Is it really a big deal to have a "w" on your college transcript?

[StrongBad]

I'm in my senior year of undergraduate study and am taking a course that I really don't need for either general education or major requirement fulfillment. It was just an elective that I thought would be interesting but in reality just sucks.

I plan on attending law school after taking a year off after graduation.

I am wondering if I drop this class and take a "w", would my admissions potential be severely affected.

Some general info:
Cumulative GPA: 3.7/4
Major GPA: 3.9/4

Any advice? I really hate this class, but should I stick it out?

[kstewart33]

1. Don't stick it out

I had several 'W's and incompletes on my record because I spent so much time as a political activist and newspaper reporter when I was an undergraduate. It didn't make a difference; I got an MBA, a Ph.D., and was a business school professor for many years.

If you hate the course, drop it. Your major GPA looks great.

[StrongBad]

5. Thanks for the advice

n/t

[LoneStarLiberal]

2. Where Are You Now? Where Do You Want To Go?

What do you want to do?

A lot depends on what your plans for the future involve. I take it from your message that you want to go to graduate/professional school when you are finished?

[StrongBad]

4. Yes, law school

I'm currently at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Although I have a pretty good GPA, I am not a good standardized test taker and don't forsee myself doing exceptional on the LSAT. Therefore, I would most likely fit in a high to mid second tier law school.

[NicoleM]

9. The LSAT isn't that bad.

In fact it's easier than the SAT--no math. Somebody else asked about this last week. I don't know if you saw that thread, but another poster and I advised doing lots of logic puzzles instead of regular test prep.

[StrongBad]

10. You're probably right...

...I think I've just developed a mental block toward studying for and taking the test because it counts so much in relation to your chances for admission.

[NicoleM]

3. Naw.

As long as you don't have a bunch of them, it shouldn't be a problem, especially considering your GPA. You could enclose a note with your transcript when you apply to law school explaining why you have the W.

[StrongBad]

8. The note is a good idea

Good safety measure...

[Heddi]

6. well, look at it this way

If you go through with the class, and finish it, do you REALISTICALLY expect to get a grade that wouldn't affect your GPA in a negative way?

If you think you can take the class, and finish in a way that will leave your GPA the same, or raise it, then stick it out.

However, if you think that at the end of the class, you'll have a grade that will lower your GPA, then withdraw from it.

2 quarters ago I dropped an English Writing class---the course catalog listed it as research writing with no specific focus.

Well lo and behold, first day of class, I find out it is, in fact, research writing, but research writing about Science Fiction Movies :-/ --- I was looking more towards REAL research writing, not movie critiques...and I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan anyways.

Thought I could handle the class...just go with it. Like you, it wasn't required for my major or any elective credits---I just needed something to span the three hours inbetween 2 other classes I was taking.

Well, after the first week, I decided to drop. I was taking Biology and Chemistry and Psychology, and the English class required us to watch 3 movies a week, and write 5+ page papers on each movie (due every Monday), as well as write one 20 page paper comparing and contrasting 3 movies as a midterm, and one 20+ page paper comparing and contrasting FIVE movies as a final.

And they weren't movie reviews. They were criticial analyses of film-making techniques and such.

I had NO time for this AT ALL.

I realized that if I went through with the class, I probably wouldn't pass, and if I did, it would be with a very low 2.something, which would bring down my 3.51 GPA to a 3.0 or lower.

I decided to take a W from the class.

Also, I think youhave in your favour the fact that you're not getting a "W" from a pre-req class.

Just don't rack up a whole bunch of them :)

[StrongBad]

7. Good analysis

Thanks for your perspective

[Lady President]

11. Drop the class

I don't know if your parents are paying for college, but if they are, run it by them first. (No need to have angry parents.)

Personally, I dropped 5-6 classes while I was an undergrad and I'm now a lawyer, so I don't think it hurt anything. If your school has wp (passing) or wf (failing) and you're currently passing, it will not factor at all in law school admissions. Don't sweat it. :)

[Blue-Jay]

12. I'll agree with everyone else.

If it's not required and you hate the class, drop it. Nobody's going to care, considering your current GPA. If asked about (unlikely), just tell them that you didn't have the time for that particular elective, considering the amount of time you spent on your major. Everyone has withdrawn from a class once or twice. I dropped Calculus 2, after I figured out that music ed majors didn't need to spend two hours every night studying for it after practicing for 4-5 hours. (Plus, I couldn't friggin' read the professor's writing)

[drb]

13. The "W" is most important if...

...your last name is "Bush*" and your dad went to the same school. Other than that, who cares?