Always discuss plans to drop coursework with your assigned academic advisor. The advice below is specifically geared towards Pre-Health and Pre-Law students wondering: Will a DR negatively impact my professional program applications?
Academic preparation is carefully weighed by professional programs, but please rest assured that dropping a course during your time as an undergraduate (having a “DR” on your transcript) is not going to negatively impact your competitiveness as an applicant.
Dropping courses becomes a potential area of concern when there are multiple DRs and/or it starts to look like a pattern. This is particularly true when DRs involve program requirements.
- This is not a reason to delay dropping a course if necessary,
- This is also not a reason to request a “late drop” or that a drop to be “removed” from your transcript by an Academic Dean. These actions are only to be used in truly exceptional circumstances beyond a student’s control.
- DRs in and of themselves are not going to prevent you from gaining entry to programs.
- Removing these from your academic record may be a missed opportunity to explain personal growth and change.
You will be able to address DRs and other possible academic or non-academic concerns within supplemental essays.
If you are concerned with how a drop or multiple drops will be perceived, please discuss the situation with CPHA for Pre-Health or CPLA for Pre-Law. We will guide you in the process of addressing the issue – if needed – in your application materials. Appointments can be made via Starfish, or questions can be directed to questions@prehealth.wisc.edu or information@prelaw.wisc.edu.