helpunderg

thanks for all your inputs! :) how will these math grades (including W in Operations Research initially then an A after retake) affect me when applying to RA positions at top universities, if anyone has any idea?

Thanks for your thought! I would still like to apply top 10-15, do you think it'll hurt me a lot then? (Assuming I get A's in the rest of my math and econ courses). Any other thoughts?

Hello, I'm currently a junior in a college in the US (top 20 phd econ), double majoring in econ and math. I was wondering how much it will hurt me when I apply in the future if I drop Operations Research I and take a W(withdrawal grade) this semester, and take it again in the future and get an A. I've been struggling a lot this semester (frequent family/health issues) and I didn't do well on the midterms (expected to either get a C or B in the course if I continue). As to my previous math background, I didn't start strong (got a C in introduction to proof class and a B in matrix algebra), but ended up A's in Calc 1-3, Differential Equations, two Real Analysis courses, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Mathematical Probability, Statistical Inference, and a B in Discrete Math. (Planning on taking more math electives and some grad-level econ courses before I apply). Assuming that I would like to apply to a good number of top10 and top 20 schools, if I take a W now and make it up with an A before I apply to PhD programs, will it still hurt me? (I have no W's so far on my transcript.) Also, if I decide to apply to RA positions before PhD (still thinking about it), will it hurt me during that process as well? Thanks for your help.