Im currently taking College Algebra this Summer A at a local community college to get an extra credit before going to UF this fall. Unfortunately I got strep throat last week and was out for the entire week. Since this is a fast paced 6 week course she highly recommends that I withdraw from the course as she is afraid that i’m going to fail. But isn’t a "W’’, the equivalent of an “F”?. I honestly dont understand why she thinks that i’m going to fail as I only missed one test, and the optional final exam will replace that 0. But she claims that out of her 38 years of teaching noone has missed 5 classes and passed. I find this hard to believe and most importantly I don’t want to get my admission rescinded. So what do I do? Contact UF? Rough it out and see what happens?
A W is absolutely not an fail – it is a withdrawal. I would ask the professor/registrar if you can get a medical withdrawal with a doctor’s note. Unless this class was a requirement for your entry to UF withdrawing should be no issue.
I would strongly suggest you follow the teacher’s advice – you missed over 15% of a class that is taught sequentially – it will be extremely hard to catch up and the teacher is telling you it hasn’t been successfully done.
If you want to try taking the class again during Summer B that might be an option.
This class is not a required math but I wrote on my SSAR when I applied that I was planning on taking it, so UF suggested that i took it in the summer. Also what’s the difference between a medical withdrawal and a regular one? Also I was thinking of retaking it Summer B, but there is only 2 weeks left of this course anyways and will it show that I retook it in summer B?
Also what is your opinion on my calling UF admissions to ask them if a "W’’ on my transcript will get me rescinded?
It is a good idea to call UF admissions. Get their answer in writing – especially if they say you don’t need the course.
I would not risk failing the class.
A medical withdrawal just shows that you withdrew for medical reasons. It is still a withdrawal.
Why would the professor lie to you?
Take her advice, not that of strangers on the internet.
A withdrawal is not an F. A withdrawal means something happened such as you got strep throat during a fast paced 6 week course.
I still have a W from a course that I dropped back in the 1970’s. It has never hurt me. No one has ever asked about it. I still got into a good graduate school. In your case, since you got sick, if anyone did ask you would have a very good reason for the W.
Strep throat happens. Sometimes we have to take a step backward when stuff happens.
Calling UF admissions sounds like exactly the right thing to do. Let us know what they tell you.
I actually just got off the phone with an admission officer from UF, and he said that if I am just withdrawing from 1 class then I will be perfectly fine, and stated that they only submit applicants to the rescission commitee if an applicant withdraws from multiple college level classes and/or if they recieve multiple Ds and Fs on their transcript. He says in my scenario, because I kept all As and Bs second semester and im only withdrawing from 1 course, then i’ll be fine and I will not be rescinded.
Then I’d take your professor’s advice and withdraw from the class ASAP.
I’d document the call with admissions.