Withdrawal From a Course in a Chemistry PhD program

[gradstudent42]

Does anyone know how detrimental a grade of a "W" is in graduate school for chemistry?

[Eigen]

Would depend on the reason for the W, and whether it was a WF or an early withdrawal.

[gradstudent42]

It is a "W." It was due to poor grades up to this point and lack of assistance from the professor or anyone in the class the entire time. But I guess it boils down to fact that I would probably get a C in the course which would make the course not count toward the degree and I would have to take another course to try and satisfy the requirement. Not to mention there would be a C on my transcript. This is my only "W" thus far. 

[Eigen]

Have you talked to your advisor about it?

[Cookie]

C would be a big no-no. W is uncommon but I know people withdrew from required courses to avoid getting C. Have you talked to the professor teaching that course to see what kind of improvement you can make to boost it to a B? If that doesn't work, then talk to your advisor. In my program, there are very few courses to choose from every semester, so withdrawing from one might mean an extra semester of coursework.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Cookie

[gradstudent42]

I talked to my advisor and he said that it would be okay to drop it saying that no one really cares about your classes once you graduate. I just wanted to see if there were others out there that are good with that statement. I talked with the professor and they is pretty much repeats what they said in class and just does not answer any emails with any questions that I might have regarding course material. all in all the professor is rather unhelpful. Not to mention they do not and back assignments and tests until a month and a half later.

[gradstudent42]

As far as available courses I found a few for next semester. I still have to take a total of 3 courses by the end of the next school year. So maybe 2 in the fall and 1 in the spring.

[Eigen]

If your advisor says it's fine, why would you care what random people on an Internet forum say?

[gradstudent42]

I find that talking to many different people tends to help me understand situations more fully. 

[St Andrews Lynx]

Read your Department's PhD handbook and guidelines. It should specify whether a W-grade will count against you - if there is no mention of W grades then it is probably fine. 

[gradstudent42]

I guess I was looking for career impacts for academia or industry, not just departmental impacts. Thanks though!

[Eigen]

Pretty much no career or academic impacts to any GPA from what I've seen. People care that you got your degree, what and where your publications are, if you had national awards, if you already have grant money that you bring along with you, if you have a history of patentable ideas, etc.

[gradstudent42]

Thanks a lot. This helps tremendously!