Which is better, a B- or a W?

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The withdrawal deadline is coming to a near and I am having a really hard time making this decision. I want to drop one of my classes because I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a B-.. maybe even a C+. NOT SURE YET. It is not a nursing class but if I stick with the B-, it will make a difference to my GPA. When I start my clinicals, I know I won't have a good GPA anymore but I still want to try my best to graduate with at least a 3.5! I'm leaning more towards a W because that class is boring and I have that class early in the morning. This will also be my FIRST W....

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You'll be fine with a B-

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Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.

W's are terrible on the transcript...

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

i just asked my college professor husband, and he said the "w" would be far less damaging to your gpa because a "w" can be explained away very easily. illness, death of a close relative, personal problems,

etc., whereas a "b-" equals an "f" for all practical purposes, if your program requires a full "b" or higher to continue.

you may repeat the course without prejudice after a "w", which may not be true for a "b-" grade.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.

I would take the B-. If you take the W, and questioned about it later down the road, what are going to say "the class was boring and I decided to drop it?" that excuse is not going to fly! Stick with the class and work you butt off in your other classes to bring your GPA back to a 3.5...that is just my two cents on the situation.

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I would take the B-. As one poster said, yes a W can be explained away by death of a family member, severe illness, or any number of extenuating circumstances, however, you are facing none of these according to your post. If you take a W, and are asked down the road to explain it, what are you going to say? You can't lie and say that there was a reason beyond your control that led you to drop the class, and simply saying that the class was boring, and you were unsatisfied with your grade will look much worse than a B-. You said this wasn't a nursing class, but would make a difference on your GPA. A B- will not drop your GPA radically, and if you have a decent GPA to start with, you won't have a problem. I just got accepted into a nursing program which begins in August of 2011, and, at the time of my application, I had a 3.0 GPA. If I were you, I would suck it up, stick the class out, try my hardest, and take the B-.

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B- looks waaaaay better then a W! Have you spoken to a counselor about petitioning to remove a W. I know it can be done. That's an option to look into if you decide to drop the class.

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i just asked my college professor husband, and he said the "w" would be far less damaging to your gpa because a "w" can be explained away very easily. illness, death of a close relative, personal problems,

etc., whereas a "b-" equals an "f" for all practical purposes, if your program requires a full "b" or higher to continue.

you may repeat the course without prejudice after a "w", which may not be true for a "b-" grade.

using a lie to remove a w is ethically inappropriate. it's clear that the op is not interested in the course hence, her grade (which in my opinion, is a decent grade). to the op don't use a lie, as suggested here. it's just simply wrong!!!!!

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

certainly he was not saying any student should lie to receive a "w" grade. that would be unethical and dishonest. instead, what he was saying was that keeping both the admin and the professor updated on the problem/situation that is keeping the student from doing his/her best work. usually, a professor will work with a student who has been honest and aboveboard with him/her from the start. there are obviously exceptions to this statement, but many professors will help students any way possible. my husband has a student whose grandparent is dying, and it is affecting the student's entire semester's work. the student was honest and has received assistance and cooperation.

he just walked into the room and said student honesty goes a long way in gaining cooperation and that if there is a valid reason (not heavy drinking, goofing off, never bothering to buy the books) for not doing well, admin and advisors can often help find a way.

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W= WASTED MONEY. If you haven't even reached the drop deadline, you have time to bring your grade up. come on now

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I would keep the class and try to improve the grade. You said it is not a nursing class-- not really a reason to have a B- anyway. But on the other hand, I don't see W as a big deal either.

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If you have a high GPA, why would a "W" be interpreted negatively????? It always pays to withdraw really quickly from classes one dislikes...

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