Withdrawal or bad grade?

<p>So I'm a student in the b-school and as part of the BSBA requirements, we're required to take at least 18 credits of non-business school electives (300+ level courses). These electives can be anything we want. Personally, I and probably many others, think this requirement is stupid because we're basically being told to take any elective we want that's NOT relevant to our major...</p>

<p>Anyways, I've decided to take a Psychology course this semester because I wanted to learn more about this field, but I'm doing very poorly in this course and will likely end up with a C or worse. I really can't afford to take such a bad grade because I didn't do well freshman year, and I've consistently been working hard since to steadily increase my GPA. If I withdraw, I'll still have time to take other, possibly much easier, 300 level electives. The main lesson I learned here is that I'm not good with psychology; no one can excel in all subjects. Luckily, I've always done well in the courses RELEVANT to my major.</p>

<p>I think employers automatically assume the worst when they see a withdraw (if they look at my transcript). But then again, I've never withdrawn from a course before and psychology is definitely not something I want to pursue in grad school. I've already been accepted to a Master's Program in business at Olin.</p>

<p>For what it’s worth, in the 100+ jobs/internships I’ve applied to, I’ve been asked for my unofficial transcript only once. Even the 2 places I interned with didn’t even ask for it after they had offered me the job (and background checks did not include transcripts).</p>

<p>Either way, 1 W is not the end of the world. Personally if I was in your shoes I’d drop it.</p>

<p>Moving forward: I’m an engineer, so I’m not familiar with Olin elective requirements. But we also have an 18 H/SS credit requirement. Something they don’t advertise all too loudly in engineering: you’re allowed to take those 18 all through UCollege (including the 300 levels). You have to take it for a letter grade (and get a minimum of a C) BUT the grade does not impact your GPA at all. Even if it did, UCollege classes are notoriously easier than their counterparts. I took a 300 level UCollege SS class - spent less than 5 hours outside of class all semester on it, and had an average >95%.</p>

<p>Note- this is what I found on your policy, so it may be useful: </p>

<p>University College Courses</p>

<p>You may enroll in one University College course per semester providing your academic adviser has approved this course prior to registration. University College course work may only count as a general nonprofessional elective. Business, foreign language, Comm 220 and Comm 351 and any day division equivalent course may not be taken through University College. Students may enroll in a real estate course, but these units will not count toward the 120 units needed for the B.S.B.A. degree.</p>

<p>Definitely take the W. A lone withdraw will not really hurt your transcript. On a side note, 18 credits is 6 courses. Are you seriously telling me that of all the courses offered, you don’t find 6 non-business ones interesting? Even if you don’t, a requirement of any six courses outside of your interest is still one of the most lenient required curricula there is.</p>

<p>Re-reading my previous post, I apologize for my tone. I think it came off as a bit mean-spirited, when it was really intended to convey incredulity. A single W doesn’t really matter; people only really start caring when it becomes a pattern. UCollege courses are a great, probably underused, resource, as mentioned above.</p>

<p>I’m not actually sure about UCollege courses, but yeah I’ll definitely check them out. And Johnson181, yes every class taken for a grade counts towards your GPA at Olin.</p>

<p>So at this point you all think it’s good that I drop?</p>