FAQ Detail

The W is one of the most misunderstood registration adjustments at Rutgers. A W is neither a grade nor punitive. It is a Registrar’s notation indicating that you made a reasoned decision to adjust your registration after the Add/Drop period. It is an adjustment permitted by the University and does not suggest anything to future employers or graduate schools.

Each semester, many students make the decision to withdraw from a class in order to focus on courses that are more important to their academic plans, to reduce a too-heavy credit load, to respond to sudden family or health issues, to comply with credit restrictions connected to their Academic Standing, or to remove a class in which success is remote. If you are in doubt about whether to withdraw, talk with an SAS Advisor by scheduling a advising appointment.

When might you consider avoiding the W? If you receive Financial Aid, too many notations of W may make you ineligible to receive future aid if your completion rate drops below Standards of Academic Progress. In addition, if you withdraw frequently or find yourself withdrawing from the same course more than once, this suggests poor academic planning or a faulty assessment of your own academic abilities. If you are following an Academic Plan for Financial Aid now, talk to your Academic Advisor before withdrawing or dropping. If you are not following an Academic Plan but have concerns, talk to an SAS Advisor by scheduling an appointment.