Late Registration and Withdrawals

LATE REGISTRATION

Registration and schedule changes are not available in My College Account after 5 p.m. on the first Friday of the semester. After this time, all schedule changes must be made by getting permission and filling out a form, before the drop/add deadline for the course.

• The final deadline to drop or add a full-semester or first-half course for Spring 2026 is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21.
• The final deadline to drop or add a last-half semester course for Spring 2026 is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12.

These deadlines are also listed on the Academic Calendar. Dropping a course means that it no longer appears on your schedule or your Hope record/transcript. It does not factor into your registered credits and you are not billed for it.

DROPPING OR ADDING DURING LATE REGISTRATION

1. Get email permission from the instructors of the courses you are changing.
2. Get email permission from your advisor for all of the changes you are making. Exceptions: if you are only switching sections (meeting times) of the same course; switching levels of a course (languages, math, dance); adding research/independent study; or adding music lessons or ensembles; then you do not need permission from your advisor.
3. Fill out the Schedule Change Form in its entirety. You must attach screenshots of all applicable permissions and submit the form by the drop/add deadline listed above.
4. The Registrar's Office will adjust your schedule and you will be sent a confirmation from dropadd@hope.edu.

After the drop/add deadline for the course, requests to drop will be processed as withdrawals for a W grade. The course will still appear on your transcript, with a "W" grade, and you will not receive a refund for the course. Read below for more information.

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE

Withdrawing from a course is different than dropping a course, and it is different than withdrawing completely from Hope. Withdrawing from a course means you no longer attend the course, but you made the decision after the drop/add deadline. Per the Academic Calendar, these are the withdrawal deadlines for Spring 2026 courses:

• The deadline to withdraw from a first-half semester course is 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 12.
• The deadline to withdraw from a full-semester course is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
• The deadline to withdraw from a last-half semester course is 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.

There are times when withdrawing from a course is an appropriate option. For example, sometimes when you’re doing poorly in a course or not able to keep up with the workload, withdrawing is your best option. This can prevent a low grade from affecting your academic record and can allow you to focus on your other courses.

Implications

ACADEMIC RECORD

Withdrawing from a course is different than dropping. When you withdraw, the  course remains on your record with a W grade. This is a non-penalty grade; it does not affect your GPA. Even if you retake the course, the W remains for that semester. One or two W grades are not cause for alarm. However, repeatedly withdrawing from courses may affect graduate school and career opportunities. Talk to your academic advisor and/or potential graduate school.

TIME

You do not earn credit for the course from which you withdraw. This may extend the time and cost to finish your degree.

MONEY

You are still charged for the course from which you withdraw; there is no refund. Your attempted credits for the semester will remain the same, although your earned hours at the end of the semester will be reduced.

FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

Federal regulations require that students make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards the completion of their degree. Withdrawing will affect SAP and possibly jeopardize financial aid in future terms. Students who fall behind in their coursework, fail to achieve minimum GPA standards and/or fail the completion of classes risk losing their eligibility for federal and state financial aid. It may also affect external and Hope College scholarships, grants and/or loans. Talk to Financial Aid about how withdrawing from a course affects your personal financial aid package.

Before finalizing your decision

• Check with your course instructor and/or advisor about alternatives to withdrawing.
• Visit the Academic Success Center to learn about:
  • Tutoring
  • Academic advising and coaching
  • Supplemental instruction
  • General study skills
  • Study skills tutoring
• Check with Financial Aid about aid in future terms.
• If you are an athlete, talk to Athletics about how withdrawing may affect your athletic eligibility.

How to withdraw from a course

1. Get email permission to withdraw from the course instructor.
2. Get email permission to withdraw from your academic advisor.
3. Fill out the Schedule Change Form in its entirety. You must attach screenshots of all the permissions and submit the form by the withdrawal deadline for the course.
4. The Registrar's Office will adjust your schedule and you will be sent a confirmation from dropadd@hope.edu.