Hi everyone,
Two years ago I registered as a full-time student and was very pregnant. At one point I felt the need to drop one class and chose psychology because I found that I didn’t really need it. Consequence: I received a W. I know that there is no penalty (GPA) for this grade, but now I wonder how a W on my transcript will be interpreted when I send my application to med schools. Should I retake Psychology to show that I could have done well? Is it necessary?
Thanks
I had two W’s on my transcript. If they ask about, give them an honest answer. Other than that, no need to worry about it now - it’s there! So no, don’t retake it just to show that you can do it. Take it if you really want to.
Hi, Brenda7. A W is not a deal breaker. My premed advisor is adamant about pointing this out in mass emails to the premed population at my school whenever drop deadlines are approaching.
From what I understand, it is not necessarily the W that matters but how you can explain it. Sounds like you had a very good reason to drop it! I would not sweat it. I would not retake it, either, unless you find it is a requirement at a school you want to go to or that it means a lot to you to do so. Psych is usually a suggested class not a requirement. Now if you are taking the MCAT next year it may not be a bad idea to take it or at least familiarize yourself with some psych 101 stuff because the format is changing to include psych and other things. I am not an expert on the new MCAT, however, and I’m taking it this year so I will not be affected by the change in format. So, as for how much psych you should know for that, I cannot help there. It appears you may be applying this year so you probably already took the MCAT or will soon so that would be a nonissue.
If everything else on your app is good; competitive gpa and MCAT, experience, yadda yadda yadda, one W is not something to worry about IMO. Plus you have very good reason for it.
Best of luck!
Thank you guys. I feel better and that is why I like this forum.