<p>I am a freshman attending Dartmouth College right now.
The normal term course-load here is 3 courses per term. (We have 3 terms of campus residence per year).
I have A's in 2 of my 3 classes. My third class, I'm getting a C, possibly worse, as of right now. I could either drop the class and get a W or stick with it and get a C.
On the transcript for transfer, they will include this term's grades as well as next term's grades. </p>
<p>The problem is, if I drop the class, I'll only have 2 courses ... and that looks really bad.
However, I can always take 4 classes next term to make up for it.
What should I do??? I really need help :(</p>
<p>Which would look worse on a transcript for transfer - a W and 2 classes for first term and 4 classes for 2nd term; -[OR]-, 3 classes with a C in one and 4 classes 2nd term?</p>
<p>... And should I just wait 'til next year to transfer?</p>
<p>I really wanted to transfer to some of the most competitive schools like Harvard & Yale but I think my situation might have killed any hope of doing so.</p>
<p>I really have NO expertise on this, but I became very familiar with people who work in and with the admissions offices of Dartmouth, Williams and Harvard over this past year, and actually had some long discussions with them regarding transferring. All agreed that the longer you wait the less of an advantage you have as far as "marketing"yourself to big-name schools...the sooner you pull out the more you can work the angle of "oh, I realized the school just wasn't a good fit, and it was affecting me academically/emotionally etc."...as opposed to "I was drowning - help!" (although it sounds like you are doing much better than that) ; )</p>
<p>Everyone I talked to also urged (and I never would have thought of doing this, but oh well) that it was preferable to withdraw after a semester and spend any "gap time" that might occur doing something interesting or productive, rather than stay if the alternative was a "tainted" GPA. To paraphrase what assoc. director of admissions told me, "the more "used" you are the less we want you" "we just want to know you weren't home on your butt watching tv - you don't have to do anything extreme" </p>
<p>If you can show proof of trying; of a positive, constructive attitude during your time at Dartmouth, I honestly think you'll do fine!</p>
<p>^^ take what this person said with a grain of salt</p>
<p>Remember HYPSM and the likes (that you are looking to transfer to) all have acceptance rates below 10%....so i would not advise you withdraw from Dartmouth because you don't know if you will get in...and Dartmouth might not take you back.</p>
<p>
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and Dartmouth might not take you back.
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</p>
<p>If you talk to the administration about it, they can usually work out a plan where you can take a term or two off freshman year, and come back sophomore year. You can withdraw before then.</p>
<p>Also, if you withdraw by your own will (e.g. without being Parkhursted or forced to do so), I think they will usually take you back.</p>
<p>I think ixjunitxi is right...I was assuming that if you didn't get into your first transfer choices you'd be willing to "downgrade" to another school (like a state college)</p>