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To Drop or Not: If You’re Still struggling
Have you received one or two Fifth Week Flags? Are you having difficulty keeping on top of all your subjects? Do you feel overwhelmed? Has the thought of dropping a subject crossed your mind?
Making the decision to drop a subject is not easy. If you realize that you’re spending so much of your study time trying to pass one subject to the detriment of the rest of your classes, now may be the time to positively redirect your energy to the subjects you’re likely to pass—and to master.
When should you make the decision to drop?
Drop Date is Wednesday, November 18
Drop Date is ten weeks into the term. If you are clearly failing a class, then you should drop the problem subject well before this deadline, rather than hanging on to the end. This decision is especially important if you are also losing ground in your other subjects. So...
How should you decide whether or not to drop?
As you contemplate whether or not to drop a subject, here are some questions to help you think through your decision:
- Are you struggling in more than one class? You need to look at the big picture of your performance. If you’re only having problems in one of your subjects, trying to pass all of them may work. However, if you are grappling with several, you have to assess your whole situation.
- How far behind are you? Are you borderline or 'way behind? If you're really far behind, how much effort will it take to catch up?
- Are you behind because of lack of effort put into the class, or because you really don’t understand the material?
- How much time are you spending on the "problem" subject? Are you spending so much time in the one subject that you’re putting your other subjects in jeopardy?
- If you are spending a lot of time catching up in more than one subject and may be endangering one or both classes, consider dropping the subject in which you're furthest behind.
- What does your TA or instructor have to say about your performance? Sometimes a borderline situation can be brought up to a pass with just a bit more effort and some help from a tutor, review sessions, office hours with the TA, etc.
Pass/No Record and dropping a subject
How should Pass/No Record fit into your decision? Should you officially drop the subject, or just simply stop showing up or doing the work?
- Even though you are on Pass/No Record grading this term, the better advice is to officially drop a class in which you are not making any progress. For one thing, that gives a clear signal to the professor not to give you a grade.
- Second, officially dropping the subject on a Drop form may make a psychological difference to you. By formally dropping the class,you have made a clear decision not to put any more effort into the subject. You will have freed up energy and time to focus on your other classes.
Get help with making your decision!
Don’t make the decision on your own. There are people who can help. Talk it over with your advisor and associate advisor. Drop by the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming in 7-104 and discuss things with Dean Donna Friedman or Dean Julie Norman. Get good advice from the right people!
See the Registration Changes page for the procedures on how to drop a class.
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