The last Day to Withdraw from one Course is November 4th. 

November 4th is the last day for undergraduate students to withdraw from 1 course or up to 4 credits for the current Fall 2024 semester with a “W”.

Please Note:
You will need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stickle if:

• You need to drop a 2nd course and you have already dropped a course this semester.
• You are on academic probation or dismissal and would like to drop a course with a W.
• You need to drop a single course that is more than 4 credits (e.g. certain language courses or research/internship that is more than 4 credits)

How do I know I should withdraw from a course?

Is the coursework in the class so heavy, and/or the likelihood of passing it so slim, that it is taking away from other courses?  If the answer is “yes,” then it may be a good idea to drop the course. It is usually better to drop a course to have 4 classes, than 5 classes in order to perform at your best. If you are currently earning a D or F then you might consider dropping that course with a W. 

Be honest with yourself.  Refer to your course syllabus to get a realistic idea regarding what percentage of your grade is already determined and how much improvement is mathematically possible.  Remember that what is “mathematically” possible may not be “realistically” possible.
Speak to your instructor to get his/her opinion.

Last, if you are worried about “getting behind” in your credits, remember that you could take a summer term class to catch up.

Are “W’s” bad?

No, a few W’s over the course of an academic career are not “bad.”  There will be no indication on your transcript whether you were failing or passing at the time of the drop, and W’s are not calculated into your GPA. A course for which you have a “W” is considered an attempt. Which means, taking this course again is a repeat. 

If I drop below 12 credits, does that make me part time?

No – at this point in the semester, it won’t affect your residence hall status or your tuition.  If you had dropped to part-time during the first 5 days of the semester, it would have changed your tuition bill and your eligibility for housing.  At this point, it doesn’t change anything. Please contact OFSA@umd.edu if you have any questions.

What if I need to drop more than 12 credits?

If extenuating circumstances are causing difficulty with your academics, please contact us because there is help available on campus, and academic procedures to be followed, should you need assistance handling the academic consequences of a personal situation.  It is better to “strategize” now, while you have options, than to wait and do nothing, hoping the situation will “right” itself. Please consider meeting with an advisor to discuss this further. 

What if I’m receiving Financial Aid?

Check with a Financial Aid counselor in the Lee Building NOW if dropping a course would put you below 12 credits.  Most aid programs allow this provided you started the semester with 12 or more credits, but there may be a few that do not – and it can be expen$ive to make an incorrect assumption. Please contact OFSA@umd.edu with further questions. 

What if I really don’t want to drop the course?

If you want to hang in there with your course, develop a long-term (final 6 weeks) study plan and stick to it.  Use all available help sources.