Take a B or W

[blakester0012]

Hello all,
I am a student a Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Virginia. I have recently decided to switch my major from Engineering to Business. Currently, I am enrolled in a Calc 1 course that I no longer need. I have a low B, but should be able to keep at least a B in the course. My plan is to transfer into UVA McIntire next year. I want to major in finance and, hopefully, get into investment banking. Would it be better to take a B in the calculus course, or drop and take a W for my GPA’s sake. My current GPA is a 3.76. The average GPA for McIntire transfers was a 3.77 last year. The acceptance rate was only 16.5%, so I would like to boost my chances any way that I can. Thanks for the help!

[bluebayou]

you are incorrect in thinking that b-schools do not care about Calc. In fact, for Finance, it is extremely important. Do not drop the class as the W will be noted by AdComs.

[blakester0012]

Thanks for the reply! UVA has a calculus requirement that can be satisfied by taking Applied Calculus, which I have taken already.

[Groundwork2022]

I’d still rather see a B on the transcript than a W, which - barring a retake with a good grade or a plausible, strong, and reasonable explanation - implies you were failing the class.

[Eeyore123]

Don’t confuse a minimum requirement with what it takes to be successful.

From the McIntire website:

Do you have any additional advice regarding math prerequisites?

*  The admissions committee likes to see math coursework done here at UVA, particularly if you received AP or transfer credit for the math requirement.
*  Potential Finance concentrators are encouraged to complete additional coursework in mathematics.
*  Unless you want to take higher-level math, take the Applied Calculus sequence.
*  Economics and most science majors require two semesters of Calculus.
*  High school calculus and college calculus are very different, so unless you’re confident in your math skills, be sure to explore your options before committing to higher-level courses.
*  There are many ways outside of taking Calculus II or III to demonstrate your quantitative ability or to prep for Finance or another major—including completing quantitative courses in the departments of Economics, Statistics, Psychology, Sociology, and Computer Science.

[blakester0012]

Thank you all for responding! I’ve decided to keep the class.

[supernovacoach]

One B with a 3.76 is fine dude