Hey, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with one of my advanced classes this year and I've been considering dropping it, but I'm worried about how that might impact my GPA. Does anyone know how this might affect me?
Certainly, your GPA could be influenced by your decision to drop a class. However, there are two key considerations for you.
Firstly, when you drop a course matters. If you drop a class before your school's specified add/drop period ends, typically it will not appear on your transcript and therefore it won’t impact your GPA. However, if you withdraw from the class after that timeframe then it's very likely it will be listed on your transcript as a withdrawn (W) or incomplete (I), which could negatively impact your GPA depending on your school's policies.
Secondly, bear in mind the rigor of your course schedule, which is something many colleges consider in addition to GPA. Therefore, when considering your decision, weigh the benefits of a potential boost to your GPA if you were to replace the class with an easier one, against potentially decreasing the overall rigor of your schedule.
Also, remember that earning a poor grade in a challenging class could possibly impact both GPA and perceived rigor negatively. Given this, if you're finding the class very challenging and you've explored different support options such as tutoring without improvement, it may be in your best interest to withdraw.
Every situation is unique, so ensure to consult your guidance counselor who can provide guidance tailored to your specific scenario and school policies.
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