What Should You Consider Before Dropping a College Course?

Then something happens. You're asked to take on more hours at your part-time job, or health, personal or family issues rear their heads. Or maybe, you've just found yourself in a course where you're struggling. Perhaps the class doesn't interest you and you're finding it hard to concentrate. Maybe the subject matter is one that you find especially difficult. Sometimes, it may not even be difficulty in a particular course that creates problems. You've just bitten off more than you can chew and can't seem to stay on top of all of your classes.

Whatever the reason, you are considering dropping a course. What should you think through in making this decision? What are the possible consequences of removing the class from your schedule? What will happen if you do try to stick it out?

Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines

The first thing you'll need to do find out whether you can drop the class. Most colleges and universities allow student to drop selected courses, but only up to a certain point in the semester. Before you go any further, look at your school's registration deadlines or talk to the Registrar's office to find out how long you have to make your decision.

NON-ACADEMIC CONSIDERATIONS

In a perfect world, the only thing you would need to consider as a student is how well you're doing academically. But reality is far from perfect, so you may need to weigh other factors.

Enrollment Verification

Oftentimes, students need to be able to provide a third party with verification that they are enrolled in college. The most common reason for this is health insurance. If your insurance is provided by your parents' coverage plan and you are 18 or over, the provider may ask for proof that you are taking classes. In fact, "taking classes" may not be enough. They may wish to know that you are registered for a full-time course load.

On average, a full-time course load is 12 or more credit hours, and most courses range from 3-4 credits. So if you are enrolled in 15 credits and decide to drop a single 3-credit course, you can still get verification from your registrar's office that you are a full-time student. But if you are only enrolled in 12 credits and drop a class, then you become a part-time.

While this is the standard for credit loads at many colleges, each school is different. Some may determine full-time versus part-time enrollment through units or other methods. Check with your Registrar's Office if you aren't clear on the policies.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The method you use to pay for college can impact your ability to drop courses. Many student loans, grants and scholarships have stipulations that require their recipients to be enrolled full-time. If you drop down to a part-time course load, you may lose a scholarship or find yourself required to make payments on your student loan.

If you are receiving any type of tuition assistance, it is best to check with your Financial Aid or Scholarships office before dropping coursework.

Housing

If you live on campus, also check your school's policies regarding residence. It may be that you must be full-time in order to live in a dorm or campus apartment.

Check both Policies and Schedules

Should health insurance, financial aid or campus housing be issues for you, don't automatically assume that you can't drop a course.

It may be that not only your current course load but your intentions for the semester will be considered. For example, your school's residential life office may require that you be enrolled full-time for at least the first month of the semester, but allow flexibility to drop courses part-way through as long as you were in at least 12 credits up to that point.

When in doubt, ask. The worst that can happen is that the answer will be "sorry, no can do."

ACADEMIC CONSIDERATIONS

When it comes right down to it, the most important questions to ask yourself are whether you have the potential to pull up your grade in the course, and how dropping it will impact your progress towards graduation.

Is the course a requirement for your major or program?

Why did you enroll in the class? Is it a requirement for your major, or were you just taking it to maintain a certain credit load or meet a general requirement that could be satisfied with a different class?

If you are enrolled in Anatomy and Physiology because it is a specific requirement for your program, then you'll either be taking it at some point or changing your major. Will later be any better than now?

If, however, you are taking Anatomy and Physiology not for your major but because your university requires that all students take a science course of some sort, you may have more flexibility. You need to complete a science course, but it doesn't have to be that one. If you drop it, you can select a different course to meet the requirement down the road.

Is the course a prerequisite for another course?

Maybe you're in calculus because you really want to take a computer programming course next semester. You are required to pass calculus with at least a C before the computer science department will let you register for the programming class. If that's the case, you're going to have to put off taking programming until you can finish calculus. Are you willing to do that?

"Time to degree"

When academic advisors talk about "time to degree," they generally mean how long it will take a student to graduate. Will you take, four, five or more years to complete all the classes you need for your program and other general requirements?

If you drop a course that wasn't a specific requirement for your major, you may not impact your time to degree at all. You can simply select better course options and enroll in an extra class in a future semester, or take an elective over the summer to make up the difference in credits. If a course is a requirement for you, then it may set you back a bit more. This is especially true if the course is a prerequisite for something else you need to take.

