwonder has a good point about sucking it up.</p>
<p>You will find there are MANY courses that <em>you</em> will think have “no coherent direction at all”, or are filled with “pedantic ambiguities”. Even if you do get transfer credit, you may find that in upper level courses those “ambiguities” become crucial to understanding the material.</p>
<p>You’re at Penn. Trust that the professors who design these courses know what they’re doing. (Though there are a very rare few who could do better.)</p>
<p>I agree with what have been said. Just continue that class with the P/F option. Consider it as an elective. That’s the best thing you can do because for now you don’t really have many options to choose.</p>
<p>I was once told by financial aid that 3 courses in a semester still counted as a full time student and would not effect Penn aid. You should check with them to make sure in case you drop by Friday.</p>
<p>But I agree with the others above, take the course as P/F. P/F is there for situations like this.</p>
<p>Just do it P/F.</p>
<p>If I am not mistaken, there are limits to how many classes you can take P/F. I would use this option sparingly.</p>
<p>I agree with those posters who think you should “suck it up”, you are only in first semester, classes will be progressively harder. You can’t protect your GPA forever.</p>
<p>Also, I know that first semester freshmen in Wharton cannot take classes P/F. This may or may not be the case for you, so you should check on that.</p>