Dropping a Course in my Freshman year?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I had recently discovered that I had some kind of disorder/disability from the side effect that I got long time ago when I was 8 years old. The treatments were chemotherapy and radiation and it was used to get rid of my brain tumor.
Apparently, I have been really slow in processing information but I had never acknowledge it that it is a cause from the treatment until now, which is my second semester of freshman year in college.</p>

<p>I'm struggling of managing time between Art History (Honor class) and Physiology (required class for major), and I'm thinking about dropping Art History. But that will leave me a W in my transcript.
Even though my Prof. from Art History has been very generous by extending assignments/mid-term essay, I am not sure if I could keep it up with paper assignments in the future when I have physiology.
It takes me about 3-4 hours to complete a paper assignment and even longer for me to study for physiology (which I really need to understand and memorize the concepts... this course have to be studied every day, not just cramming).</p>

<p>It's not that I'm receiving extremely bad grade in Art H, but it could do better if I'm not this slow... and this also took a lot of time which makes me fall behind in other classes, especially physiology.</p>

<p>How would this look in my transcript for dropping an honor class in my freshman year?
I am just afraid that I'm having a W on my transcript too soon because many people said it should be saved for a failing class.
Btw, my cum. GPA is 4.0 since I only had one semester fully completed
I'm thinking about PA (physician assistant program) also!!
Please help!!!</p>

2

<p>Drop the class. I have two Ws (and an F!) from my junior year, both in classes in my field. I’m currently at Columbia for my PhD.</p>

<p>I’m not saying that Ws absolutely don’t matter or that it’s a great idea to do what I did (I was also sick that semester), but your transcript is really considered holistically with the rest of you when you’re applying to graduate school. One W from a random art history class in your freshman year is not going to completely tank your application to an unrelated program, especially if you are an otherwise outstanding candidate.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your reply, Juillet! I decided to drop the course. Careless if it’s honor or not anymore… I just need to get good grade in Physiology!
You mean two Ws during your undergraduate year or during your graduate program?
And way to good to be a graduate student at Columbia!!</p>

4

<p>Two Ws in my junior year of undergrad college. Plus an F. In the same semester.</p>