Withdrawal versus Bad Grades

What would be viewed more favorably by medical schools? Complete withdrawal from a semester or a bunch of Bs and Cs? The withdrawal would be for mental issues. The other semesters are basically all As except one C+ and one W, so overall high GPA (3.9+) assuming withdrawal.

A withdrawal from all classes during a semester is going to require an explanation when you apply. An explanation will be especially important since you already have a W on your record. Are you willing to do that?

Multiple Ws on a transcript over multiple semesters makes you a high risk admission in the eyes of med school adcomms. (Med schools want students who will complete on time.)

OTOH, if the semester will irrecoverably damage your GPA, then you won’t be able to apply.

Both are bad options. Pick the one you feel will do less long-range harm to your chances.

Personally, I think it’s easier to deal a single weak semester (you don’t have to explain–just do better in the future) than a full semester’s worth of Ws (which you will have to explain and offer the adcomm reassurances that the issue has been resolved). YMMV.

What classes are the Bs and Cs in? For example if the Cs are in non science courses and the Bs are in physics and math that’s a very different situation than Cs in two bio courses with Bs in orgo and something random.