Withdrawing from a Course

I’m thinking about withdrawing from a course after taking too many credit hours in my first semester as a freshman (17 at a very rigorous four-year college). Despite studying very hard for a particular test, I think I did very poorly, largely because the material was barely touched upon in class and homework (which I did very well on). If I drop the class and go down to 14 credits, but maintain high grades in all of my other courses, will any of the top schools I’m interested in applying to (Duke, Georgetown, Ivies) look down on me? It’s my first time withdrawing from a class, I’m doing well in all of my other courses, and my high school record is stellar (valedictorian, lots of AP’s).

Provided you are still carrying what is considered a normal courseload, there would be no problem at all.

Wouldnt worry about going down a few credit hours so long as you remain a full time student. My d who is a freshman recently withdrew from a class because she has mono and 16 credit hours i felt was way too much under the circumstances as she needs to keep up her gpa and she is struggling just to not sleep through class.

So, even the top schools wouldn’t mind if a student withdrew from a class (earning a W for it), provided that he was doing well in his other courses?

It should not be a problem. But why are you wishing to transfer? You say you are at a very rigorous school which clearly is challenging you academically.

Much of it has to do with the strength of the program I am interested in pursuing.

(In terms of career opportunities, that is.)

Is she also applying to transfer next year?