Sometimes students think that a "One Time Only" means they can have only one W on their transcript. But, this is not the case. In fact, you could have a whole transcript of W's and still not have used your One Time Only (OTO). They key to the OTO is the drop deadline.
Through the first eight weeks of Spring and Fall semesters (deadlines are different for May and Summer sessions) students can drop classes without needing any permission. After the second week you'll get a W, but you can drop as many classes as you'd like and your circumstances allow until the eigth week (see "W is for Withdraw" for questions about W's). After that, you will need to get permission from your college advising office to drop. To get permission you have to come in and fill out a petition.
Usually you will need to have a good reason why you want to drop a class late if you hope to have a petition approved. Just doing poorly in your class isn't considered a good reason. We're looking at extenuating circumstances that prevented you from dropping the class before the deadline like documented illness, accidents, or any other unforseeable event.
However, once in your university undergraduate career, you will be allowed to drop one class after the eigth week deadline without having to show proof of any extenuating circumstances. This is your One Time Only. The name is serious; you only get to use it once. Choose wisely. If you use it, it gets marked in your University record and follows you, even if you change colleges within the U of M twin cities campus. You will automatically get a W for the class, just like you would for dropping any other class after the first two weeks of the semester.
To use your OTO you'll need to come in to your advising office. There is some paperwork involved and you will need to complete it before the last day of class. Once finals begin, it is too late to use your OTO.
Sometimes students need to drop all of their classes and not just one after the drop deadline. This is a different situation than your OTO and you should consult your adviser about what to do in this case.
If you have questions about your OTO or if you have other registration concerns, you should contact your student community.
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