Think You Might Drop That Class?
Students across the country drop out of classes for various reasons. Sometimes it’s a matter of not liking the professor or being confused by a course. Other times, something serious happens in their lives, and they can’t focus. Many students have very good reasons for dropping out. But there are also many times when you shouldn’t drop that class.
Indeed, people make rash decisions when emotions run high. They often end up regretting them later. Students who feel overwhelmed during a bad day or week may want to leave their least favorite class behind. However, one poor test grade generally won’t ruin your chances of passing, and that stressful lecture will still be stressful next semester. Of course, students who feel like they can’t handle a class should ensure their schedule allows them to succeed.
Overloaded semesters or schedules filled with difficult classes can prevent students from succeeding. When you recognize that you have taken on too much, you must act early and drop or swap courses.
5 Reasons Not to Drop That Class
Dropping a class can come with several consequences that you may not expect. It can affect everything from your financial aid to your enrollment status and the rest of your educational journey. When you enroll in college, avoiding a difficult or frustrating course is almost impossible. Maybe you don’t get along with a professor or dislike the subject matter. Whatever the reason, you still need to take the class to earn your degree.
There are many reasons you shouldn’t drop that class. Keep reading to learn more.
1. You Need It to Move Forward
There are a handful of courses across every major that students tend to hate. Among the top ones are calculus, algebra, statistics, and chemistry. Notably, these tend to match lists of the most commonly failed college classes. Organic chemistry, sometimes referred to as the “pre-med killer”, is notorious for stopping would-be medical students in their tracks. Similarly, students everywhere get stuck on all kinds of math courses.
Often, these courses are placed early into an educational journey for good reason. Sometimes, students aren’t aware of just how often they’ll need math in their dream career. Introducing them to mathematical formulas and concepts early on prepares them for what they’re about to study. The same applies to composition and English courses, as many jobs require communication and writing skills. So, universities will make these more difficult courses into prerequisites and general education requirements.
Putting these classes early in the schedule ensures students are prepared for later courses and the job field in general. Colleges do not want people to get through three years of schooling just to get stuck on algebra in their last semester. As a result, it’s important that you don’t drop that class just because it’s annoying or difficult. You may get stuck early in your degree without it.
2. There Are Resources Available
Sometimes, your learning style and your instructor’s teaching style will be at odds. Maybe they prefer long lectures while you learn better by doing. They may encourage group work, but you do better in independent studies. And sometimes, you may just need a little extra help that the professor doesn’t provide. Regardless, you don’t feel like you’re grasping the material. As a result, you learn to dislike the class and think about dropping it.
Notably, their teaching style will not change two semesters from now. You shouldn’t drop that class in hopes that everything will be different next spring. Some classes have multiple professors in charge of the same course, but you’ll often be stuck with the same person next time. While it’s undoubtedly frustrating, your best shot at success is to seek outside resources.
Thankfully, many universities offer tutoring services as part of tuition. Try finding out more information on your school’s tutoring center. They may have an area designated for the service, or you might need to contact student services. Often, you can find tutoring information near or in the campus library. Writing, math, and specialized experts can talk you through lectures, assist you with essays, and help you build quality note-taking and study skills.
On the other hand, students can find many online resources to help them with their studies. Blogs, forums, and video websites can break information into more digestible chunks. You can use them to understand the material better and put the class in your rearview mirror.
3. You’re Almost Done With College
Students in their final semester tend to think more about graduation than their actual coursework. You may have heard the term “senioritis” before. Students dealing with it lose interest in their studies and earn lower grades. While it’s good to recognize and celebrate almost being done, your journey is not over yet. And getting too lax with assignments can delay your graduation.
If you see your grades slipping in one of your courses, it might sound like a good idea to drop that class. However, that probably means at least one more semester of college. One that is likely not covered by financial aid unless you enroll full-time in courses you don’t need.
It’s good to catch that senioritis early on and find ways to motivate yourself. Engage in self-care, prepare yourself for the future, and start planning life after graduation. Stopping now can delay your goals, hurt you financially, and even cost you a job offer. If you see your grade drop, don’t get discouraged. Instead, recognize the problem, work on your study skills, and even ask for extra credit opportunities. Basically, don’t let the finish line slip away.
4. It’s Late in the Semester
Sometimes, a class doesn’t get to its more difficult content until later in the semester. You’re doing fine until midterms, and then your steady ‘B’ drops to a low ‘D’. Unfortunately, as the weeks progress, it becomes more difficult to raise that grade again. Big projects or the final exam may save you, but that sort of pressure can cause a lot of stress.
Once you pass your college drop period, choosing to drop that class can have serious consequences. Notably, your enrollment status and financial aid are put at risk. Many scholarships, grants, and loans require students to stay in full-time status.
Often, you need to take four courses to reach the minimum credit hours. Dropping a class mid-semester doesn’t allow you to keep that funding. Instead, you may find yourself footing the entire bill for your semester. That bill will likely be in the thousands. This financial situation can be devastating for various reasons. Namely, you can’t enroll in another semester without paying the full amount, nor can you transfer your credits to another school. Students in this position get stranded and sometimes have to abandon their educational goals.
So, even if you’re not sure you can pass, staying enrolled may be in your best interest. Don’t squander the opportunity to learn more. Instead, learn from your mistakes, engage in the content, and, if you need to retake the course, use the last few weeks to ensure you pass next semester.
5. It’s Not as Bad as You Think
Getting a grade you don’t expect can be scary. Many students worry about their GPA and its implications for the future. Maybe they want to go to grad school, or their current or prospective employer cares about grades. Thankfully, many jobs today do not make their decision based on GPA. They may consider it, but it’s rarely make or break. Several never ask for transcripts in the first place – your degree is enough for them.
When your GPA does matter, you need to be realistic. Some students refuse to settle for anything less than a 4.0. But that’s not always possible. Realistically, you will run across a course that pushes you. An ‘A’ won’t be possible, but delaying graduation for an ‘A-‘ or “B+’ doesn’t make sense. Nor will it really matter in the long run. Indeed, many employers won’t mind a 3.6 versus a 4.0. Anything over a 3.0 puts you above average grade-wise. Notably, 98.46% of students have a GPA below 4.0.
Ultimately, not having a 4.0 realistically won’t stop you from getting into grad school or getting a job. Withdrawing is better than failing, but you shouldn’t drop that class to avoid a high ‘B’ on your transcript.
Final Thoughts
Lakewood University is an accredited online school that offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. We have rolling enrollments and asynchronous courses. In other words, you don’t have to worry about missing a lecture or running late to class. If you plan on enrolling in college while working, Lakewood University offers the flexibility you need to earn your degree.
Don’t hesitate – reach out to our admissions department today to learn more!
