Take the ‘W’ and the ‘L’ – Class Withdraw Date Approaching

By Kayla Milhon
Staff writer
IG: kaylaa.ml_

As this school year gets to the end of the semester at HutchCC, something for students to think about is the withdrawal date for their classes.

This will be the last chance to receive a ‘W’ on transcripts and not worry about a class you’re not doing well in, and giving students a chance to focus on a class that they know they can do well in.

For Riley Waltner, a first-year Fine Arts major, that decision came down to finding what felt right.

“I was already in Theater Practicum, and I enjoyed it more than Theatre Appreciation,” Waltner said. “So I decided to withdraw from Theatre Appreciation and focus on the class that fit me better.”

At HutchCC, the official deadline to withdraw isn’t the same for everyone. It depends on when the course starts. Kelsey Davies, an academic advisor and psychology instructor, said students can easily find their exact dates on DragonZone.

“The deadline to withdraw depends on the class,” Davies said. “You can check a course’s withdrawal date in DragonZone under the ‘academics’ tab by clicking on ‘schedule’. From there, students can see the classes they’re enrolled in along with other information, including refund and withdrawal dates.”

She said the withdrawal date is more important than most students realize.

“It’s the last day a student can drop from a class they’re enrolled in,” Davies said. “Missing it can have some real consequences.”

Waltner said the process itself wasn’t bad at all once they reached out for help.

“Once I talked to the right people and understood what to do, it wasn’t stressful,” they said. “My advisor helped me make sure it wouldn’t affect my academic progress.”

According to Davies, students withdraw for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes life gets in the way, and other times, a class just doesn’t match a student’s goals.

“Usually it’s due to unforeseen life circumstances or stress,” she said. “Sometimes a class will catch a student off guard, and they realize it’s not the right fit — and that’s OK too.”

Still, she said missing the deadline can lead to bigger issues.

“If a student misses the withdrawal date, it could hurt their GPA if they’re not doing well in that class,” Davies said. “Withdrawing is better than failing because it helps preserve a higher GPA. But if there are too many W’s, that’s when financial aid could be affected. It’s always best to talk with the Financial Aid Office and your advisor if you’re unsure.”

For Waltner, withdrawing turned out to be a confidence booster.

“It actually boosted my motivation because I could put more energy into the classes I really enjoy and feel passionate about,” they said. “Some classes just aren’t meant for some people, even when we think they are. And that’s OK.”

When asked what advice they’d give to other students thinking about withdrawing, Waltner said not to rush the decision.

“Go to the class for another week or week and a half,” they said. “If you’re still not happy with it, it’s okay to withdraw. Don’t force yourself to stay in something that doesn’t benefit you.”

Davies agrees that communication is key.

“My advice would be to keep an eye on the withdrawal date and talk with your advisor if you have questions about the process,” she said. “Every student’s situation is different, so talking to your advisor can really help.”

Views: 8