What is the impact of the "DR" appearing on my transcript?

A "DR" appearing on a student's transcript is not necessarily negative.  A "DR" reflects that a student enrolled in a class for a period and then decided to drop it.  It is an accurate reflection of what actually happened.   A student's transcript (which is an official document) should correctly state the student's registration.  If a student's performance in a particular class is less than satisfactory prior to the 12th-week deadline, it may be to the student's advantage to drop the course in order to prevent failing the class and have the grade adversely impact their grade-point average (GPA).

Important to note about the "DR" notation:

• A "DR" shows that a student was enrolled in a particular course and decided to drop it.
• It is not an indication of a student's success or failure in a course.
• Most graduate school admission decisions are based on other qualitative factors such as overall GPA, a student's academic major, test scores, research interest, & letters of recommendation.
• A student's personal statement also factors in the admission decision.
• Most employers will not request a transcript.  Employers are typically most concerned with a student's work experience and suitability for the position.

A few dropped courses over a four-to five-year period are not significant.  See Transcript - Official vs. Unofficial Transcript and  Transcript - Understanding the Transcript for more information on what information appears on UW-Madison transcripts.