<p>I’ll just point out that yes, while freshmen should be able to trust that an advisor will give good and appropriate advice, having a bad advisor is no excuse to have failed a class. </p>
<p>Yes, freshmen have a lot on their plates. But then again, who doesn’t? That excuse might work for the first month or even for the first exam, but not withdrawing when you are clearly failing raises some serious questions about judgment. </p>
<p>It’s important to realize that at the end of the day, the only name on that transcript is the student’s. If a student can’t be bothered to find out more about their situation and to critically evaluate it, then perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from getting a failing grade.</p>