Withdrawing from a class

Student Lounge College Life
1

Okay so I’m taking a writing class for GE credit (and as a pre-req for some major courses) and the professor is getting on my last nerve. I’ve gone to his office hours multiple times this semester to ask for feedback on papers I’ve gotten poor grades on and he has allowed me to correct them. However, every single time I correct the assignment and implement his feedback, I get an email from him saying I still need to expand more on things and that I don’t implement his feedback at all. I only move up from a C- to a C+ on these assignments which really make no difference at all. I need to earn a good GPA this semester in order to keep my financial aid and I’m worried this class is going to bring me down. My question is, should I withdraw from the class? I’ve gone to his office hours numerous times and have implemented his feedback yet he tells me that I have not. At this point, I have no clue what to do in order to improve in the class. How bad is it to have a W on a transcript? This will be my first (and probably only) one. I do not intend to go to grad school so is a W bad in the long run for me? Thanks.

2

You haven’t provided any specific details on what your current GPA is or what grades you got in previous classes. A C is a 2.0 which is high enough to keep financial aid but that depends on what your other grades are. There’s a completion rate calculation that is also used that is required to meet SAP to continue receiving further financial aid and that is 67% (some schools use 75%). If you Withdrawl and it drops you bellow full time then it may still affect financial aid or eligibility to live in the dorms. Please check with financial aid to see where withdrawling would put your completion rate at or what grade you expect to get would put your GPA at. Are you currently on academic probation?

If you end up getting a C and still can get further financial aid then just remember that Cs get degrees.

3

Is there a Writing Center at your college? I bet there is. Take your papers there. Or get a tutor to help.

Otherwise:

Withdrawal

Things to consider:

    1. **TALK TO YOUR ADVISER ** before you make any decisions
    1. ** Will taking a W move you from full time to part time? ** Full time is usually 12 credits (check your college). If you are part time you are not eligible for financial aid or living in dorms.
    1. ** Is this class needed for your major? ** If you don’t take it now, will you have to take it again? Will it cause you to fall behind in keeping up with your major classes?
    1. **Why are you getting a C? ** What happens the next time you get a C? W again? One W is okay, but a pattern shows that you have difficulty with college.
    1. **Will Withdrawing from a course make it difficult to graduate on time? ** Will you need to make it up in summer $$ or do you have extra credits from HS?
      6)
    1. **Can you raise your grade? ** Check this post for ideas
  7. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.html
    1. If this course is in your major, is this the right major for you? If you are pre-med but are getting a C in Biology, maybe this is not the major for you. If you are getting a C in an elective, that is another story. **Sometimes W’s are necessary. ** My daughter was in the hospital for a week early in the semester…she Withdrew from a course because she would not be able to catch up on all her courses if she kept all the classes. A W here or there is no problem, but a pattern of them looks like you have trouble with college work.