Oftentimes than not in our academics, we are faced with so many intricate challenges due to internal factors or external factors.
Internal factors are situations, events, or accidents sustained by the student leading to a break in class and a drop of course reducing the course load for culpability. While external factors are situations not created or controlled by you.
As a student who is sure that you want to drop a course and don’t know how to tell a lecturer, below are twenty (20) polite and refreshing ways to tell your lecturer you are dropping their course.
20 Polite Ways to Tell Your Professor You’re Dropping Their Course
- ‘This message is to inform you that I will be withdrawing from your course, which takes effect from today’
- ‘Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have decided to withdraw from your course. Thank you for your understanding.’
- ‘I have enjoyed learning about your course in class, but due to my ailing health, I need to focus my attention on my well-being this semester, thank you for your consideration’
- ‘Unfortunately, I have encountered difficulty in attending your class this semester due to an accident that requires me to withdraw from your course’
- ‘After a careful cross-examination of my academic performance, I have considered some things and have decided to withdraw from your course.
- ‘I find it challenging managing the demanding workload of your course alongside commitments in my order classes’
- ‘Your lectures are interesting but I realize that your course does not align with my academic goals as closely as I initially anticipated’
- ‘After attending the course lectures for a while, I have discovered that the content of your course has some fundamentals that I lack, I would not be able to cope with the course’
- ‘Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I am not able to commit to the demands of your course’
- ‘A rocky change in my situation requires me to adjust my academic calendar, unfortunately, I have to facilitate my withdrawal from your course’
- ‘I would like to discuss alternative options to proceed in your course with a reduced workload for optimum focus’
- ‘I would like some time off to access my progress in this course’
- ‘I developed diarrhea causing me to be on medication for the month, I kindly tender my request to drop’
- ‘Your advice would be highly appreciated on your course for reasons best known to me’
- ‘I would love to hear your response concerning dropping a course tutored by you’
- ‘Acknowledgement and self-reflection have made me realize the course’s difficulty and limitations, so therefore I can not carry on’
- ‘This course has become a thorn in my flesh and I have decided not to take on this course anymore sire’
- ‘I would like to meet you in person to discuss the course I am about to drop’
- ‘Dear Sir/Ma, I am writing to inform you that I will no longer be carrying on the course anymore’
- ‘I tender my request to abort my course under you as I lack the time to proofread carefully to ensure proper assimilation of the right information
1. This message is to inform you that I will be withdrawing from your course, which takes effect today
This is a direct and clear way of telling your professor you are dropping their course when you are sure that you want to drop a course, you can use the above statement. The message helps you relay the information about your choice to drop his course directly and clearly without much explanation, which makes you look professional.
Example:
- ‘This is to inform you that I will be withdrawing from your course taking effect from today.’
2. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have decided to withdraw from your course, Thank you for your understanding
Stating the reason without oversharing your situation with the course professor to drop a course, you can use this context ‘due to circumstances beyond my control as it allows you to state your reason for dropping a course without oversharing.
You can use this statement when you do not want to over-share your reasons but also want to be polite.
Example:
- ‘I have decided to withdraw from your course due to circumstances beyond my control.’
3. I have enjoyed learning about your course in class, but due to my ailing health, I need to focus my attention on my well-being this semester, thank you for your consideration
Providing the reason for dropping their course, telling them about your ailing health and need for urgent attention to it.
Express to your professor how you have enjoyed his class so far but due to health constraints cannot continue with his course for the semester.
This reply allows you to highlight the reason for your dropping his course without exposing the particular health issue.
Example:
- ‘Due to my ailing health, I have decided to drop your course to focus on my well-being this semester.’
4. Unfortunately, I have encountered difficulty in attending your class this semester due to an accident that required me to withdraw from your course
Emphasizing the accident as a reason for not being able to attend class for your course while showing respect.
Informing your professor of an accident sustained is another way to tell your professor that you are dropping his course as you can no longer follow up.
Write this message to your professor expressing your difficulty in attending the class for the course, clarifying your intent to withdraw.
Example:
- ‘Due to an accident sustained, I will not be able to attend class for my course this semester, unfortunately.’
5. After a careful cross-examination of my academic performance, I have considered some things and have decided to withdraw from your course.
Acknowledging the inconvenience of dropping a course and the impact it has on your academics and the professor.
Giving this excuse to your professor to withdraw from a course allows you to politely do it while still maintaining privacy for your considered intention.
Informing the professor that you had a cross-examination of your academic performance and have decided to drop the course and that you are sorry for any inconvenience this would cause.
Example:
- ‘I have considered some things and would like to drop your course this semester, sorry for any inconvenience this would cause’
6. I find it challenging managing the demanding workload of your course alongside commitments in my order classes
Workload of courses and other commitments as a reason to drop a course. Using workload as a reason to drop a course shows that you know your capacity and would not be able to take up the project.
