Today until April 1, students will have the opportunity to withdrawal from classes and receive a ‘W’ on his or her transcript. However, many students are unaware of what a ‘W’ actually means or whether it really has any significant meaning.

A ‘W’ is a withdrawal from a class where no grade is assigned, and the cumulative/semester GPA are not affected,” said academic adviser Jennifer Reed.

Reed said students need to talk to their academic advisers before withdrawing just to be sure that the student is fully aware of the pros and cons that come with withdrawing from a class.

So what significance does a ‘W’ have on a student’s academic transcript?

“I think that having a ‘W’ is going to affect me (poorly),” said John Ibrahim, a junior business major. “I’m not looking forward to having to withdrawal from a class.”

Academic adviser Kari Dailey said having one or two ‘W’ throughout a student’s college career is “not a big deal.”

Dailey added while one or two may not be a problem receiving multiple ‘W’s’ on a student’s transcript can have a negative effect on students future career or education aspirations.

Academic adviser Gregory Aydt said it could affect a student if they abuse the privilege.

“If a student establishes a pattern of regularly withdrawing from classes, that could be seen as a warning to future schools or employers that a student has a habit of not being able to finish what they started,” Aydt said.

He added it could make a difference in being chosen for further education or job opportunities.

Academic adviser Shelley James said it could take longer to graduate if classes are dropped or an employer might think twice about hiring students if they have numerous “W’s.”

“Whether a ‘W’ has any real significance or not depends on the situation,” James said.

Academic adviser Norm Iascon believes students should be aware of what level of class they drop because it could cause future problems.

“Getting a ‘W’ in a course would affect what a student can take in the future if the course is a prerequisite for another course that a student wants to or is required to take,” Iascon said.

For example, if a student withdraws from ENG 1001G in the spring, then they wouldn’t be eligible to take ENG 1002G in the fall.

Not everybody sees having a “W” as a bad thing.

“I don’t think taking a ‘W’ is bad if you don’t think you can do well in the class,” said Shaun Johnson, a sophomore English major. “It’s better than going through the class and messing up your GPA. But if the class is one you need for your major then it’s better to go through with it and try to get as much help as you can.”

What it comes down to is that if students if having any doubts about their classes they need to see their advisers.

Reed said he believes that withdrawing is a decision that should be discussed between the students and their advisers.

She also said that communication is very important with the professor because they can recommend some early intervention strategies, tutoring, and other extra help on campus according to his or her assessment of the situation.

“The student just may be able to stay with the course after all,” said Reed.

Kaylia Eskew can be reached at 581-2812 or kbeskew@eiu.edu