W's on your transcript..opinions please

NurseJeanB · Sep 27, 2008

I had some W's on my transcript, but granted they were years ago so they weren't counted against me when I applied to nursing school. Just recently I had to withdraw from a class because the teacher never graded my paper, it was an online class and when I wrote to them they told me they would make sure to grade it before the drop date and they never did. I ended up having the W on my transcript, but the counselor told me that it wouldn't affect my GPA and that I shouldn't worry about it.

I would find out from the schools you want to apply to what is their policy on W's.

Best regards,

Jean

hushpupgrl · Sep 27, 2008

thanks for the opinion. i'm just freaking out that i won't get into nursing school. I know the W's won't effect my gpa, but i'm afraid it will look bad that i withdrew. but i won't withdraw anymore.....has anyone here had the same thing happen and still got into nursing school?

loricatus · Sep 27, 2008

My husband named me the Queen of W. I must have had 15 between my 2 degrees. I would sign up for a full time load to get the full student loan and grants, then drop classes that I didn't like.

Never had a problem and graduated with honors in both degrees. Although your first job out of school will want to see your transcript, most employers only care about the bottom line-the GPA.

Don't worry about the W.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Sep 27, 2008

I have one W on my transcripts for Micro, but I took it again the following semester and got an A. I am in my senior year of a BSN program that uses a merit system, I got it my first try...obviously the one W which was followed by an A was not a problem. I am not sure if you have many W's if it is worse...I imagine it could look like you can not commit to something if they see a pattern of W's.

Adams_Mommy_07 · Sep 28, 2008

If you have the luxury of writing a personal statement I would utilize the opportunity to explain why you have Ws in nursing pre-req courses. For courses that are not nursing pre-reqs I wouldn't say anything. Ws are NOT bad but they aren't great either.

AtomicWoman · Sep 28, 2008

If YOU bring up the Ws in a personal statement or interview and try to explain them, it may open up a can of worms. It MIGHT sound like you "couldn't handle it" and it could sow some seeds of doubt in the admission committee's minds about your ability to handle the heavy workload in nursing school. Unfair, I know, but it COULD go that way.

So I would just say nothing, try not to withdraw any more and concentrate on getting As in your remaining courses. I have 2 Ws on my undergrad transcript and my graduate transcript looks a bit schizophrenic because I changed fields (long story). No one, in 3 interviews, has said a peep to me. All they cared about was whether I had gotten good grades in the prereqs I had finished. I would be surprised if admissions committees don't see Ws all the time; there are a thousand reasons why a student might withdraw from a course.

Try not to worry too much about this. :) Not much you can do about the Ws' presence on your transcript, anyway.

pepperoni · Sep 29, 2008

When I was at the community college, they told us that in classes like biology (where you get 2 or 3 chances to take and re-take it, depending), that a W COUNTED as one of those chances to take the class. I am not a quitter, and my anatomy prereq was so difficult that it was unfair... I am not joking, the professor ENCOURAGED students to drop, and I was one of eight remaining on the day of the final. And I wound up with a C -- hardest C I ever earned! It was ridiculous.

Then I transferred to a state school, and the advisor saw that C and told me that I "should have just been responsible and withdrawn"... which totally baffled me.

Point being, it probably depends on how your school views W's... as "being responsible" or as a point against you (in a way). Good luck! :)

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Sep 29, 2008

I have four Ws on mine and am not really concerned at all about them because it was a long time ago and they weren't in biology or anything. Like AtomicWoman I changed majors and I also took a year off from school (just after the Ws) due to financial problems and stress. My grades were great when I restarted so hopefully it won't be an issue. I suppose it depends on the schools you apply to and how perfect they expect you to be though.

If you're worried put in your statement, have that prof include it in his letter, or just email the admissions people at the places you're applying and ask if that's going to be a concern for them that you should address in your application.

caliotter3 · Sep 29, 2008

I once had a college administrator tell me that repeated withdrawals signaled a student who was shopping for A's and that this was a detriment. I had a relative who would immediately drop any course when she saw she wouldn't get an A. She did this over and over to keep her high GPA. This practice never kept her from reaching her goals. I don't see how others can be accused of doing something unethical (this was the stance of the person telling me about this practice) when some people benefit from it.

I would not worry about one or two W's that came about because of circumstances beyond your control. Just don't create a pattern, like my relative did. What worked for her might not work for you. Give it your best shot.

3rdgenRN2B · Sep 30, 2008

Gosh I hope that W's aren't an issue... I have enough of them on my transcript...

Now I may be wrong, or this may just be how my school does it, but when we apply to the nursing program, our GPA's from the requird classes just get inputted into the computer on a spreadsheet. The top however many students on that spreadsheat get in. They also figure in Teas results and how many of the program classes you've taken (Micro, Psych, Devel, etc). I don't think they even look at the classes that I've withdrawn from... They're only interested in numbers (GPA, test results). Maybe other schools scrutinize the transcript more closely, IDK. But I have a gut feeling that it's all about the bottom line.

Good luck to you!!!!

txnursingqt · Oct 1, 2008

I have a few W's and I am not worried at all. My school doesn't even look at that. They only care about the grade that counts.

But guess what??? Here in Texas all of the new students, those who are taking classes for the first time ever, only get like 3 drops their entire school career. It is a new Texas law. I would be screwed! Luckily I am grandfathered in.