Transferring with a Withdraw

Transfer Students
1

Hello everyone!

I’m a student at Colgate University looking to transfer schools…I have a number of reasons why, but one of the most prominent is that my family’s gone through quite a bit of hardship recently, and while I initially liked that Gate was so isolated and gave me space from my relatives, I no longer feel the same (we’ve had several deaths in the family within the last year, and while we were always close, losing my loved ones has reminded me how much I love being with my family…honestly, being at Gate is pretty lonely with them several states away, so I was hoping to be a little closer).

I was thinking about transferring either to Boston University or Boston College (I applied to both my senior year and got in, but turned them down because I thought I preferred Colgate’s intense rural setting). I like both schools, but am revisiting them soon just to get an idea of which one I’d prefer (my cousin went to BU and she really liked it, as did I, but BC is less in the city and has more campus, so I’m a little torn right now).

Anyways, right now I’m taking four classes at Colgate, one of them a lab science. It’s a computer science course, and I hate it! It’s immensely difficult, and while I’ve gone to tutoring, seen my professor countless times, and even talked with classmates and a senior friend of mine majoring in the subject, I just can’t wrap my head around it! I want to withdraw…I have a C+ now (barely…I have a 76.7 when a C+ starts at 77), and while I want to bring it up I can’t imagine it going higher than a B, tops (I’m aiming at B-…an 80-82).

Thing is, I’m a Creative Writing major. I’m taking an English course now that i’m so far doing well in, as well as an acting course which I am also doing well in, and a required core course that has no grades but that I understand the material in and hope to excel in, once we get grades. So…comp. sci. isn’t my thing, nor is it something I’m pursuing in the future…would either of these schools hold it against me if I withdrew from the class to save my average? Or should I stick it out and just hope to keep a B- (I’m aiming at an A in all my other classes, which from what my professors have told me is very possible so long as I just keep putting a lot of effort in and excelling in my work).

Thoughts?I’m also going to post something in the “Transfer Fall 2018 Chances” board (for BU and BC) here, just to get an idea…

*Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Colgate, it’s a wonderful school! I just feel like I didn’t really imagine how far away I would be from my family (I’m very family-oriented, we’re no stifling each other but we are very close), and after these recent losses (one of them was my mother), I can’t stand being so far away (also in case anyone is wondering, I did talk to a grief counselor about my transfer thoughts and why I felt the way I did, and she said it’s a perfectly normal thing, so don’t think that I’m making any rash decisions without really thinking it through. I also, as I said, have other reasons to transfer, I just mention my family because it’s one of the bigger reasons).

Um…yeah so I think that’s it! Please let me know how a transfer grade would look on my transcript, like I said I’m working hard and striving to get A’s, which are within my grasp…I thought that since comp. sci. wasn’t anywhere near my major, I would fair better than if I withdrew from an English or similar course. I only had about three weeks to decide to pull out of the course, too, so any opinions and whatnot are greatly appreciated!

**I’ll also update this board with replies in case I forget anything, or to address any questions people may have. Sorry if I seem a little enthusiastic, it’s just I’m rather nervous and would really appreciate some advice.

2

I would imagine that one “W” wouldn’t harm you at all, especially since it has nothing to do with your major.

3

A single withdrawal won’t hurt you as much as a lower GPA. And since BU and BC are fairly competitive to transfer to, I think it’s worth getting the W.

4

Thanks @TransferStalker. I did end up withdrawing, especially since after a few new grades my grade dropped even more :frowning: Do you have any other advice for someone looking to transfer, particularly to BU and BC (my top choice)?

5

Well, the only advice I can offer is the obvious: keep your grades up, and make sure you’re on top of the deadlines and requirements.

Best of luck!

6

Hey I’m actually in a similar situation. I’m taking 17 credits right now as a first year and am applying to UVA and other top schools for next fall. I have a 4.0 in transferable courses at my CC, except for one class ENG 111. I have a 90% right now and I’m sure it’s only going to go down. Do you think I should save my 4.0 and take the “W” or stay and have my GPA go down to 3.80? Keep in mind, perfect GPA’s usually end up getting into UVA easily, but I’m seriously worried that if I stay I’m going to risk myself not getting in.

7

I mean honestly, @Swahilli, it would depend on your other stats, but if you’re getting a 90 and can see that lasting or going up even by the semester’s end I wouldn’t withdraw. I only did it because I had no choice–I had a 77 that went down to a 75, was destroying my GPA, and would have ruined my chances. A 90 in college is definitely not going to hurt you. If anything, I would think a 90 would only be an A-, which wouldn’t put your GPA down that much (my calculator shows a 3.93, though that could just be different systems).

Anyway, if you have good essays, good EC’s, and such good grades, assuming English isn’t going to go down in the next semester, I’d say leave it. It’s far better to have a 90 than a withdraw–they could assume you were failing, rather than getting a 90.

8

Alright thank you for your input. I’m just worried because if by the off chance that the grade becomes a B and my GPA drops to a 3.8, my chances for UVA are already drop a ton. I’m just going crazy over the whole numbers game when it comes to college. I’ll definitely take your advice on this though and fight through it and keep over a 90. Thanks once again dude, it helps getting some reinsurance or criticism from other fellow students.

9

A single withdrawal is not a cause for alarm. If you’re that worried, you could always include a brief addendum. Good luck!

10

@Swahilli Not a problem! I based my answer off of what I’ve seen others answer on this site. I wish you the best of luck, and if you find later you do need to withdraw, then do what’s best for you and your chances :slight_smile: Good luck!

11

@thetransfercoach Thanks! I withdrew from the course, and will explain it on my application (mentioning that while I wasn’t failing, the course negatively impacted my GPA despite my best efforts to correct the issue). Thank you!

12

Where exactly do we explain a withdrawal? Im not sure which part on the application is reserved for that.

13

Don’t explain it. It’s fine.

14

I was in the same boat when applying as a transfer student to umich - I dropped a course that wasn’t directly related to the major I wanted to pursue. I wound up explaining this over email to a transfer admissions counselor, which wouldn’t hurt for you to do, and was still accepted with the W and a couple of bad but passing grades in courses that weren’t applicable to my major. Good luck!

15

@Swahilli In the Common App, there is a section in the same place as the essay (I believe it’s under a different tab), which is noted as “Additional Details.” You can use this space to write about anything else you think is important enough that a college should know about. For me, I’m mentioning the Withdrawal in the section, just touching on why I did so and what it means to me as a student (it wasn’t a class for my major, I couldn’t keep up, etc.)

@itsgettingreal17 I would disagree. The two schools I’ve spoken with so far, when I mentioned my withdrawal, suggested that I mark it in the “Additional Details” section. Assuming that most schools only put “Withdrawal” rather than “Withdraw Passing/Failing” on a transcript, it would be beneficial, in the words of the admissions directors I spoke with, to be totally transparent as to why a student withdrew. Some colleges may assume that you withdrew because you were failing, which is not something you want. I find it’s better to explain a withdrawal if given the opportunity, because just leaving a “W” on a transcript can lead them to consider scenarios that may not be entirely accurate (like that you were failing).

@idkwhatimdoinglol Thanks for the advice! I was already planning on writing it in the additional details section, but an email would serve well, too. Your experience is also really reassuring :slight_smile:

16

Thanks for letting me know of that tab. Didn’t realize that the “additional details” tab was there. I’ll be sure to discuss my reasons for Withdrawal