Hi! I’m currently a high school senior who has already applied to colleges. I am taking a sociology course for fun, but it turns out I don’t have enough time for the course. I want to drop the course because I don’t want to risk getting a bad grade in it due to the lack of time I can commit (btw I’m taking 7 other classes, have a job, do a sport, and consistently go to 2 internships as well). How would dropping this course impact my chances of getting into college (the UCs and CSUs)?
You’re a senior. They won’t even know. If you meet all their academic requirements, I can’t imagine it will impact at all as your years through 11 are what matters grade wise.they will check your final transcript to ensure you meet their requirements.
When you get to college, don’t overdo it. Learn from this.
Best of luck.
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If you drop a course that you listed as in-progress or planned on your college applications, you need to inform the colleges that you did so. If a college has already admitted you, ask them if dropping will cause them to rescind or re-evaluate your admission.
You do not want to surprise the college you matriculate to next summer when your final transcripts are missing a course that you listed as in-progress or planned on your application.
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Agree with @ucbalumnus If you listed the class on your application you should notify every school you are waiting for a decision from in writing that you are dropping the course. If you have any acceptances in hand, you need to notify those schools as well (it is best to first check in advance and get it in writing that dropping the class will not jeopardize your acceptance). You don’t want a situation where your final transcript does not match your listed coursework.
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The drop deadline for the course (so that it wouldn’t be listed as a W or NM) is on Sunday so I likely wouldn’t get a response from any colleges before then. Should I still email them asking if it would lead to my acceptance being rescinded even though most of them have 60%+ acceptances?
I don’t work for the admissions departments so cannot responsibly give an opinion on this.
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If it is not required I don’t understand why it would have any impact on admission, but am also not an admissions person. Just let them know . It’s an issue of honesty in the materials you have submitted, so just call or email. Personally, I would call so your anxiety is relieved (don’t talk to a student). It seems like a good decision to me in the context you have described. You don’t sound like an underachiever!
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For the UC’s, 5 campuses will accept schedule changes now. For the other campuses you will need to notify them after your decisions are posted. As @ucbalumnus stated they do not like surprises. To notify the campuses, read section 2 on this link: After you apply | UC Admissions
For the CSU’s email the campuses so they will have a record of the drop. Make sure you keep all documentation you receive.
If the class is not required, it should not be an issue but it is important the schools are notified before you send final transcripts.
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Yes, tell the schools but as long as you met your social science requirement, given you took this class on your own (ie it’s not a part of your curriculum) - it’s certainly likely to be a nothing burger. Did you even note you were taking it on your apps ? Maybe you decided to take it after you applied.
Where are you taking the class?
I’d drop it - you’ve taken on too much. And let them know. But as long as you met your UC social science requirement, I’m sure you’ll be fine. This wouldn’t be the reason a school would say no.
Most kids worry about taking too few. You’ve taken too many.
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Why do you mean by “low grade”?
The colleges will be making their decisions before they get grades for this class. Unless you suddenly put up several BAD grades, they are not going to withdraw an offer of admission.
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