Chemistry requirement... Withdrawal?

x_factor · Nov 4, 2012

Did you know the Chemistry class you are in now wasn't a pre-req for the program? If so, I'm not sure why you would choose to take a non-required Chemistry class as basically an elective, only to drop it. However, if it's not a requirement, and you are currently getting a C, I would probably drop it. However, if you withdraw, you need to re-take the required Chemistry class next semester. If you do that, most schools will not care much about the W as long as you re-take the right class, but I would still check with your school first before making any decisions. Each school is different, some won't care as much about W's, some are very picky about them.

brenay · Nov 4, 2012

Did you know the Chemistry class you are in now wasn't a pre-req for the program? If so, I'm not sure why you would choose to take a non-required Chemistry class as basically an elective, only to drop it. However, if it's not a requirement, and you are currently getting a C, I would probably drop it. However, if you withdraw, you need to re-take the required Chemistry class next semester. If you do that, most schools will not care much about the W as long as you re-take the right class, but I would still check with your school first before making any decisions. Each school is different, some won't care as much about W's, some are very picky about them.

Yes, I knew that the Chem class I am in now was not a requirement. It's an introductory class. Once again, I've never taken Chemistry before. I had no prior knowledge of the subject. Why would I have taken General Chemistry when I have no background in it? I thought that would be an epic failure. The REQUIRED chemistry class is GENERAL CHEMISTRY. I can't retake it as you mentioned because I've never taken it before. You can't retake a class that you've never taken. Next semester will be my first time taking General Chemistry which is the required pre req. You didn't understand my question but that's for trying to answer it anyway! :-)

rubato, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2012

Does your school only look at the prereq grades? If so, I don't know if I'd drop the class. You are learning and the W will probably count against you, at least at some schools. I guess I need more info. How do Ws affect your admission vs. how does a non prereq affect your admission?

brenay · Nov 4, 2012

Does your school only look at the prereq grades? If so, I don't know if I'd drop the class. You are learning and the W will probably count against you, at least at some schools. I guess I need more info. How do Ws affect your admission vs. how does a non prereq affect your admission?

I think that the W will not affect me because the class is not required. I am basically taking it as a warm up class for General Chemistry. The intro class is a non prereq. Now if the class was a pre req then it would affect me.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2012

Are you going for ADN or BSN? I ask because I took both levels of Chemistry and its probably wise to do, especially if you never took chemistry before. So I took Introductory Chemistry and then next semester took General Chemistry. Depending on the school intro chem may be a prereq before you take general chemistry and in any case it builds on the same concepts.

Also note in your actual nurse application you only need to put the higher level chem course and just leave out the introduction course because it is not a prereq and it wont count against your prereq gpa calculations. I got a C in introductory Chemistry however I got an A in General Chemistry, strange huh?, the C grade was not on my application. I would figure out what went wrong in your last test and keep at it try to get a B. Save possibly withdrawals for necessities only and consider if you dont get the concepts of intro chemistry why do you think you can do better in General Chem??? if you do decide to withdraw it will not affect your application, as long as you dont make a habit of it.

Also if you are on a Pell Grant you have to complete more than 60% of the class before withdrawing else you may have to pay it back, so find your withdrawal date, but dont withdraw too early, you generally have to wait until last couple of days. A lot of withdrawals can affect your financial aid. That depends on your current schools withdrawal policies, so ask your school advisor about this.

brenay · Nov 4, 2012

Are you going for ADN or BSN? I ask because I took both levels of Chemistry and its probably wise to do, especially if you never took chemistry before. So I took Introductory Chemistry and then next semester took General Chemistry. Depending on the school intro chem may be a prereq before you take general chemistry and in any case it builds on the same concepts.
Also note in your actual nurse application you only need to put the higher level chem course and just leave out the introduction course because it is not a prereq and it wont count against your prereq gpa calculations. I got a C in introductory Chemistry however I got an A in General Chemistry, strange huh?, the C grade was not on my application. I would figure out what went wrong in your last test and keep at it try to get a B. Save possibly withdrawals for necessities only and consider if you dont get the concepts of intro chemistry why do you think you can do better in General Chem??? if you do decide to withdraw it will not affect your application, as long as you dont make a habit of it.
Also if you are on a Pell Grant you have to complete more than 60% of the class before withdrawing else you may have to pay it back, so find your withdrawal date, but dont withdraw too early, you generally have to wait until last couple of days. A lot of withdrawals can affect your financial aid. That depends on your current schools withdrawal policies, so ask your school advisor about this.

That's just it... I DO get Introductory Chemistry so I know I'll get General Chemistry. So that's what makes me know I'll succeed. I'm withdrawing because I do not want a C.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2012

To be more direct....NO having 1 W will not affect your nursing application. I had 2 W's, just don't take W's for granted is all I was saying. A&P 2 and Algebra are two very time consuming courses. Plan your next semester carefully and try to get only A's will bring your gpa up.

zoe92 · Nov 4, 2012

When do your classes end for this semester? If I were you I would just bust my butt, try to get a B in my classes, & not withdraw. Getting a C will look better than a W, especially if you are doing general chemistry later & do well.

brenay · Nov 4, 2012

When do your classes end for this semester? If I were you I would just bust my butt, try to get a B in my classes, & not withdraw. Getting a C will look better than a W, especially if you are doing general chemistry later & do well.

We have 1 more test & then a final. Getting a B is not gonna be impossible but I like to be realistic. How will a W look worser than a C?

x_factor · Nov 4, 2012

I think a C will look much worse than a single W. Many nursing programs are extremely selective, and having any C's on a transcript can lower the chances of acceptance. 3 schools I am looking to apply to next year state that a 2.8GPA is the minimum, however the lowest average GPA accepted is a 3.6 at two of them and a 3.7 at the other. That's an A/B average with maybe 1 C thrown in. I've even had advisors tell me at the school I am at now that if I make any C's in a class (I'm currently all A's with a 4.0) to consider repeating the class.

Take the W if you think you'll end with a C. Not all schools look at just pre-req GPA, some do look at cumulative.

Also, you need to look into why you made a C in Intro Chemistry. You say you will do better in General Chem, but remember it gets much harder. If you made a C in Intro, you need to focus on why, and make sure those mistakes arent repeated in General Chem. Because a C, or worse, in General Chem will not look good considering it's a required pre-req for your program.

zoe92 · Nov 4, 2012

That's just it... I DO get Introductory Chemistry so I know I'll get General Chemistry. So that's what makes me know I'll succeed. I'm withdrawing because I do not want a C.

If you do get introductory chemistry then why did you bomb a test, resulting in your overall grade being a C? Anyways, you seem like you know what you want to do. So just withdraw and move on to general chemistry. But I agree with x_factor, be aware of why you got that C and what concept led to you doing badly on your exam. Good luck!