Okay so here is my situation,
I am a new transfer student at UIUC and have recently had a change of heart about attending the university. I already have my Associate’s Degree from my community college, and I still don’t know what I would like to do or even major in. Unfortunately the university made me choose a major and I am now entirely uninterested. I have decided that I am going to take some time off and figure out what I really want to do before completing my degree.
Here’s where I need the advice:
The drop deadline has already passed so I cannot withdraw from the one class that I just can’t stand. I plan on finishing the semester because I do not want to have to pay back the federal and institutional financial aid that was dispersed to me. If i decide to no longer attend the class that I just can’t stand, what will happen? I realize that I will get an F in the class, but will I be forced to repay any scholarships after this semester (institutional or federal)? I am not so much worried about my finishing grades especially this class because it is only worth one credit, and I am coming off with 65 credits at my last school and a 4.0 GPA.
Thanks for your help.
https://registrar.illinois.edu/fall-academic-calendar-15
Are you sure it is too late to drop the course?
If it is a full semester 16 week course it looks like you have until October 18th to drop it without a W (for withdrawal) appearing on your tranacript.
Yes I’m sure. I’m in the college of engineering, and their drop deadline is different from the rest of the university and it was the second we of the semester.
Are you sure? Can you cut/paste your source? You can also just call the Registrar’s office to ask. Here is what I could find:
September 4 is the drop date for full refund but it doesn’t say it’s the deadline to drop.
Yes, dropping with a W is different than dropping and getting your money back. At some universities, you can drop with a W far into the semester. I’d double check.
I double and triple checked. Here’s the link. its considered one of the listed restricted courses. https://wiki.cites.illinois.edu/wiki/display/ugadvise/Adding+or+Dropping+Courses
First, what’s the big deal with just sticking with the 1 credit course? How hard can that be? Your college transcript is a permanent record - do you really want yours to include an ‘F’?
Second, in the link you provided (see below) there is indication you can still drop a restricted course after the deadline. How about contact your assigned advisor or the department and explain that you need to drop a restricted course because you have personal circumstances/ changing your major and no longer need that course?
[Quote]
Drop requests after the deadlines are NOT automatically granted
Not all requests will be approved, and requested changes to restricted courses will require you visit department and/or college advisors for a review. Carefully review the Drop Policy below for more information. Requests to drop classes due to poor academic performance alone will not be approved, because it is explicitly forbidden by the Student Code.
I’ll be honest…if you were my kid, I’ll tell you to finish the class. If it’s one credit, it isn’t an enormous amount of work, right? Sticking with it, even if you hate it, would be a sign of good moral fiber.
Sometimes adulthood means finishing out things you kind of don’t want to do because you’ve already made a commitment, and it would be too expensive or torpedo social relationships to back out.
After you take time off, you never know what you might want to do - transfer somewhere else, or go into a new major, etc. You may want to go to graduate school in the future. You have a 4.0 GPA right now. Finish the one class. If it’s only one credit, there shouldn’t be that much work involved, and you should be able to get at least a B.
As to your actual question, though - nothing will happen to the federal loans themselves if you get an F. However, institutional scholarships do sometimes come with requirements about grades - and sometimes they are not just overall grades. At my husband’s university I think a failing grade is automatic probation for the following semester, and your funding is in jeopardy. So I’d check with UIUC to be 100% certain what their policies are.
Actually, you should be worried. When you transfer to UIUC, you will only be transferring credits. Your GPA from community college will not be part of your UIUC GPA.
Should you fail a class at UIUC, you may end up not meeting SAP and could risk losing your financial aid. In addition, when it comes to applying to jobs/internships, this summer and next year, your senior year, your UIUC gpa will matter and they will request this transcript. You could potentially be knocking your self out of the box for employment opportunities is you simply blow off this class, because you will be demonstrating your inability or unwillingness to do more challenging work.
I think you should attend, and pass, whether or not you “can’t stand” the class.
You’re tougher than you think. You don’t have to enjoy the class, but you CAN “stand” it if you simply make yourself go and study.
There’s too much riding on this. If the drop deadline has passed, finish out the semester and pass all the classes. Nope, you don’t have to enjoy it, any more than you might enjoy a trip to the dentist. But do it anyway.