Failing a course should not be considered an option. But what if you’re struggling in a class and it’s not looking like you’ll pass? Is it better to drop a class or fail FAFSA?
When it comes to FAFSA, dropping a class is the best option. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it’s used to determine how much financial aid a student can receive. Failing a course can have a negative impact on a student’s FAFSA score, and it can even disqualify them from receiving aid.
Dropping a class is a much better option than failing it. Dropping a class means that the student won’t receive a grade for the course, and it won’t be included in their GPA. This means that the student won’t have to worry about their FAFSA score being affected.
Another option is to withdraw from the class. Withdrawing from a class means that the student will receive a “W” on their transcript, which won’t affect their GPA. However, it’s important to note that withdrawing from a class may still affect a student’s FAFSA score.
Finally, a student can also choose to take an incomplete in the class. Taking an incomplete means that the student will receive an “I” on their transcript, and they’ll have to make up the course at a later date. This option is better than failing the course, but it can still affect a student’s FAFSA score.
In conclusion, failing a course should not be considered an option. While the alternatives above aren’t ideal, they’re all better than a failing grade on the transcript. Croskey notes that dropping a class is better than withdrawing, but withdrawing is better than failing. Ultimately, it’s important to make sure that a student’s FAFSA score isn’t affected, and dropping a class is the best way to do that.