<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>I've been reading the board for a while but just signed up.</p>
<p>I have a question about the effects of withdrawing from a HS course when it shows up on my transcript.</p>
<p>I'm considering dropping Physics Honors because I haven't been doing well at all. I'm currently getting a low C, whereas all my other grades are A's.</p>
<p>Just for some background info, I'm in the top 10 of my HS and I take 5 AP classes plus Physics. Physics was my elective and 5th science course of HS.</p>
<p>I wanted to take the class, but since my school has a weighted GPA system, getting a C in Honors just kills my GPA.</p>
<p>I was wondering if withdrawing from the class would be better than doing very poorly. And if yes, what would the w/d look like to college admission offices?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help! I appreciate it. :)</p>
<p>I'd check to see if you can really withdraw with no penalty. It's pretty late in the term, they'll probably make you take a .25 credit with the low C, which of course colleges would see.</p>
<p>You don't say anything about the time demands of your courses being too much, but mention only wanting to drop the Physics course in order to manipulate your GPA. The vast majority of adcoms would prefer to see a student challenge him/herself in a course that's difficult than withdraw. Only the most numbers driven admissions processes would fail to note the rigor of your schedule, the extra science course, and the overall quality of your work. </p>
<p>In addition, if you're applying to super-selective colleges, that "W" on the transcript will virtually require an explanation, and "I wanted to have a better gpa" will not impress.</p>
<p>Thanks for your comment, MarathonMan.</p>
<p>I am spending a lot of time with Physics without doing better. I actually like the class, but my guidance counselor suggested it since she said withdrawing would be better than a C...borderline D. I just wasn't sure about her advice and how a "W" would be taken by adcoms.</p>
<p>Maybe you should call the admissions office of the college(s) you're applying to anonymously (just don't say you're joe shmoe from ____ high school) and ask what their take on it is. That might be the most reliable answer</p>