Discuss Your Options with an Advisor

If you aren't sure how a particular course impacts your degree program, review your school's catalog and talk with your academic advisor. Your advisor should be able to help you plot out your degree progress and make the right decision about the class.

STAYING ON (AND IN) THE COURSE

So, after considering both academic and non-academic factors you've decided to stay in the course. Maybe enrollment restrictions in your situation won't allow you to do otherwise. Maybe you've decided to buckle down and master the course material. What next?

Talk to Your Professor

Let the professor know that you were concerned enough about your performance in the class to consider dropping it. Discuss your problem areas and get your professor's recommendations. Ask if there are study groups or additional support outside of class available to you.

Use Your Resources

Join or start a study group. Take you professor up on any offers of additional help or recommended reading. Find out whether your campus offers tutoring services in the course material. Trim the fat from your schedule so that you have more time to focus on the class, even if that means hiding from your friends for a few weekends or cutting back on hours at your part-time job.

Grade options

If you continue to be concerned about your academic performance in the course and are afraid you'll end up with a poor grade on your transcript, explore other options. There may be none. But in some cases, you may be able to change your grading method in the course from "regular," meaning you earn an A, B, C, D or F, to a pass/fail option. With pass/fail grading, you either get a "P" for passing or the dreaded "F" if you fail. You may decide you prefer a "P" to a "C" or a "D."

Talk to your advisor or your Registrar's Office if you are considering changing your grade method to pass/fail. It may be that if a course is required for your program or you need the credits to count towards your degree, then you must take it for a regular grade.

Each school is different. At the university where I work, students can have up to 4 pass/fail courses applied toward their total credits as long as the courses themselves are electives and not specific major or general requirements, and a pass ranges from A-D level work. At another college, you may need to do "C" level work to earn a "Pass."

Incompletes

Some colleges allow the option of taking "incompletes" in courses. An incomplete basically means that due to extenuating circumstances, you and your professor have worked out an arrangement where you will submit certain required course materials or take exams after the end of the course. While this doesn't help you master the course material, it might allow you more time to focus once you have finished your other classes.

Incompletes are not options at all schools. Even if they are a practice at yours, whether or not you can take an "incomplete" is often entirely up to your professor. In most cases, you have to complete the majority of the course assignments in order to even consider an "incomplete." If you do not follow through with the rest of the material, your "I" grade becomes a failure.

Repeats

Always understand your school's repeat policies. Of course you will succeed and pull off the grade you want. But just in case, know what you'll need to do in order to take the course again to meet your degree requirements and improve your GPA. Understand that in most cases, even if you do repeat a course and earn a better grade, the first attempt also stays on your record forever.

Dropping another course

Maybe you have decided to stay in the course you're struggling with because you need it for your degree. If so, can you consider dropping an elective class from your schedule? Doing so may free up more time to focus on the required course.

DROPPING THE COURSE

Again, Talk to the Professor

After careful consideration, you decide that your best course of action is to drop the course. You can already feel the relief running through your veins.

Make a point to let the professor know your intentions, especially if this is a course you'll need to sign up for again. Chances are, the same professor will be teaching it, and will appreciate knowing your situation. Ask the professor whether there are things you can read or review between now and your next attempt at the course to help you be better prepared.

Making Up the Lost Course

If the course is not a required one for you, then maybe you don't even need to figure this one out. You can take an extra credit load later, or maybe enroll in a summer course to regain the lost credits.

But if the course is required for your degree, you will need to face it someday. Follow up on any recommended reading or study guides. Get pointers from other students who have completed the course. Talk to your advisor about planning an easier set of courses for the semester you do take the course again. Or consider taking the course in the summer, when you can focus on it and it alone.

A "W" on Your Transcript

Dropping a course may result in a "W" on your transcript. A "W" is an indicator that you were originally enrolled in the course but did not complete it. While a "W" is not the best thing to have on your transcript, it is better than a failing or poor grade. As long as you don't have a pattern of withdrawing from courses on your record, most potential employers or graduate schools do not frown on them too heavily.

Many students find themselves in the position of having to drop a course somewhere along the way. Having it happen to you is not necessarily a reflection of your dedication to your studies or your academic abilities. Learn from your experience and use what you've learned in your future course planning and study habits. Part of the college experience is taking responsibility for your own schedule, and doing what needs to be done if you have to make up lost time along the way.