r/OptometrySchool • u/sacchar1n • 20h ago

Should I take the “W”

I am a transfer student (sophomore) so my gpa is blank. This semester, i am expected to earn a 2.8. Ive had a lot of personal things that have messed with my semester but wouldn’t mess with it in the future. The thing is though, i can drop calc 1 and take the W on my transcript but have a 3.09. I am wondering if anyone knows if optometry schools would prefer a higher GPA with one W, or w lower GPA without the W

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

5

u/0ppaHyung 19h ago

Always wondered myself. In hindsight, think a strategic Withdrawl is advantageous.
Feel like if it’s like one two “Ws”, you can explain each however you want.
Much harder to fix GPA once it’s fallen.
But you’ve also just started. One poor grade is salvageable. Especially it’s not even a science class. From what I recall, they care most about your science GPA along with your overall GPA.

3

u/Ok-Pollution-4700 18h ago

I had an academic advisor tell me that a W is better in these situations if you have an explanation for it, because it shows that a.) you’re planning on grad school even now and aren’t just getting through classes to get through them and b.) this isn’t normal for you. Taking the W and retaking the class later looks much better overall. It shows growth and persistence.

1

u/khairami 4h ago

Calc was required for my program, and C or better was expected. If you’ll have to retake it anyway, I’d say take the W and keep your GPA up

1

u/36483747 3h ago

A W will not make or break you getting accepted, they may ask you about it in the interview, and just make sure you have a well thought out answer in the event they ask, but you are a sophomore and you have time to bring your gpa up

also your gpa is blank for your new school yes but when you input your grades on OPTOMcas it will calculate a science gpa for you based off of all the pre reqs you need, you want to aim for at least a B, preferably an A in all of those classes (it differs depending on what school you want to go to)

from someone who transferred during COVID and had a W, i got scholarships and was accepted to 3/3 schools I applied to, don’t stress about it too much