Take the W or not? Help me make this decision, please

<p>This is worst case scenario, just so you know.</p>

<p>I'm currently getting a B in my Calculus I class. It's around an 85%. My overall GPA is a 3.3, and I'm a Computer Science major.
I'm looking into the following schools:
UC Irvine
UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Barbara
UC Riverside (last resort)</p>

<p>Anyway, before I transfer, this is what my schedule looks like (I'm in a CC)
Spring:
Calculus II
Java I
C++ I
Physics I</p>

<p>Fall:
Calculus III
Physics II
Java II
C I</p>

<p>Spring:
Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
Data Structures in C++
Assembly Language
Physics III</p>

<p>Now, worst case scenario: Let's say I end up with a C in my current Calculus I class, dropping my GPA a little.
If this happens, should I drop Calculus with a W and retake it, or take the C and just move on?
Thing is, if I drop Calculus and retake it less semester, I wouldn't be able to take Differential Equations and Physics III prior to transferring because my schedule would be pushed back, and some of the schools want me to take both of those classes as a pre-requisite. </p>

<p>This is my question: if I were to drop Calculus right now, and thus setting back my schedule a semester, would it annihilate my chances at getting into any of the schools mentioned above? Or should I just take the GPA hit with the C and move on?</p>

<p>Thank you for your time!</p>

<p>hard question. ask your counselor or call ahead to the schools and ask them. you do not want to spend more time than you have to</p>

<p>Well, that’s the thing. I would still transfer out, but I’d be taking those two classes wherever I transfer to. Would the schools mentioned above flat-out deny me because I haven’t completed those 2 courses?</p>

<p>I guess what I’m asking is this: Santa Barbara and Riverside, according to assist.org, want me to take Math 250 B and C (Differential Equations and Linear Algebra) as well as Physics III. If I don’t take them, would I take them there once I transfer? Will it hurt my chances at getting in if I don’t take them?</p>

<p>The answer to both of your questions is yes.</p>

<p>@holyeuphoria Yes, if you are accepted you will be required to finish those missing courses at the UC. Your chances will drop because of missing prerequisites, and your GPA isn’t high enough to make up for it (imo). Regardless, I would apply and see who accepts me and take those 2 classes in the summer if you decide to attend a UC in 2013. If you’re not happy with your choice of schools, I would definitely just take an extra year to finish those prerequisites and boost your GPA.</p>

<p>With that being said, what are my chances to these UCs assuming a 3.2-3 GPA?
UC Irvine
Santa Cruz
Santa Barbara
Davis
Cal Poly Pomona</p>

<p>And how much of a safety schools are these?
CSU Fullerton
CSU Long Beach</p>

<p>Edit: How much of a hit would I be taking by applying without those 2 classes?</p>

<p>Well for UCSB it says on Assist</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Math 3C and 5A articulate to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra, so it seems if you don’t have that course completed you will be rejected. UCI and UCSC are not as restrictive, that being said, I think you have a good chance at UCSC and UCR. I really don’t know anything about the CSU schools, I would just apply and see.</p>

<p>Thank you for your response, andrewexd. With that said, though, I noticed that some schools on assist.org have a ‘required’ section where as others don’t. </p>

<p>If I’m applying to a school that has a ‘required’ section and there’s a class under that section that I haven’t taken, and I apply, does it mean I’ll be immediately rejected because of it?</p>

<p>What about the other schools that have classes listed, but aren’t listed as ‘required’?</p>

<p>My recommendation, keep Calculus. I am literally in the same position as you (CS major, calculus I decision), except I decided to push back Calculus I a semester (I was only able to get into a night class an hour away from home, so I put it off for later). It was a big mistake. After reading the prereqs for CS at various schools I realized that I sort of screwed myself. My plan is to take calc I next spring, and then cram calc2 in the summer to catch up with the prereqs. Unfortunately… I won’t be able to take Physics C on time so my chances at UCLA engineering are abysmal.Also, I’ll be completing two prereqs in the spring which I heard the UCs look negatively at… -__-</p>

<p>Moral of the story: If you’re serious about engineering, be serious about calculus.</p>

<p>^^ who said completing 2 prereqs, however many for that matter, in spring is looked on negatively by the UCs? as long as your prereqs by spring before you transfer, isn’t it alright to do that?</p>

<p>the UCs may see you as a risk because you may withdraw or fail those pre reqs if you try to cram them all in before the last semester in which you transfer.</p>