I'm currently a Senior Undergraduate planning on applying to MS and PhD programs this Fall. 

Between my current research job, TA position, and courses I believe I'm over committed time wise this semester (only 2 weeks in and I'm very stressed). I was looking to drop a course to free up my schedule and unfortunately the best candidate seems to be a course in my research area in which I'm applying to graduate schools.

The class takes place during night hours, it's poorly taught/structured, and I seem to know most of the material already. I have publications in the area and I feel as they should make up for not taking the course, but currently dropping the course would show up on my transcript (as a withdrawal). 

*Would a withdrawal from a course in my related research area negatively affect my graduate application? If so, severely?*

Currently I am having a discussion with an advisor, but I'd also like thoughts from others who are familiar with graduate admissions processes. There are [several](https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/29494/how-do-some-ws-on-transcripts-affect-phd-admissions-in-mathematics?rq=1) [other](https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/40842/how-do-withdrawn-courses-in-my-transcripts-affect-my-phd-admissions-application?rq=1) [related](https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/66561/would-several-withdrawals-w-affect-my-chances-at-graduate-school-admission?rq=1) questions on this site, but all seem to address a large number of W's or W's in areas not related to their proposed research area.