Deciding whether to withdraw when I already have 2 W's on transcript.

[lcm]

To give you all some background-- 2.9 GPA from a prestigious undergrad, 4.0 GPA in my 2 year masters program (just starting my second year now and working on PhD applications). Will have great letters of rec, 6-8 conference presentations, 2 publications in my field. (I'm 23 and have been working like crazy to build myself up to fit into my field and get into PhD programs.) I'm in the Humanities and am only applying to programs where I've talked to faculty members and think I will be a great fit-- and I've heard very encouraging feedback from everyone I've talked to so far.

I'm having trouble deciding whether to withdraw from a course-- the course meets at the same time as Catholic conversion classes. I would ideally like to withdraw and attend courses in order to convert before leaving for a PhD program next year.

This wouldn't be a big deal, but I already have 2 W's on my graduate transcript-- basically there will be one W from each semester that I've been here so far. The first was due to a class unexpectedly not fitting in my degree (I was taking a class in a different department and it just wasn't a good fit) and the 2nd was because of snow days, the add/drop deadline was changed and I dropped the ball and didn't drop the course in time-- I never attended the class.

I know I will get an A in the course-- I've had the professor before and am doing great in the class. The only reason I want to withdraw is to be able to fully convert and practice my religion. I know that the church will always be there, so I can always wait a year, but I have the opportunity to go on pilgrimage next summer and would like to be fully practicing and able to fully participate for the pilgrimage. (I've done the pilgrimage once before, and it's what drew me to Catholicism, so it would be a nice way to come full circle in my spiritual life.) If I drop the course I will only be taking 2 courses this semester and will have to take 4 next semester (well, 2 and a thesis, which I believe I will manage.)

Advice?

[Sparky]

Is that really the only RCIA class being offered in your diocese this year?

[lcm]

There are some others, but I am partial to this particular church? I am researching some others-- I looked into it over the summer and some met on Mondays and Thursdays last year, which are etter days for me, so I might consider branching out. I'm going to email the woman who runs the program and see if there is a big enough group to split into two days or if she knows of any other programs nearby. The church I'm currently attending/looking at is the head of the diocese (is that the right way to say it?) so perhaps they'll know about other programs.