How does a dropped class look on a transcript?

[thedig13]

I'm a History major taking a Physics class which is absolutely killing me. I don't understand anything, and I'm almost certain that I won't get anything about a C+ if I follow through with it. It's consuming a lot of my time, and taking me away from my other courses. Also, I'm working two jobs, which isn't helping me. Unfortunately, it's too late for me to drop a class without having it show up on my transcript.

How will that look on a graduate school application? I'm hoping to get a PhD in History, so Physics isn't really relevant, but at the same time, I have to wonder how an admissions officer interprets it. Is it a "this kid couldn't cut it, so he dropped out" or is it a "maybe he dropped out past the deadline" or is there a chance that they'll even interpret it as "maybe there was a personal situation and he had to lighten his workload" (which is more-or-less the case)?

Basically, how will a dropped course in a subject that's more-or-less irrelevant to my area of study affect my chances of getting into graduate school?

PS: If it changes anything, I've never dropped a course before. And my GPA thus far has consisted entirely of A-'s or higher (3.93).

Edited October 26, 2011 by thedig13

[runonsentence]

Drop the course, I think you're over-thinking this. Adcoms don't spend that much time scouring transcripts, and I doubt one dropped course in an outside field against an otherwise strong record of grades would be of any concern.

Additionally, while GPAs aren't the most crucial aspect of your application either, I think you run the risk of hurting yourself more by lowering your GPA with a C-level grade than you would by letting a "W" designation show up on your transcript.

[orst11]

Is the class part of a liberal arts curriculum, where you have to take a few science courses? A withdraw now would then mean you have to schedule some other science related course later on and you may deal with the same issue. Truthfully, like runonsentence noted you are probably over-thinking this and given it isn't in a closely related field a W won't make much of a difference.

[sacklunch]

Drop the course. One W on your transcript will not matter.

[thedig13]

Is the class part of a liberal arts curriculum, where you have to take a few science courses? A withdraw now would then mean you have to schedule some other science related course later on and you may deal with the same issue. Truthfully, like runonsentence noted you are probably over-thinking this and given it isn't in a closely related field a W won't make much of a difference.

It is indeed part of a breadth requirement, and I am required to take at least one class in Physics before I graduate. That being said, I picked Classical Mechanics because I could intuitively understand it back in high school, but this college course takes it three or four levels above what I was used to. Next time, I could easily pick a less difficult Physics course.

[Sigaba]

I agree that you are over thinking your situation. I recommend the following course of action.

• Take the W.
  
• Down the line, fulfill the requirement by taking Physics for Poets (or the equivalent) on a P/NP option.
  
• During the interval, kick the hell out of your other classes.
  

A caveat. Before enrolling for Physics for Poets make sure you understand what you need to do to pass. For example, if doing well requires a very high attendance rate and that requirement causes a conflict with your work schedule, the course may not be for you.

HTH.