I'm a regular poster on gradcafe, but am hiding through a username to avoid recognition, and embarrassment. I am finishing my second semester of grad school and things have been fine so far. I had a particularly tough rotation this semester, and some unrelated personal problems. I have gotten by most of my classes on prior knowledge, but I am serious danger of failing a class that's outside of my major area of study, that is an elective I am using to fulfill my course requirements. It's so bad that I need a high A just to receive a C in the course. I cannot decide if I should tough it out and shoot for the A, a grade that I have not received on any of the 4 tests so far in the course, or drop the course to save the risk of receiving a failing grade. By the way, a C is not a failing grade in my program. Pros for dropping are that I preserve my GPA, don't get put on academic probation, and have time to work on other courses that I actually have chances of receiving A's in. Without this course, I have a real shot at a 4.0. Cons, the frowns that I will receive for "not being able to handle a heavy course load while doing research", and this is the one that worries me the most, is that I will have to take more credits next semester, which means more money. The guilt of having to have someone pay for extra courses that I could have already gotten out of the way is really pushing me to tough out the test and get the C. If I for example need a 94, and receive a 92, I run the risk of getting a failing grade. I can't decide which option is worse. I only have a couple of days to decide. The professor has laid out my options and left the decision to me. Does anyone have experience with this situation? Although they both suck, is one option better than the other?