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I know there are threads about this, and I think I know the answer, but I want to be 100% sure. My first run at college was abysmal and included a number of withdrawals over the course of several semesters. The withdrawals from this institution show up only as 'W' on the transcript. These are NOT considered punitive, right? I know they aren't factored into my GPA as far as the institution is concerned.

I'm having my transcripts sent to LSAC so they can aggregate grades/convert to their scale or whatever, but rather than wait two weeks to find out I figured I would check here for some comfort (or be deeply disappointed).

HeirCroc wrote:I know there are threads about this, and I think I know the answer, but I want to be 100% sure. My first run at college was abysmal and included a number of withdrawals over the course of several semesters. The withdrawals from this institution show up only as 'W' on the transcript. These are NOT considered punitive, right? I know they aren't factored into my GPA as far as the institution is concerned.

I'm having my transcripts sent to LSAC so they can aggregate grades/convert to their scale or whatever, but rather than wait two weeks to find out I figured I would check here for some comfort (or be deeply disappointed).

I had two W's on my transcript and it didn't noticeably hurt my LS applications (outperformed my numbers). How many are we talking here? Are they all in freshman/sophomore year? If it looks like a pattern across your UG career it may harm you.

In any case, it's impossible to know. Your GPA/LSAT matter a thousand times more regardless, so worry about those.

Ymmv,

I should have been more clear. What I meant was: LSAC will not convert W's into 0s for the purposes of GPA calculation, right?

I have 8 total withdrawals from my first college. It's a lot, I know, but it was 7 years ago and at my degree granting school I have a very high GPA and strong academic track record which I would think offsets my first 'attempt'. Ultimately, I can live with the poor grades and Ws from 2006-2007 being a part of what schools see, but Ws being converted to 0s in my GPA would be disastrous.

HeirCroc wrote:Ymmv,

I should have been more clear. What I meant was: LSAC will not convert W's into 0s for the purposes of GPA calculation, right?

I have 8 total withdrawals from my first college. It's a lot, I know, but it was 7 years ago and at my degree granting school I have a very high GPA and strong academic track record which I would think offsets my first 'attempt'. Ultimately, I can live with the poor grades and Ws from 2006-2007 being a part of what schools see, but Ws being converted to 0s in my GPA would be disastrous.

I am almost certain they do not count against your GPA if they were non-pun W's made during drop-add period. Email/call your LSAC counselor to verify.

that's what I thought-- thanks for the reply

This link will tell you how LSAC interprets your school's W's. They're probably just not factored in though.

Some schools count it, some schools don't.