W's on a Transcript...

Transfer Students
1

<p>School of interest: University of Illinois
Major: Computer Science/Math - LAS
GPA: 3.25
Hours completed: 27</p>

<p>Well, I really need feedback pertaining my multiple W's on my transcript. Let me start off by saying that I have 8 W's total, 3 from the fall 2007 semester and 5 from the spring 2008 semester. </p>

<p>I graduated high school in 2007 and started community college in the fall of 2007. Everything was going great in my first semester of college and I had a decent course load of 4 classes. </p>

<p>Well a family tragedy occurred, that totally through me off track school-wise. It was sometime in November when I found out that a family member, who lived in Arizona, was terminally diagnosed totally caught everyone off-guard. I flew to Arizona Dec. 17, 2007 and stayed with close relatives for a month until Jan. 14, 2008. Only 1 of my classes didn't require a written final which forced me to drop 3 of my 4 classes for my freshman fall semester. </p>

<p>After my freshman fall semester, my transcript looked like this;
W
W
B
W
GPA: 3.0
Credits: 3</p>

<p>I wasn't able to take the finals for my classes because I had to leave the state. It was either take the F's or take W's which at the time I didn't really care about anything but was advised to take W's. After the month in Arizona, I decided to come back to community college and start the spring semester. I found out that was a big mistake because I couldn't get myself together. I just couldn't go to school and that lead me to drop all 5 of my classes to just take the semester off and be with my family.</p>

<p>I later enrolled in summer school in 2008 right after that spring semester to finally just get school "started" and took 3 classes.</p>

<p>I did pretty well in the summer and got;
A
B
B
for a cumulative GPA of 3.28</p>

<p>Enrolled in the fall 2008;
B
B
B
B
cumulative GPA of 3.14</p>

<p>Took the spring 2009 semester off because I wasn't eligible for FAFSA due to all the W's on my transcript so I couldn't afford to go to school</p>

<p>Enrolled in summer school 2009;
A
GPA: 3.25
Hours: 27</p>

<p>I plan on transferring for the fall 2010 semester and plan on completing this full year at my community college to give me around 60 credits with a 3.5 GPA with all pre-requisite courses completed.</p>

<p>My main concern is how are the W's going to effect my admissions decision for transferring? I spoke to a counselor and they told me that there is an optional essay section and that's where I can explain all the W's. I was also wondering if I should get proof of travel? Give them the flight number to Arizona back in 2007 because I can pull all that information up online via orbitz.com if needed. Also, is no record of a spring 2009 semester a negative as well? I couldn't afford it because financial aid told me I have too many W's and my father was laid off. I just need any advice I can get so any input is appreciated.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>The negativity perceived from course withdrawals is so underrated. Adcoms, particularly for grad school, look down heavily on people who have a multitude of W’s. One is alright, two is a red flag, and anymore is considered a debacle. It’s almost as bad as F’s. Your best option would be to explain why you withdrew from those courses, and head from there. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Would they still be negatively perceived even after such extreme circumstances?</p>

4

<p>You won’t be looked at equally to someone who has no W’s on their transcript, but if your explanation is valid, it won’t hurt tremendously. You should still apply to anywhere you want.</p>

5

<p>How would I validate my explanation? I can get a flight number online or my boarding pass maybe to show that I left the state on the days I stated.</p>

6

<p>I think he meant valid as in a reasonable excuse for the Ws, not actual proof.</p>

7

<p>Sounds good. Thanks for the help guys. It was really bothering me thinking about how W’s can absolutely ruin my chances for admission into my dream school.</p>

8

<p>Sezon is guessing and his/her advice isn’t necessarily based on experience. I have 5 Ws on my transcript and, when it came time to transfer, I was accepted to two different top ten schools. </p>

<p>Ws warrant an explanation, of course. If your reasons are valid, which in many cases they are, the reception won’t be unecessarily punitive. Adcoms understand that not all students are carefully coddled, provided for, or arrive at a new school - or graduate program - never having experienced any upset in normalcy. In fact, I would say that many adcoms are charmed by those who overcome adversity and find their own brand of success.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

