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That depends. . .The first course of action should be to talk
with the instructor of the course. If the instructor encourages you to stay in the
class, if you can envision realistic ways of improving your performance on subsequent
tests, and if you have a realistic chance of obtaining a B in the course, then the answer
is no, don't drop the class. If you are still not sure what to do, you should also consult with your
academic advisor and, if needed, Mr. Robert Balfour. If you are considering dropping
the course because you fear that you may achieve a B rather than an A in the course,
then the answer is no, it's not okay to drop the class.
However. . .if this is a science or math course and you are not likely to achieve
a grade higher than a C, and there is some possibility that you could receive a C-
or a D in this class, then it may be in your best interest to drop the class and
try again next term or during the summer. That is a judgement call
that only you can make. A single C grade in a science course is not going to prevent
you from entering medical school.
If this is a course where you put in a strong effort preparing for the first test and still received an F, and if it will take considerably more effort
on your part to turn it around to achieve a C, then dropping the course is
probably your best choice. Choosing to drop the course is especially true if you
are discouraged by the instructor and increasing your effort in this class will also
have a negative impact on your ability to do well in your other classes.
You should not let a single instructor have the power to ruin your academic performance and turn you away from your interest in pursing medicine as a career. Since you only have control over dropping a course during the W period, it is essential that you make a decision (Drop or Not?) before the W period ends. After that date you would have to convince the instructor to let you out of the course with a WP.
Impact on Medical Schools. . .A single grade of C in a required premed course does not look good, but if you can achieve A and B grades in the other premed courses, the impact is very minimal. It may lower your ability to obtain acceptance into a top medical school, but most medical schools will overlook that grade. However, a grade of C- , D, F or WF can have a major negative impact.
If you choose not to drop a course, and you will
have to spend considerably more effort on this single course to achieve a C (subsequently causing you not to do well in your other classes during
that term), then this lower term GPA (e.g. 2.7) will have much more of a negative
impact on your application than if you were to have a W or WP on the record and a
strong GPA for that term (e.g. 3.5 GPA).
Dropping a class by itself has only a minor negative impact. Medical schools look
at GPA and science GPA, not individual grades in making the first cut and deciding
on who to invite. A grade of W or WP on the record will only become a concern if
this becomes a pattern or habit on the part of the student. A student who repeatedly
drops key premed classes over several semesters and retakes them in the summer, for
example, would serve as a red flag and could greatly reduce their chances of
being accepted into med school. More than two Ws indicates a lack of judgment and an inability to
handle the situation. More than two Ws in professional school prerequisite courses
can become a major concern for many medical schools for which a student might otherwise
be eligible.
For students who drop a single premed class and subsequently do
well in the class (B or A), they would typically have no problem obtaining acceptance
into medical school. During the interview at a medical school, you will probably be
asked why you dropped the class and here you will have to provide a good reason for having done so. In many cases, students do have very good reasons (had Mono, family crisis, difficulty understanding the instructor, etc.). Interviewers
are human and they normally understand people...at least we hope so, since
medical school want doctors to exhibit empathy.
If you drop a class, try to pick up a sprint class. . .Golf, Social Dance, etc.,
so that you maintain 15 credit hours for that term. Also, if you
drop a class, try your best to achieve higher grades in your other classes, to help offset
the W or WP on the record for that term.