Add/drop period is the window at the beginning of a term during which students may add or drop courses without the drop appearing as a withdrawal on the transcript.
How it works
The institution publishes the add/drop deadline. Students use the registration system to add or drop courses. Changes made before the deadline update the student’s enrollment intensity for aid purposes if they occur before the census or disbursement lock. After the deadline, a drop becomes a withdrawal and may trigger return-of-funds calculations if the student leaves all courses.
Example: the add/drop period ends on the tenth day of the semester. A student drops a 3-credit course on day 8. The course disappears from the schedule, tuition is adjusted, and the credits are not attempted for SAP. The same drop on day 12 produces a W grade, partial or no refund, and the credits count as attempted.
How it differs
A withdrawal occurs after the add/drop period and remains on the transcript. The census date freezes official enrollment counts and may coincide with the end of add/drop. A leave of absence is a longer, formal interruption rather than a course-level change.
Common errors
Assuming online courses have a different add/drop deadline without checking the catalog. Dropping after the deadline and expecting a full refund and no transcript notation. Ignoring the effect of an add/drop change on enrollment intensity and aid proration.
References
- 1. Common institutional registration policiesAdd/drop windows and transcript effects
- 2. Federal Student Aid enrollment status changesImpact on aid when load changes
Add/drop period is the window at the beginning of a term during which students may add or drop courses without the drop appearing as a withdrawal on the transcript.