So, the regular period to drop or add a course from your schedule has expired, and now you’re realizing that a course you are taking just isn’t for you.  You may wonder what your options are and how they may affect you. 

You do have an option, and it’s called a “late drop.” 

When you enroll at Penn State, you receive 16 late drop credits over your tenure as a student.  It is important that you use those credits wisely because you cannot receive more.    The period to use your late drop credits this semester began September 1 and will end November 16. 
 
Before using your late drop credits, you might consider the following:

1.  What is your reason for considering the drop?  
If your reason is that you are having a difficult time with the course material, determine (using a degree audit in eLion) if this course is required for your major.  If so, dropping may not be a good option since you’ll be required to take this course again.  However, if you will likely receive a failing grade or a lower grade than you want or need to meet a requirement, you may decide to late drop the class.

If you have a heavy course load but foresee an upcoming semester where a particularly difficult class can be paired with some less rigorous options, late dropping may be for you.

Many other reasons exist that may cause you to consider late dropping a course: financial difficulty, personal/home obligations that are time-consuming and require you to have a lower credit load, realizing the course is not a requirement for you and this semester is more demanding than anticipated, etc.  Any of these reasons should be weighed in light of the pros and cons discussed in this post and in consultation with an academic adviser.  

2.  How many late-drop credits do you have remaining?
If you are nearing the end of your 16 credits, look to the future.  How many semesters do you have left?  Will you need those remaining credits at another point that may be more critical?

3.  Will late dropping this course reduce your credit load below 12 credits?
If so, you will no longer be a full-time student, which may impact your financial aid and/or your health insurance coverage.  In this case, do not late-drop the course until speaking with the Office of Student Aid (814-865-6301) and checking with your health insurance carrier.

4. Is this course a prerequisite for future courses you’ll need or desire to take?
If so, late-dropping this course could jeopardize your progress toward graduation and may not be right for you.

After reading this post, you might be thinking, “I guess late dropping is not right for me.  What do I do now?”  Consider talking to your professor for feedback and recommendations on how you can improve in the class.  Consider attending a tutoring session with Penn State Learning, and visit your adviser to discuss options.  You should also visit your adviser if reading this post did not clarify whether using late drop credits is a good idea in your case.
  
Now you might be asking, “How exactly do I late-drop a course?”  Late dropping a course is actually a very simple process.  Log into your eLion account, and complete the Late Course Drop application prior to the deadline on November 16, 2012.  You can also complete a Registration Drop/Add Form so that the drop can be processed by an adviser, the department offering the course, or the Registrar’s Office.   Please keep in mind that you will be charged a $6 processing fee for every course that you late drop.

Be sure to contact your adviser for additional advice, feedback, and answers related to late-dropping a course.