Example:
- ‘I find it hard to manage the demanding workload of your course.’
7. Your lectures are interesting but I realize that your course does not align with my academic goals as closely as I initially anticipated
Paying attention to the validity of the course to academic goals.
You can tell your professor that you realize that the course does not relate to your academics as initially anticipated.
Example:
- ‘The course does not align with my academic goals as initially thought.’
8. After attending the course lectures for a while, I have discovered that the content of your course has some fundamentals that I lack, and I would not be able to cope with the course
Openly stating your non-capability of the course
Giving this reason politely and openly admits the difficulty of carrying on with the course lacking the fundamentals needed.
Example:
- ‘Lacking some fundamentals, I would not be able to carry on with the course.’
9. Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I am not able to commit to the demands of your course
A polite and concise way of dropping a course. This is a brief and respectful way of telling your professor that you are no longer able to take the course for the semester.
Example:
- ‘I am no longer able to take on your course due to unforeseen personal circumstances.’
10. A rocky change in my situation requires me to adjust my academic calendar, unfortunately, I have to facilitate my withdrawal from your course
Faced with a hard situation forcing you to withdraw. You can explain to your professor about your Rocky situation causing your challenges in the course.
Example:
- ‘Due to a rocky situation, I would like to adjust my calendar by withdrawing from your course.’
11. I would like to discuss alternative options to proceed in your course with a reduced workload for optimum focus
Open to opinions and a reduced workload for efficiency. This is a polite way to ask to be excused from the course for the semester. Here, you explain to your professor that an alternative option would help you focus.
Example:
- ‘I would like to discuss alternative options for optimum focus.’
12. I would like some time off to assess my progress in this course
Accessing course progress and performance politely and honestly without negativity This means you want some time off from the course.
Example:
- ‘I need time off to assess my progress in this course.’
13. I developed diarrhea causing me to be on medication for the month, I kindly tender my request to drop a course
Request based on a chronic stomach upset needing immediate attention Illness can cause you to be on a sabbatical and this statement shows it’s a necessary choice.
Example:
- ‘I have developed diarrhea and need to drop off your course.’
14. The direction of this course is the reason I want to drop it
Stating a clear reason why you need to drop the course sometimes the details of a course goes against your ideas or isn’t what you thought it was. And this statement is the perfect way to drop it.
Example:
- ‘I don’t like the direction of this course and want to drop it.’
15. I would love to hear your response concerning dropping a course tutored by you.
Asking the opinion of a professor who Is more advanced than you asking the opinion of a professor you want to drop a course helps smoothen the process.
Example:
- ‘Can you give feedback about the course I’ll be dropping.’
16. Acknowledgement and self-reflection have made me realize the course’s difficulty and limitations, therefore I can not carry on
Course difficulty and self-realization you have to drop When you understand and identify the courses that are hard for you, it helps to decide to drop them.
Example:
- ‘I have thought about it, I can’t go on anymore.’
17. This course has become a thorn in my flesh I have decided not to take on this course anymore sir or madam
Making a light joke out of your academic situation Playful and informal way of dropping a course or letting your intentions known. NB: Only use this when you have a close or informal relationship with the professor.
Example
- ‘This is a painful course, I can’t continue.’
18. I would like to meet you in person to discuss your course I am to drop
Meeting with your professor in person to discuss the termination of course terms It’s also polite to schedule a time to discuss the decision to drop a course.
Example:
- ‘I am to drop your course and I would like to see you in person.’
19. Dear Sir/Ma, I am writing to inform you that I will no longer be carrying on the course anymore
The formal and clear way of informing your professor that you will no longer be taking a course. You can use this exercise when you lack the ability or agility to perform.
Example:
- ‘This is to inform you that I will no longer be carrying on the course anymore.’
20. I tender my request to abort my course under you as I lack the time to proofread carefully to ensure proper assimilation of the right information
Tendering a request to withdraw from a course due to a lack of time for proofreading and understanding. Lacking the time to read thoroughly properly to assimilate the course information properly.
Example:
- ‘I lack the time to properly assimilate, so, therefore I would like to abort my course under you’
Final Verdict
When choosing a response, remember that the best approach to use would depend on your relationship or the ethical needs of the professor involved. From an excuse about your health, or too much workload, to a meeting in person, there are numerous ways to convey your message without being rude.
Remember to choose the approach that best suits your situation, professor, and desired manner of approach and tone. Always prioritize honesty, respect, and professionalism in your communication and you are sure to be obliged. This way of verbal communication helps you to sound polite and straightforward in your dealings.