Impact of W's on Transcripts?

[freddy]

So I'm studying for the Calculus clep and I'm scheduled to take it this coming Thursday. Since I need a math course as one of the prerequisites of being accepted into a business college for fall 2013, I have to take math this semester or delay my application to the business college(which will accept the Calculus clep).

As a backup in case I didn't pass the Calculus clep, I registered for a business calculus class. Right now I'm weighing all my options in regards to studying:

-study hard until Thursday and take the CLEP, if I pass withdraw from the business calculus class that day.

-reschedule CLEP test to next thursday(January 14th). This would allow me to brush up on areas that I'm weak in, but I would receive a "W" on my transcripts since the withdrawal deadline without a deadline is next Monday.

As I'm fairly new to the college thing, I really don't know what impact a "W" would have on me. Right now I don't have any plans to go for a Master's, but I would like to be well informed of the consequences if I did decide to study an extra week and take a "W".

I get good grades, mostly A's with an occasional B.

If I do fail the clep it's not the end of the world. I attended the first class session of the business calculus course today. He said it wouldn't have any trig in it and wouldn't involve complex calculations. That means it would be really easy compared to the stuff I've been studying the past 6 days.

What are your opinions on W's on transcripts?

Thanks

[Jonathan Whatley]

My sense is that the impact of a Withdrawal is that you might be asked to explain your Withdrawals. "I gave myself a challenge, studied independently, and within the first week of the scheduled course I tested out of Calculus through the College Board's examination program" seems to me to be a fairly awesome explanation. I wouldn't worry at all.

[clep3705]

It depends on where you are. Texas limits students at public institutions to six drops. But it's not a drop if it occurs before the date of record. If you are in a class on the date of record, you're in the class. If you drop before that date, you never were in the class as far as your transcript is concerned.

A person with lots and lots of drops might make a prospective employer question the person's ability to meet deadlines and fulfill obligations. A few here and there are no big deal.

[marianne202]

Usually you have until the 10% point to drop a class without it showing up on your transcript. After that up to the 50% point you would get a "W" after the 50% point you would get either a WF or WP for passing or failing. If you drop the class next week, you should be fine and I doubt it will even show up on your transcript. The only time this can become an issue is if you used financial aid to pay for classes. If you withdraw too many times they may make you pay money back or put you on academic probation, but again none of this is a factor until after the 10% point, because you are not actually in the class until that date.

[freddy]

I think I figured away around the whole issue. I consulted the universities registration timetable again. Turns out that even though the withdrawal deadline without a "W" is on Monday the 14th I can still add classes until Wednesday the 16th at 4 pm. I'm going to drop the class from my schedule, but still sit in the class for the rest of this week.

I rescheduled the CLEP test for next wednesday at noon. If I pass then I don't have to worry about anything as I already dropped the class. If I don't pass, then I still have time to add the Calculus course back into my schedule, and since I would have sat in the class I won't miss a beat. Since there are 84 seats in the class, I'm pretty confident I'll be able to get a seat in the class. I don't foresee 84 other students suddenly getting the urge to take a business calculus class lol.

Thank you all for your replies.

@Jonathan Whatley - That would definitely be a great way to explain the "W".

After talking with some school counselors I figured