Damage control

Seek out advice to find out how withdrawing from a course will affect your academic plan, your other classes and your transcript. Students, Houghton says, should “meet with an advisor to talk about what the implications of dropping a class are, and likewise what the implications of not dropping a class are.”

Before you drop the course, though, go and talk to your professor. The situation may not be nearly as dire as it seems, and your prof is usually the best person available to help you through whatever trouble you’re in.

Your prof knows the course material better than anyone, and he might be able to talk you through any troubles you’re having. He also knows what other resources might be available to help you, such as TAs, and peer tutors.

Some professors occasionally make deals with students who are sincerely interested in putting in the work to pull their grade up — for example, a prof might agree to disregard the terrible mark you got on your midterm if you get a good enough grade on your final.

In spite of this, many students never talk to their profs, especially first years.

“The reality is that faculty members often sit in their office hours without students approaching them for consultation,” Houghton says. “I find this deeply unfortunate given that they are most intimate with the materials and they are in the best position to help the students figure out how they might navigate that specific course.”

In the end, Sarah’s prof convinced her to tough it out and try to pass that math class.

Being an experienced student, she knows that he’s the best resource that’s available to her. “I’ve been in my prof’s office, like, everyday,” she laughs.

Erin Millar and Ben Coli are working on an advice book about going to college and university in Canada. Email comments and questions to thestraightupguide@gmail.com.