With the second semester underway, many students have had their schedules changed by choosing to drop classes. While some see dropping classes as a way to lighten the heavy load that students face, others see it as giving up or quitting too soon. Although there is value and sticking with challenges when classes are difficult, students shouldn’t risk their GPA for this sake.
If a student signs up for a class, they should adjust to the challenge and stick with it.
Dropping classes can be beneficial for students that already have a large workload. Managing work from seven different classes can be extremely difficult, especially if multiple of those are advanced level courses. Going down to an easier course at the change in semester not only takes some of the workload off, it allows more time for the remaining difficult classes.
Some students may realize that a class is simply something they aren’t interested in, which is a completely valid reason to drop a class. Just because the new class is meant to be “easier” doesn’t mean it won’t come with its own unique challenges in terms of the people and the teacher.
The stigma around dropping should also be left behind in the new year. If anything, it is a sign of maturity to be able to recognize when a change is necessary. For that reason people shouldn’t hesitate to get rid of classes anytime they feel it will benefit them in the future. It is a much better solution than continuing to struggle in a class just for the sake of saying “At least I didn’t give up.” The best thing that a student can do is prioritize their well-being over taking difficult classes.
