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I'm an undergrad, going through some family problems at the moment, so I'll be unable to attend two of the three classes I'm currently taking. Should I withdraw from the entire semester or drop the two classes(and get 2 W's on my transcript)? The one class I am able to attend I have a high A in. I am a junior with a 3.95 GPA. I've never withdrawn from class before. W's at my school are non punitive. I'm not on financial aid and am well on track to graduate, so fewer units are not a huge concern. Thank you so much for your help.

If your situation permits, I would drop the two instead of completely withdrawing. Especially since you have a high A in your other class.

Even though the withdrawls may not be punitive at your school, make sure that LSAC will treat them the same way. I don't know anything about this (somebody else will), but I am just a little suspicious. If it will be a problem with LSAC, there may be a way to do well in the class without attending . . . doing the reading and getting notes. Really depend on the class, but it seems like you may be smart enough to pull it off. Sorry about your situation, and good luck.

KMaine wrote:Even though the withdrawls may not be punitive at your school, make sure that LSAC will treat them the same way. I don't know anything about this (somebody else will), but I am just a little suspicious. If it will be a problem with LSAC, there may be a way to do well in the class without attending . . . doing the reading and getting notes. Really depend on the class, but it seems like you may be smart enough to pull it off. Sorry about your situation, and good luck.

I agree. I think this looks weird - not saying you don't have a good explanation for it, cuz you might, but if what you said here is what you're going to say on an application, it's gonna look weird to adcomms. that being said, if you DO have a good reason, i'd drop the 2 classes.

KMaine wrote:Even though the withdrawls may not be punitive at your school, make sure that LSAC will treat them the same way. I don't know anything about this (somebody else will), but I am just a little suspicious. If it will be a problem with LSAC, there may be a way to do well in the class without attending . . . doing the reading and getting notes. Really depend on the class, but it seems like you may be smart enough to pull it off. Sorry about your situation, and good luck.

If the school does not consider the W's punitive, neither will the LSAC.

OP: decide which one would be easier to write an addendum about, then do that.

I dropped plenty of classes, it didn't hurt me a bit. If they're non-punitive, they're non-punitive, and you should drop the two, keep the one you're doing well in.

Thanks for all your input so far everyone.

soooo you're dropping the classes because of family problems or because you don't like the fact that they're lecture based?

I'm thinking about dropping the classes because I won't be able to attend the lectures due to family problems.

ohhhhh. sorry i'm drunk

I had to drop an entire semester of classes my sophomore year. I got all Ws, which were non-punitive, so they did not affect my LSAC GPA. I petitioned my undergrad university for a refund of my semester's tuition, which I received. I found it much easier to write an addendum to the law schools to which I applied than I think I would have if I hadn't dropped all of the classes (I had As in at least two of the classes, from what I recall). I can't speak to how the AdComms see it, but it seems that I haven't been negatively affected by the Ws.

PM me if you want any further details about my situation.