When you first come to college or university, you may have this perfect image in your head. This perfect image includes getting a Bachelor of Sciences or a Bachelor of Arts in a major you've been dreaming about forever, graduating in four years, with a flawless 4.0 GPA. You'll take 15 hours a semester, maybe 18 if you want to push yourselves, but you're going to stay on track and get done on time. But what happens when something goes wrong and you don't "technically" stay on track? What happens if you drop a class? How do you even make the decision to drop a class when you have a perfect plan?

Dropping a class is a tough decision when you think you have a plan. Here's what you should do if you are considering dropping a class.

1. Talk to your advisor and financial aid.

When considering dropping a class, you need to speak with the professionals who are paid to help you, keep you in school, and make sure it is paid for. Talk with them and see what the requirements are to keep your scholarships, you made find out that you have to make it up during another semester or even in the summer. Sometimes the biggest argument you'll have with yourself is whether or not dropping a class you are unsure about is worth taking 17-18 hours another semester or paying for a class in the summer.

2. Talk to the professor whose class you are thinking of dropping.

Talking to the professor can make or break the situation of whether or not you are going to drop. You made find that you just need extra help and resources, or you may find that there's not much you can do. Professors are a weird bunch, but talking with them could definitely change the whole situation.

3. Praying about it/thinking seriously about it.

The only one who can make a decision about dropping a class is you. You have to decide whether or not you want to stick it out and try to pass the class with the grade you desire (or compromise on) or whether or not you will be able to handle 17-18 hours the next semester or be able to pay for and attend a summer class. If you are religious, pray about it. But don't wait so long that you miss the deadline. If you aren't religious, think about it long and hard, wait for the next assignment or test. But dropping a class is serious business and you have to do some serious thinking about it.

"The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance." - Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was right, education is expensive, but don't let your ignorance of doing bad in the class cause it to be a detriment to your GPA or your bank account. Make an informed decision, and if you have to, just drop the class.