Bryn Mawr College

Withdrawing from a Course

After a student has confirmed her registration during the second week of the semester, she is normally expected to complete all her classes with the exception of a 5th class dropped within the first three weeks.  A student may not withdraw from a course simply because she is not doing well in it, does not like it, or does not need it.  However, circumstances may arise that make it unreasonable to expect a student to complete her entire course load.

The decision to withdraw from a course must be made jointly by the instructor and the dean and only when the student’s ability to complete the course is seriously impaired by unforeseen circumstances beyond her control.  If during the semester a student experiences significant illness, a family emergency, or some other serious problem in her life or if she finds that she has been placed in a class for which she lacked adequate preparation, she should talk to her dean about whether it might be appropriate to withdraw from the class. Withdrawal requires the consent of both the dean and the course instructor, and may require a medical recommendation.

Deadlines

Bryn Mawr College policy precludes withdrawing from a course after the final work for the course is due.  If the course is at Penn, Swarthmore, or Haverford and that institution has an earlier deadline, the earlier deadline applies.  For example, the deadline to withdraw from a Haverford course is the last day of classes.

How withdrawing will affect your transcript

Your transcript will include the course as part of your schedule for the semester, but instead of a grade, "WD" will appear.  The grade of “WD” will not affect your grade point average.  The course will not count towards any requirements or towards the 32 units needed for graduation.

How withdrawing will affect your progress towards your degree

In making the decision to withdraw from a course, students should talk with their deans about how to make up for the lost credit and should keep the following rules regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress in mind.

• Full-time students are normally expected to earn a minimum of 15 units before the start of the junior year.  These units may include transfer credits and credits awarded for AP, IB and similar exams.  At the end of her second, third or fourth semester, any student who is unable to present to her dean a viable plan to meet this expectation will be asked to petition the Committee on Academic Standing for an exception.  A student who is not granted an exception may be brought to the attention of the Committee on Academic Standing. 

 

• Students are normally expected to complete at least 2/3 of all courses she has attempted in any single semester and at least 2/3 cumulatively.  If a student finds herself unable to meet this expectation, she may petition her dean for an exception.  Courses from which a student has withdrawn, along with those she has failed, count as units attempted but not completed.   A student who is not granted an exception may be brought to the attention of the Committee on Academic Standing.