Explaining withdrawal

Published

Hi everybody,

Im applying to nursing school, and my GPA is great. However, i do have 9 withdrawal classes. 5 of them I withdrawal them because I found a spot in a better class (example: I was taking college algebra, but I wanted to take statistics, after a week of enrolling statistics became available so i dropped college algebra and took statistics) the other classes were chemistry and A&P (I dropped them twice). I know, its really bad but I wasn't doing doing well the first time, the second time I had ok grades, but I didn't feel like I was learning the material. Im not a good test-taker, but I been working on that. The school Im applying to needs a one page statement why I want to go there, and im thinking to talk about why I withdrawal. But, I am not very sure how to talk about without making myself sound bad.

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

If the topic of your essay is supposed to be why you want to go to school there, I wouldn't use it as an opportunity to explain your withdrawals. Look at their admissions policy on withdrawals and see how it will affect you. Some schools don't allow withdrawals at all. Others will allow a maximum of 2 in the same course. Some have a cap on the number of withdrawals period (regardless of which course). You'll need to see what your school's policy is on this.

Good luck on your essay :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I met with an advisor, and he said that the best was to talk about my withdrawals becausr everything seems great but the admission office may question the withdrawals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I understand you were advised to discuss it, but I agree with Soprano that if the statement is supposed to be about why you want to attend that program I don't think I would bring attention to the WDs until it came up. Alternatively, if you feel the need to then I would perhaps include it minimally and just be direct and honest and state what you have learned or how you have changed in an effort to explain why this would not be an issue moving forward.

Your school charges you with a withdrawal during the add/drop period? I realize all schools are different, but I've never seen that before personally. That's crazy to me. If you changed a class during the time it was allowed which is the same time people can still enroll late, etc that should not constitute a withdrawal. That's tough. In any event I would definitely focus more attention on why you want to attend and just make the withdrawal section short and sweet with an emphasis on how you've grown since. Regarding the WDs themselves I'm sure that they would look for accountability and personal growth.

Hope it all works out for you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I too had many withdrawals from courses as I was young and immature at the time. When I applied to school I attached an addendum to my application and it was about 2-3 paragraphs long and it discussed why I had so many withdrawals and what I did to rectify the situation. I made an appointment with the admitting department and explained why I added the addendum and they said they would consider the information provided. A few weeks later I received an acceptance letter, so write the essay about WHY you want to go to the school and write an addendum sheet explaining your academic history. Best of Luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I too had many withdrawals from courses as I was young and immature at the time. When I applied to school I attached an addendum to my application and it was about 2-3 paragraphs long and it discussed why I had so many withdrawals and what I did to rectify the situation. I made an appointment with the admitting department and explained why I added the addendum and they said they would consider the information provided. A few weeks later I received an acceptance letter, so write the essay about WHY you want to go to the school and write an addendum sheet explaining your academic history. Best of Luck

That's a great idea!! Thank you so much! Ik it may be weird, but do you mind if I see yours? I just want to get an idea of how to write it. I want to be honest, but I don't want to make myself sound bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.
That's a great idea!! Thank you so much! Ik it may be weird, but do you mind if I see yours? I just want to get an idea of how to write it. I want to be honest, but I don't want to make myself sound bad.

I do not have a copy of it anymore as that was a couple of years ago but I mentioned the many withdrawals/failures and how I was young and immature and thought I was ready for something that I most clearly was not. I mentioned that since that time I have retaken those courses and maintained a 3.5 GPA and that I find myself at a better place than I was when I was 17. Be honest, discuss what YOU have done to turn things around.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I do not have a copy of it anymore as that was a couple of years ago but I mentioned the many withdrawals/failures and how I was young and immature and thought I was ready for something that I most clearly was not. I mentioned that since that time I have retaken those courses and maintained a 3.5 GPA and that I find myself at a better place than I was when I was 17. Be honest, discuss what YOU have done to turn things around.

Thank you!!! I will :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion