Have you ever found yourself in one of those situations where you may possibly be failing a class that you’re taking, or afraid that you might fail because of other reasons? Trust me, we’ve all been there. The add/drop date has come and gone, but the final date to withdraw from a class has yet to come. Deciding whether or not you want to drop a class can be dreadful, but sometimes it is necessary for your overall success.
Thinking about dropping a class can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone! Talking with your advisor about it is always helpful. They can guide you through the process and tell you if dropping is a good idea or not. You may also get advice from other people, such as your professor, the head of the department, or even friends who have already taken the class. When making your decision, you want to make the most educated decision possible so you don’t regret dropping the course or drop it without good reason.
After talking with others about dropping a course, you might still be unsure. Below are a few helpful tips on when to know if you should drop a course.
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You can tell you’re not going to do well. There are many situations that can cause you to struggle in a class, whether it’s a personal issue or you just can’t grasp the content of the course no matter how hard you try. In most cases, the latter is the main problem. When this happens, we tend to stress ourselves out more and eventually give up, causing us to fail the class.
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You know the course is going to bring down your GPA. There are many times when we take a class that is either required or just an elective, thinking it’s going to be easy but ends up much harder than expected. Getting a low grade in a class can drop your GPA significantly. When your GPA drops below a certain score, you could be put on academic probation and lose some scholarships that are helping you pay for college.
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The course is affecting your mental health. I’ve heard many stories about how my friends have taken a class and have either cried multiple times or have been so stressed out that they didn’t know what else to do. If a class is causing so much negativity in your life, affecting you mentally, or affecting you physically, it’s time to drop. School shouldn’t have that kind of negative impact on you. Your health comes first!
We all know that classes can get very difficult and stressful at times. Dropping a class is common, but it’s an important decision to make that requires some thought. Never be afraid to reach out to someone who can give you advice on what to do. We’re adults, but that doesn’t mean we are alone in this!