Effect of a grade of 'W'

[tu_hopeful]

I'm a freshman at Towson University in my second semester. Today is the last day to withdraw from a course without a grade being posted to my transcript, so a grade of 'W' (and the pass/fail date has passed). I have an online Dance 125 class that fulfills my Global Perspectives core. I am also taking a Religious Studies 105 class that also fulfills the Global Perspectives core (I made a mistake when enrolling, I didn't realize that core was covered twice). Anyway, because the Dance 125 class was completely online, I neglected its work and am not going to receive a grade that I want included in my GPA. I have the core it fulfills covered by the religion class, so I'm not worried about that. So my question is, what does a grade of 'W' look like on a transcript when applying to the nursing program? Would it cause me to not be accepted?

[queserasera, RN]

I think it's always better to withdraw than get a poor grade. If its the only one shouldn't be a prob especially for a humanities class.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

If anything, it will affect your financial aid. It really depends on the program. Each program has different requirements. You will need to talk to an advisor and also a financial aid person if you get it. You have to have a 65% completion rate to continue to get it.

[RunBabyRN]

Different schools look at Ws differently. Mine doesn't care, but the community college where I did my prereqs really frowns upon them when you apply to their ADN program.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

While each school has their own policies about considering "W" marks, I would highly suggest not getting any more of them. Do your due diligence to ensure that you're taking the classes you need to progress toward your goals. Also make sure you do well in your classes, especially early on. If you keep your GPA well up now, you will be better able to "weather" a bad grade later because the further you go along, the harder it is to change your GPA in either direction. If you do poorly early, then you'll be chasing your GPA in an attempt to raise it to an acceptable level and that can take a LONG time.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

It depends on the schools you apply to regarding how "W" would be regarded. In our program, you can't have more than 2 Ws in the same course, however, the W doesn't count against your GPA. You'll need to ask the academic or admissions advisor at the school you want to apply to how they view a W in the admissions process to the program. Most just simply don't count the class or limit the number you have in the same subject/class.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day, tu_hopeful:

At the community college I'm attending -- that uses a point system for its nursing program --- they give extra points if you don't have a "W" in specific classes; there's no specific penalty. At a nearby nursing school that doesn't use a point system, but accepts transfers from the community college, to my knowledge there's no impact of a "W" in terms of what transfers other than you don't get the credits for that course unless you retake it and get a C or higher.

Thank you.

[verene, MSN]

It really depends on the school and program. I've talked to professors about it and several have told me a "W" looks better than a poor grade, provided you have only one or two, because it shows the foresight to leave a situation you couldn't handle - so be sure to address what was going on in your admissions essay or interview. That being said, I've had others tell me to avoid them. I unfortunately have two (one from many years ago doing my undergrad) and one from last quarter when I unexpectedly gained employment and couldn't handle my original class schedule. We'll see in the future if they come back to bite me.

I would suggest talking to an adviser who is familiar with your school, and the acceptance factors for the nursing program you want to apply to, and who can go over your particular situation with you.