Top Dropped Courses in Fall Semester: A Comprehensive Analysis
Data from the Iowa State University Office of Enrollment Research and Analytics has unveiled the top ten courses that experienced the highest rates of withdrawal during the fall 2024 semester. These courses, each with 50 or more enrolled students, witnessed a significant number of withdrawals after the initial free drop period in the first five days of the semester, according to Jonathan Compton, Iowa State’s data analyst.
COM S 3270 (Advanced Programming Techniques) Tops the List
The class that saw the largest number of withdrawals in the fall semester of 2024 is COM S 3270 (Advanced Programming Techniques). With an initial enrollment of 144 students, a staggering 29.9% of the class, or 43 students, chose to withdraw from the course. This class, offered by the Department of Computer Science, provides students with an object-oriented programming experience using a language suitable for exploring advanced topics in programming. Topics covered include memory management, parameter passing, inheritance, compiling, debugging, maintaining programs, and significant programming projects.
Analysis of Other Courses
Other courses featured on the list had enrollments ranging from 50 to 97 students, with the seventh most dropped class being CE 270 (Engineering Statistics). This course began with 821 students, and 15.6% of the class, totaling 128 students, decided to withdraw.
Computer Science dominated the list with two COM S classes in the top 10, including COM S 3270 (Advanced Programming Techniques) and COMS 3310/LING 3310 (Theory of Computing). Carson Shannon, a junior in computer science, expressed feeling intimidated by the high drop rates but saw it as an opportunity to prove himself in the competitive job market.
Changes in Course Trends
Interestingly, chemistry courses, which had the most representation on the list in 2023, were notably absent from the fall 2024 list. Previous reports from The Daily indicated that chemistry classes like CHEM 324 (Introductory Quantum Mechanics), CHEM 332 (Organic Chemistry II), and CHEM 231 (Elementary Organic Chemistry) were prominent on the list in previous years.
Instructors have encouraged struggling students to reach out for support if they find themselves facing challenges in any course. The data provides valuable insights into student behaviors and preferences, helping educators tailor their approaches to enhance student success and retention rates. By understanding the courses that students find most challenging, universities can implement targeted interventions to support their academic journeys.
