Generally, withdrawing from a class = dropping the class. If you do it early enough in the term you might get a partial refund. Your grade in the class is not considered if / when you decide to drop. Some schools require the instructor to approve you withdrawing, many do not. Often a notation of a “W” grade is entered on your transcript but it doesn’t figure into the GPA and not credit is recorded. Some schools keep track how many times you enroll / drop a class and set a limit on how many times you can drop a class. [Note: some schools also use the same W letter to indicate a student has withdrawn from the university…meaning all classes are W.]

Incomplete grades are often reserved for extraordinary circumstances and require you to have a passing grade of “C” or better and a written contract with the instructor informing you what work must be completed to earn a grade to replace the “INC” incomplete grade on your record (which is not calculated in your GPA) and no credit is issued. Usually there is a time limit (1 year from the time the INC grade is issued) for you to complete the work. If you don’t the INC converts to an “F” (which will be calculated in your GPA). Most schools also stipulate that with an INC grade, you may NOT attend the class, and you cannot enroll in the same class in subsequent terms. The INC is removed when you complete the missing work, submit it to the instructor, and upon scoring and calculating your final grade, the instructor processes a grade change report. [Note: Administrative time delays in processing these changes can seem to take forever. So it behooves you to check and confirm the change is made. And it is also a good idea to get an “unofficial” copy of your transcripts for your records.]

At many schools, D and F grades permit you to repeat the course. (The D and F grades are recorded and credited and calculated into your GPA.) If you earn a higher grade, it replaces the lower one, and your GPA is recalculated with the higher grade. Some schools then delete the record of the lower grade, some still retain a listing on your transcript to indicate you took the course earlier, but the lower grade is not reported and is not used to calculate your GPA. Some school limit how many times you can repeat a course to try for a higher grade.

If you transfer to another school, it’s any one’s guess how school officials view W and INC grades.

OK sure hope this helps…but be sure to check the policies at your college with the relevant authorities.

After that, there’s a set date when one can only withdraw while receiving a “W” for the class. It will not affect your gpa. You will need permission from both your college advisor and professor teaching the course.

There are also “last day to withdraw” dates at college, usually at the midpoint or sometime around there. After this date, one is not allowed to withdraw unless the circumstances are unique (such as extreme medical cases, i.e. you just learned you got cancer), in which case the process is to petition to the Dean for withdrawal. Otherwise, without the proper documentation, you’ll just have to stick it out or quit and get the F.

Generally, if your currently passing, you can with draw and the notation on your transcript will read ‘withdrew, passing’. If anyone ever asks, tell em…it will not be used in calculating your GPA.