9

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</p>

<p>Thank you for that. Really lifted my spirit to know that W’s can be overcome.</p>

10

<p>Hellojan-</p>

<p>At the risk of sounding as if I’m being overly crass, I’m going to have to ask what makes you a more reputable source of information regarding this topic than sezon?</p>

<p>I’m really not trying to be rude, but I’ve heard so many different opinions about Ws on transcripts and I’m really not sure which ones are the objective truth. However, the fact that you were accepted into a top 10 school with 5 Ws on your transcript adds a multitude of credibility to your response. I’m just curious if you’ve spoken to admission counselors who have given you that answer since the only response I’ve ever gotten has been “well–we can’t be certain what effect these withdrawals will hold since transfer admissions is a very hollistic process.”</p>

11

<p>Great news for people who are worrying about W’s on their transcript, for the most part, the admissions committee does not care about W’s on a transcript. I just spoke to an admissions counselor at U of I and they told me that it would not have a negative effect on my admissions decision. The only thing I should do though is to explain it in the optional essay portion they offer. The main thing they look at is GPA and pre requisites. Very clear cut, W’s do not effect an applicant.</p>

12

<p>That’s good for those individuals who are applying to UIUC for transfer admission but UIUC doesn’t speak for everyone. I’m sure that some other schools aren’t so lenient.</p>

13

<p>

Actually, I’m not guessing, I’m not speaking from personal experience because I have yet to withdraw from a course, but I know people who have and attempted to transfer and the process didn’t go so well. I also personally know many adcoms at many renowned universities, such as Vanderbilt, Duke, and Penn, who have told me about the stigma they associate with W’s on transcripts. What I stated is true: 1) You will be looked at negatively by adoms (grad school in specific), and 2) the more W’s you have, the greater chance you will be rejected. It’s really common sense, that you will NOT be looked at equally as those with the same GPA as you, but no W’s. Again, it might not affect you heavily during your transfer as an undergraduate, especially if your reason is valid, but it will if you choose to continue on to graduate school. Veritas.</p>

14

<p>Would an applicant be required to submit every transcript from every school they attended?</p>

15

<p>Yes you’re required to, if you took courses for any length of time at those institutions. If you withdrew from the university before you took any courses, you don’t have to.</p>

16

<p>For law school admissions, Ws do matter and have negative effect.</p>

17

<p>The Ws are part of an otherwise exemplary transcript. Of course the process of examining candidates is holistic and, to my benefit, I retook every course that I withdrew from and got an A. </p>

<p>I’ll continue to support the idea that, in certain circumstances, Ws aren’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, in my case, I returned to school and became member of the All-USA Academic team, was named a Coca-Cola scholar, was featured in USA Today, etc. What made me stand out to these organizations was my grades as supported by my story.</p>

<p>If, for example, I had 5 Ws because I wasn’t feel up to it or, worse yet, was failing and wanted to bail, then the Ws would and should be received negatively. Sorry for being so vague, but I maintain that my circumstances were quite different. The Ws, as I and many adcoms saw them, didn’t reflect my abilities.</p>

<p>Just PM me if you have more questions.</p>

18

<p>I have two Fs and 2 Ws on my community college transcript and I have no idea why you guys think this would keep me out of graduate/law school. I think 4 years of straight As trumps any ******** semester you had right after high school. Stop scaring people!! haha</p>

19

<p>I had one W my first semester freshman year, and I am happy where I ended up transferring to.</p>

20

<p>What about something like having a total of 6 F’s and 12 W’s from my first go-round at CC, then taking a forced break of three years and doing very well the rest of the way?</p>

<p>I’m terrified that I have no chance at Grad School, especially because perhaps three of the courses that I withdrew from or earned “F’s” in have any equivalent here in my current state’s Higher Education System.</p>