Page 1 of 1

Academic bankruptcy or take the GPA hit?

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 1:42 pm
by holymolyoly
Hi, all

I have the opportunity to retroactively withdraw from my first semester classes (a 2.8 GPA) due to extunating circumstances; however, this would show up as an entire semester worth of W's. Is it better to do that or take the 2.8 for the first semester and write an addendum? If I withdraw, my GPA will be a 3.84 but I'll have 6W's and if I don't, my GPA will be a 3.6-3.65 with just 1 W.

Re: Academic bankruptcy or take the GPA hit?

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 5:31 pm
by kjj4
The primary concern is always raw numbers. So I would side towards taking the Ws and raising your GPA to 3.84. If you have a reason valid enough to warrant retroactively withdrawing from a semester or school you should be able to write an addendum explaining the Ws.

Re: Academic bankruptcy or take the GPA hit?

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 5:55 pm
by Barack O'Drama
kjj4 wrote:The primary concern is always raw numbers. So I would side towards taking the Ws and raising your GPA to 3.84. If you have a reason valid enough to warrant retroactively withdrawing from a semester or school you should be able to write an addendum explaining the Ws.
Kjj4 has it right.

The addendum will explain the Ws and should keep it from effecting your apps too much, especially with a strong GPA.

On the flip side, a lower GPA is harder to explain with an addendum.

In sum, the Ws with a stronger GPA will probably not be a problem.

The lower GPA is going to effect your cycle even with an addendum. LS admissions in a number game through and through.

Good luck :)

Re: Academic bankruptcy or take the GPA hit?

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 10:13 am
by holymolyoly
Thank you! That's what I was leaning toward as well but just wanted to make sure the W's wouldn't screw me over. :lol: