Drop It Like It's Hot

November 17 is the last day to drop classes and receive a "W" grade. What should you do?by Diona Phoenix.Around this time of year, most students are thinking about how they’ll be spending the Thanksgiving break. But others are wrestling with the decision whether or not to drop that class (or two) they’ve been struggling with all semester. As the deadline to withdraw from a course approaches, students are weighing their options.Should you choose to withdraw by the deadline, November 17, you will receive a “W” grade. According to the Office of the Registrar, “a ‘W’ is an official withdrawal from a course that will not be calculated in your grade-point average if it is submitted by the due date.” If you still wish to withdraw from a class after the deadline, you will receive a “WF.” A “WF” is a failing grade that will be calculated into your GPA. So it’d be the same outcome if you had completed and failed the course. No refunds are offered for either option.So, to drop or not to drop? Biomedical engineering student Chinaza Ubozoh who is in his third year at City College dropped his physics course last year. “It was an easy class; I probably could have gotten a B if I had decided to apply myself for the rest of the semester, but instead I chose to drop the class,” he says. “I figured if I eliminated that one class I’d have more time to focus on the classes I was already doing well in.”Having to withdraw from a class can be daunting; after all, that W does not stand for “winning.” Some students battle with the decision for a while and decide not to go through with it because they figure they can turn things around by the end of the term. That’s what happened with MCA major Anthony Mainville. “I’ve never withdrawn from a class before but I came close once when I took calculus a couple of years ago,” says Mainville, 22. “It was a tough decision and I went back and forth, consulting with my mom about it. I didn’t think I had a chance at passing, but my professor reassured me that I still had a shot.” Mainville stuck with it, but still received a failing grade. But in the end, he thinks he did the right thing. “I wanted to cry my eyes out when I saw that grade,” he says. “As I look back, everything happens for a reason. I ended up switching my major from engineering to Ad/PR which I really enjoy.”Melissa Oden, an academic advisor for City College’s Humanities Department, says a lot of students come to her office for advice around this time of year. When helping a student decide whether or not to drop a class, Oden goes on a case-by-case basis. “If it’s a medical issue, a family issue, a work issue or if you’re doing really poorly academically, then I would advise you to withdraw.” Having one or two “Ws” on your final transcript is probably ok. However, Oden advises that while a “W” looks much better than an “F,” do not make a habit out of withdrawing from classes. “Although there is not really a limit on the number of 'Ws' one can have, students should only have up to four 'Ws' on their transcript.”Oden also suggests that, before filling out that pink sheet of paper labeled “Withdrawal Request Form” (which can be found in the Administration building at the registrar) discuss your situation with your professor.“Before a student makes a final decision about withdrawing I tell them to talk to the professor to see if there’s any way they can turn things around,” she says.But if you’re really struggling or have extenuating circumstances, it’s probably better to “drop it like it’s hot” than risk having a scorching “F” smolder up your transcript.