College is an excellent opportunity to learn more about yourself and the types of educational pursuits that you’re passionate about. Part of this process is achieved by first realizing topics you aren’t passionate about. While it can be unfortunate to come across a class that you don’t like, it is sometimes better to see a course through to the end instead of backing away. Below, our Nerdify reviews experts will discuss things to think about before deciding to drop a class or not.
1. Research Your School’s Add/Drop Window
This is unique to every school, but you need to know the length of time you can drop classes without it showing as a “withdrawn” on your transcript. Typically, this is within the first week or two of lessons, say many users on Reddit. This is because you only have 15 weeks in a semester, and you don’t want to miss out on too much of any new classes you would take in place of a dropped crouse. While it is possible to drop a class after the typical add/drop period, doing so before that window closes is normal and doesn’t negatively affect your transcript whatsoever, say our Nerdify reviews experts.
2. Determine if the Class Is Essential
The main factor in deciding whether or not to drop a class is to assess whether or not this course is necessary for graduation. Check your academic catalog or with your major department to see if a course you don’t like is an essential requirement. If it’s not, then the decision to drop is a fairly easy one, as there is no repercussion to not pursuing the class. However, if an undesirable course is required for graduation, you might, unfortunately, be stuck with that class. There might be another option to forego that course, however.
3. See if There Is a Similar Class
Suppose you’ve found that a class you dislike is required for either your general education or major studies. In that case, there might be another option to forego the course. See if there are any similar classes to the one that you don’t like that can fulfill that requirement. For example, say users on Reddit, some mathematics credits can be fulfilled by taking more humanities-focused classes like math appreciation or a symbolic logic class. These adjacent classes will depend on each institution, but typically multiple courses can fit in the place of a particular graduation requirement, say our Nerdify reviews experts.
4. Meet With Your Academic Advisor
You don’t need to speak with your academic advisor each time you decide to drop a class, but they are a great resource if you are indecisive about what to do, say our Nerdify reviews experts. They should know the ins and outs of your major and the general education requirements. Typically, they can also gauge how difficult a class is and brief you on what to expect if you stay in a class, say Reddit users. Another advantage to talking with an advisor is that they can not only help you decide if you should drop a class, but they can also help you find a new one to pick up in its place.
5. Figure Out What Would Harm Your Transcript More
Students who are past the point of seamlessly adding or dropping classes are only left with the options to stay in or “withdraw” from the course. If you withdraw from a class, it is unfortunately indicated on your transcript, with a “W” taking the place of a typical GPA score. This can negatively impact your chances of being accepted to other academic institutions you might want to apply to in the future. You need to determine the kind of grade you might get in a class you don’t like to determine whether or not that score or a “W” will look worse on your transcript. Withdrawn courses don’t typically factor into your overall GPA score, but a low score in a class you are stuck with can harm your GPA. In most instances, if you’re at the point where you’re guaranteed to fail a course, a W will undoubtedly look better than a 2.0 score or lower on your transcript.
Having a low GPA doesn’t just look unfavorably on you, but it can also have further negative repercussions than just optics in the professional world. Most academic scholarships require their students to maintain a certain GPA score, and failing a class early on in your college career can mean being disqualified from your financial assistance. Additionally, failing an undergraduate class can harm your chances of getting a prestigious graduate or doctoral degree. Many of those programs have minimum GPA requirements for admission, typically a 3.0 being the least possible score, say users on Reddit.
