<p>Ds is a freshman. He placed out of 2 calc classes through AP and is in the 3rd and struggling. He asked our advice about dropping it b/c he’s worried it will hurt his GPA. I think he’ll pass, thought. He has a few more weeks to decide. Is there any conventional wisdom on withdrawing from a class rather than finishing and having a lower GPA? I never dropped a class when I was in college, but that was the stone age. Do kids often drop classes these days?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Probably depends on why he is taking the class, and what he needs to take next. If this is a premed req, a poor grade makes a difference. If he is planning to take more math and will need to build on this foundation, sounds like he should consider dropping it and taking a step back to one of the levels he placed out of. </p>
<p>I’ve gotten the impression here over the years that a LOT of premeds and STEM types do not take the most advanced class they can place into via AP for this sort of reason.</p>
<p>If he drops the class will he still have enough credits to be considered a full time student?</p>
<p>I dropped two classes when I was in college. One was a spanish class that I was not prepared for-- I maybe could have scraped through but I had another spanish class I needed to take afterward that I definitely wouldn’t pass. So I dropped so I could retake an earlier class to get the foundation I was missing. I’d already passed that class with a good grade and my professor was mystified how I could be unprepared, but the truth was I’d coasted through that class without really learning the material, so I needed to go back and do it right. That was the first class I ever took where the professor told us we would have to study, study, study and it actually turned out to be true to me, it humbled me and it was an important lesson. The other class was a poli sci class that was just too damn hard. Three weeks into the class I was still struggling with the second half of the first weeks reading and not understanding a word, I didn’t need the class, I didn’t need the information, I dropped it in favor of an easier course in the same subject.</p>
<p>I felt, and still feel, that I made the right decision both times. I didn’t make a habit of ducking and running from a challenge, but sometimes you have to cut your losses and re-strategize. My parents, who did not pay for the courses, were REALLY mad. But, in some cases I think dropping is the right thing. It really depends on the circumstances.</p>
<p>This is a lesson in not worrying about something before it happens. Ds is feeling better about Calc than he did last week. His last test score (and the curve) were better than he thought. Thanks for your input!</p>