The 12 credits (4 courses) would be instead of 15 credits (5 courses). I am technically allowed by both my current school and the schools to which I’m applying to only be enrolled in 12 credits, but I’m wondering if I’m putting myself at a disadvantage by only being enrolled in 4 courses vs 5 courses (even though 4 satisfies the minimum).
Also, will I have to indicate that I dropped the course on midterm report, or would it be acceptable for the schools to find that out when they receive my final transcript after I’m admitted? Could my admission be rescinded if I had a “W” on my final transcript for this semester but hadn’t indicated that I withdrew from a course on my midterm report?
Please answer as soon as possible if you have insight into these questions, I only have five days to make this decision. Your advice is much appreciated.
My main concern at this point is getting my admission offer rescinded if I don’t indicate that I withdrew from a course on my midterm report but then a W shows up on the final transcript I send them. I would prefer not to indicate that I’m withdrawing from a course, and in fact if that is required of me I would rather just keep the B. Ideally I’d just like them to think I was enrolled in 4 courses this semester.
One B is not awful. Stick with the class. That also holds for a C.
A W is for ditching a class that you have a D or F in that can’t be recovered, or if you can’t handle the workload because of illness or a sudden family emergency.
@happymomof1
I don’t think I would have to put the W on my midterm report, which makes dropping the course more attractive. I will also be fine in terms of credit-hours at my current school because I’m taking two courses over the summer that will put me a 3 credits ahead of where I need to be to graduate anyway. So there’s really no apparent cost from my current school’s perspective or from the perspective of transferring (unless I am in fact obliged to report it, which I can’t find an answer to anywhere on the Internet). I suppose my main question is what looks better from an admissions standpoint, a B in a fifth course or just four courses, 3 of which are A’s and one of which is “Pass”? With another question being: does not reporting withdrawal from a course on the midterm report constitute academic fraud in the transfer admissions process? Again, from my current school’s standpoint there really isn’t a problem with dropping the course.
If you are in HS, then 5 classes is pretty low. College accept you based on what you said you would be taking and how you do in those classes. Do not W because of a B.
@bopper
I’m in college, applying to other colleges as a sophomore transfer applicant. Sorry for not making that clear.
Don’t withdraw from a class you have a B in.
Did you already drop this class? Then make sure that W shows now on your midterm report. If they don’t see the W until the final transcript, they might think that you dropped it because you were failing it.
@happymomof1
That would only be a problem if I was admitted and decided to enroll, in which case I would just explain to them what happened. I mean they wouldn’t rescind my admittance based on that, right?
@bopper
Well for one I have a B- in it now, not a B. And I would not typically withdraw from a course I have a B in based on that fact alone, but I just so happen to be sending out transfer applications and I’m just weighing which of the two options- 12 credits with no B vs.15 credits with one B - would appear more attractive on a midterm report.
Duplicated for some reason ^
How close are you to a B? Have you spoken with the instructor about that?
@happymomof1
My current average is an 82%, and the cutoff for a B is 83%. But I’m worried that the exams are only going to get harder from here on out, I studied a ton for the last one and only got an 80%. I will regret not dropping the class if I end up with a B-, or worse yet a C+. In any case, the instructor signed and dated the midterm report when I had a B, so that is what the colleges will see. I still think not having it on there at all might be better, because I got straight A’s last semester and have A’s in my other courses this semester, making the B an outlier that breaks the trend. But no one seems to have any insight into my original question of whether being enrolled in 4 courses without the B vs. being enrolled in 5 courses with the B will look better from an admissions standpoint.
Again, my original concern here is about optimizing my midterm report so as to maximize the strength of my transfer application. I don’t need to stay in this class for any other reason, everything is squared away as far as my current school is concerned. As long as I don’t withdraw from more than 2-3 courses in the future at most, which I don’t think will happen (this semester was unique with putting together transfer applications and all).
Your midterm report has a B. You currently have a B-, maybe. You aren’t likely at all to be rescinded for a C+ - especially given all of those A grades. So instead of fretting about this, go to your iprofessor’s office hours and to the tutoring center on campus, and get help with whatever it is that you aren’t doing right when you study for this class.
@happymomof1
So do you think having a midterm report as follows: B/A-/A/A/Pass (5 courses) looks better or worse than A-/A/A/Pass (4 courses)? I might drop the course regardless because I just dislike the class and the way the material is tested.
If you hate the class, and feel it is a waste of your time, and it isn’t related to your major, and doesn’t fulfill a graduation requirement, then go ahead and drop it. But don’t drop it just because you are struggling a bit for the first time in your life. If that is your situation, go to the professor’s office hours and the tutoring center.
And while you are chatting up the professor, ask them about B A A A Pass vs A A A Pass.
@happymomof1
Thanks for your input. I went ahead and submitted the midterm report with the B/A/A/A/Pass and decided not to drop the class. I can probably pull a B/B+ in the class and the impact on my GPA will be minimal; likewise if I do not get in to the schools I’m applying to as a transfer I don’t think it will be due to having one B on my midterm report.