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How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:36 pm
by Tainted_Praise
I've never had ANY withdrawals in my years of college, and I am in my fourth year, last semester. I decided to pile a bunch of classes on to make sure I would graduate on time. I was so caught up with the LSAT that I totally forgot to do a paper for one of my classes! I'm thinking of just withdrawing.... Because if he doesn't let me make it up... That's pretty much an automatic D/F.... Is it really going to look that bad? Be honest. I can take it. :/

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:39 pm
by bhan87
Enjoy Cooley. But seriously no, drop that class NOW. W > CDF and sometimes B

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:44 pm
by minnbills
People take W's all the time.

What if you dropped a course the day after the semester started? You would have a W.

I don't think the transcript will say when you did it, and I doubt they would care anyways.

Regardless, whatever effect it would have, however minimal, would pale in comparison to a D or an F.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:46 pm
by Bildungsroman
W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:50 pm
by Tainted_Praise
Bildungsroman wrote:W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.

How will I know which one they will consider it as...?

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:53 pm
by esq
Just as long as you don't have a pile of 'em on your transcript, you're good to go. And I'm pretty sure that LSAC doesn't hold them against your GPA either, I could be wrong though.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:54 pm
by Bildungsroman
Tainted_Praise wrote:
Bildungsroman wrote:W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.

How will I know which one they will consider it as...?
Wait, have you already applied?

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:55 pm
by minnbills
Tainted_Praise wrote:
Bildungsroman wrote:W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.

How will I know which one they will consider it as...?
If you can just walk into the registrar's office and withdraw, without having to give them the: "I'm failing" explanation- you'll probably be ok.

Also, you could ask them how it will appear on the transcript: will there just be a "w" there, or something else?

Don't assume that they know about LSAC's policies. So make sure it's just a w.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:58 pm
by Tainted_Praise
minnbills wrote:
Tainted_Praise wrote:
Bildungsroman wrote:W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.

How will I know which one they will consider it as...?
If you can just walk into the registrar's office and withdraw, without having to give them the: "I'm failing" explanation- you'll probably be ok.

Also, you could ask them how it will appear on the transcript: will there just be a "w" there, or something else?

Don't assume that they know about LSAC's policies. So make sure it's just a w.
Thanks for this. That's how the system works over here. And to the poster who asked if I have applied yet, no I have not.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:02 am
by minnbills
Tainted_Praise wrote:
minnbills wrote:
Tainted_Praise wrote:
Bildungsroman wrote:W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.

How will I know which one they will consider it as...?
If you can just walk into the registrar's office and withdraw, without having to give them the: "I'm failing" explanation- you'll probably be ok.

Also, you could ask them how it will appear on the transcript: will there just be a "w" there, or something else?

Don't assume that they know about LSAC's policies. So make sure it's just a w.
Thanks for this. That's how the system works over here. And to the poster who asked if I have applied yet, no I have not.
I had to do it once my freshman year, be prepared to lose some cash though. This late in the semester you'll be unlikely to get much back.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:04 am
by Tainted_Praise
Thanks for this. That's how the system works over here. And to the poster who asked if I have applied yet, no I have not.[/quote]

I had to do it once my freshman year, be prepared to lose some cash though. This late in the semester you'll be unlikely to get much back.[/quote][/quote]

Losing some cash now.... Or not getting into law school and making any cash in the future. A sacrifice I am willing to make. Thanks for the heads up. And thanks for all of the responses everyone.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:10 am
by NCtoDC
Tainted_Praise wrote:Thanks for this. That's how the system works over here. And to the poster who asked if I have applied yet, no I have not.
I had to do it once my freshman year, be prepared to lose some cash though. This late in the semester you'll be unlikely to get much back.[/quote][/quote]

Losing some cash now.... Or not getting into law school and making any cash in the future. A sacrifice I am willing to make. Thanks for the heads up. And thanks for all of the responses everyone.[/quote]

I had 3 withdrawals on my transcript (although I had a good reason for them (divorce)). You need to check with your school to see how they will list it on your transcript. Depending on how late in the semester it is, the school could list it as a punitive withdrawal. In the admissions process I don't feel it hurt me at all (due to the number of W's on my transcript I did write an addendum about it). However, with only 1 there would be no need to write an addendum.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:18 am
by HBK
I used to register for an extra class most semesters. The one I liked least, I'd drop. I had like 5 Q or W drops, and I don't think it hurt me one bit.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:47 am
by lovejopd
Depending on school system. I think it is too late. You might get WF, which is punitive. Check your syllabus. It will tell you everything. Or If you are going to get WF(which is 0-do NOT do it) Seriously beg your professor to give you extension or let you make it up...It is serious man~ :x

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:56 am
by ArthurDigbySellers
Nvm

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:58 am
by ArthurDigbySellers
minnbills wrote:What if you dropped a course the day after the semester started? You would have a W.
Is that actually common practice? Here you have until the 6th or 7th week of classes to drop without a W or any record of it on your transcript

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:59 am
by ArthurDigbySellers
Bildungsroman wrote:W looks better than D/F as long as LSAC doesn't count it as a punitive W.
My W didn't count as a punitive W, I think maybe a WF would but I guess it varies

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:22 am
by alexonfyre
You can check with your institution, but at my school I had over 8 W's throughout my time there and none of them showed up on my LSAC report whatsoever (not punitive or otherwise.)
I don't really know what the deal is, but I am just glad I don't have to write any addendums.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:24 pm
by YaSvoboden
This has pretty much been said. But bottom line, if your institution doesn't count the W in your GPA, LSAC won't either. Even if it does say WF, WNP, etc.

http://www.lsac.org/policies/transcript ... zation.asp

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:27 pm
by limelightwave
I had always heard that more than one "W" would count against you in your LSDAS GPA, but I had 2, and mine wasn't changed by that at all. I'd say take the "W." Way better than a D or an F

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:05 pm
by suspicious android
Withdrawals don't look so great, but I wouldn't worry about it. Some people really like them, which I have never quite understood. Just depends on the guy you're with.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:10 pm
by EdmundBurke23
i have a bunch of withdrawals on my transcript. but they all occurred during the first two years of college. i think it's important to show that you somewhat followed through with your courses during the latter stages of your undergraduate education. but that's just me.

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:32 pm
by polevaulter
Tainted_Praise wrote:I've never had ANY withdrawals in my years of college, and I am in my fourth year, last semester. I decided to pile a bunch of classes on to make sure I would graduate on time. I was so caught up with the LSAT that I totally forgot to do a paper for one of my classes! I'm thinking of just withdrawing.... Because if he doesn't let me make it up... That's pretty much an automatic D/F.... Is it really going to look that bad? Be honest. I can take it. :/
I've had several "W's" in my college career and they never hurt me. I figure it this way: take the "W" and save your GPA!

Re: How bad does a withdrawal look?

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:35 pm
by polevaulter
limelightwave wrote:I had always heard that more than one "W" would count against you in your LSDAS GPA, but I had 2, and mine wasn't changed by that at all. I'd say take the "W." Way better than a D or an F
That's a definite myth...It never changed mine either.

As for taking a course "Pass/Fail"...those can sink your GPA if you don't get a "Pass" at the end of the semester.