Would it be better to keep a C+ in an AP course or have a W show on my transcript for colleges?

I’m in my senior year and I was wanting to drop an AP class for the regular version of it and I asked my counselor if I could drop it in the beginning of October. He said it would not show up, but he never gave me the papers until this week. Now I’m afraid that it is past the deadline to drop without it showing up on my transcript that I did. What would look better for colleges?

When will you apply? Can’t you just submit your junior grades? And does your school weigh AP courses?

I’m doing regular decision for everything. And yes, my school does weigh it.

Where are you applying? Although I don’t necessarily advocate this approach, my middle son didn’t believe in HW. Thus, he got mostly B’s and C’s in his AP classes, except for AP Calc BC, which he failed. However, he got 5’s on all of the tests he took (except AP Calc BC, on which he got a 4). He wound up with 30 credits at a state school. if you’re not looking at tippy top schools and money is an issue, do your best and try to get the college credits.

I’m applying to schools like Penn State, NYU, Virginia Tech. I just don’t see myself getting anything better than a C+ in the class, which is why I wanted to drop it. But now I’m conflicted.