My son is a senior in HS and dual enrolled in 2 college classes. Due to his high cumulative GPA, 4.85, he was able to enroll in an upper-level math class (Calculus with Analytical Geometry) even though he didn’t meet the prerequisites. From the beginning, he had a difficult time understanding the concepts. After many nights, 1.5 months worth, of aggravation and tutors, he will need to withdraw from the class to avoid an F on his transcript. Needless to say, he is devastated because failure is not an option for him, he has always gotten A’s with maybe 4 B’s his entire HS career. He plays sports and has always been able to manage his time with AP classes. He will be calling the admission office of his chosen schools to ask about a W on his transcripts (per his guidance counselor). He is also going to be speaking with the Dean of Academic Affairs to hopefully fight the W because he feels since he did not have the prerequisites required for the class he doesn’t feel a W is warranted regardless of a test score. The professor has also stated in 2 separate emails, he should not have been in the class regardless of his scores. He is ready to submit his college applications so he meets the deadline for early decision. However, he doesn’t want to wait for fear of missing the deadline. Since he is trying to fight the W, should he wait to submit the applications or submit them, see what the outcome is and then go back and change the info on his SSAR, financial aid, etc if he is left with a W? The colleges will eventually see the W, but he is unsure what is best. On a side note, in the other dual enrollment class he’s taking, he has an A. He’s not sure what effect the W will have on him getting into college? Any advice you could offer is greatly appreciated. Sorry for the confusing post.
Edited: Isn’t Calculus with Analytical Geometry just Calc 1? Is it something more than that? Is it really an “upper-level” math class? What are the pre-reqs? Are they not just pre-calc? If so, why on earth would you take Calc without pre-calc? If it is not an upper level class, I take back what I say below…if he is withdrawing from College Calc 1 then I would still probably think it this year that admissions officers would think of it more as a covid thing.
Why did he try to get into a class he didn’t have the pre-reqs for?
If I was a college admissions officer and saw that someone had a W for a junior level college math course, I don’t think I would think much of it because why would I expect someone to take a junior level Math class in HS? I think it is actually good that he saw that he was not going to succeed in this class and withdraw instead of staying and failing.
Will he have a math course this year?
Spend more time ensuring your son understands it is okay to be a HSer in HS and a freshman in freshman year and to not think that he has to try to take advanced classes that he is not ready for to prove anything to anyone. I have seen that here on CC…people who fail courses they are not ready for.
I would apply on time and if the W goes away, then change the info later. But talk to your GC first to see if they have any thoughts on the matter.