Decline your offers now!

[ANY2003]

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Hi everyone, haven't seen this discussed before so I thought I'd start a thread. Suppose you get multiple offers. Don't wait until the April 15th deadline to decline your offers. It's best to do it now so that people can move off the waitlist before the deadline. Say you get into University A and University B. You want to go to University A, but wait until April 15th to decline University B. Now Student #2 wants to go to University B, but she is waitlisted. So she sends in her deposit for University C. She finds out after April 15th that she has been moved off the waitlist to be accepted to University B! Basically, she loses $1000 on her deposit for University C!
So if you know 100% what offer you are going to accept, decline the others now! 🙂

 

[TigerWillow]

Too bad this is not a dilemma pour moi. I get your point 🙂 but I fear you might get flack for it.

It's human nature to procrastinate, unfortunately.

 

[ANY2003]

Too bad this is not a dilemma pour moi. I get your point 🙂 but I fear you might get flack for it.

It's human nature to procrastinate, unfortunately.

I totally understand. I've been hoarding my offers in case something goes wrong with Davis and they're like, "just kidding, we reject you now." I'm going to reject my other offers on Monday! It's scary to let them go, but it will relieve a lot of stress for someone else!

 

[PetPony]

Aren't there schools that won't tell their waitlisters until after that date anyways?

 

[ANY2003]

Aren't there schools that won't tell their waitlisters until after that date anyways?

Some might, but the ones I've been watching move people off the waitlist as offers are declined. It probably depends on the school.

 

[TigerWillow]

Yeah there are. But not all.

It pretty much stinks. And I just heard a scary waitlist talk from CSU, so im glad I'm off the hook!!

Good luck to those waiting!!!

 

[DVMDream]

I would agree. Considering that my deposit for Edinburgh is due May 1st and I would have to drop around $2,500 on it; it would be nice to know if I am going to get off a waitlist in the US before I do that.

 

[orca2011]

The only wait list I've seen move so far is Oregon and my letters actually stated that I would not hear a thing until after the 15th. So I now have 15 days to decide if I'm putting my deposit down for Glasgow which is almost $2000. Yay....

 

[TigerWillow]

The only wait list I've seen move so far is Oregon and my letters actually stated that I would not hear a thing until after the 15th. So I now have 15 days to decide if I'm putting my deposit down for Glasgow which is almost $2000. Yay....

Ugh. I'm so sorry. That bites.

 

[orca2011]

Ugh. I'm so sorry. That bites.

I don't actually know if it's due by April 15th. I've emailed twice to find out but haven't heard back. Mainly because I know it's spring break over in the UK so I'm sure people are out of the office. But it sucks to lose that money when you don't have it to begin with. And I still can't make a decision. fml.

 

[jemappellejane]

I wish I cared about people declining offers 😳
No US hope for me this year.... or ever.

 

[Moonstruckmuse]

Totally understand on this count - wish schools would get back to us on financial aid faster! I'm pretty sure I know which school I'll be going to... but I need to know how much aid I can get before I commit. =/

 

[GreyMatter 17]

I tried to decline my CSU offer this week. I had just started spring break when I got my IS school offer (about 1 hour after I finished my last final...hello vacation!) and I haven't been back to my house at school since. I looked into it today and apparently I have to mail in my decline to CSU. I will get to it first thing Monday I promise! CSU is such a great school, it's hard to let it go. I hope my spot goes to an SDNer.

 

[lostbunny]

Hi everyone, haven't seen this discussed before so I thought I'd start a thread. Suppose you get multiple offers. Don't wait until the April 15th deadline to decline your offers. It's best to do it now so that people can move off the waitlist before the deadline. Say you get into University A and University B. You want to go to University A, but wait until April 15th to decline University B. Now Student #2 wants to go to University B, but she is waitlisted. So she sends in her deposit for University C. She finds out after April 15th that she has been moved off the waitlist to be accepted to University B! Basically, she loses $1000 on her deposit for University C!
So if you know 100% what offer you are going to accept, decline the others now! 🙂

Its not the accepted person's fault if the waitlister loses money/is on the wait list...

 

[fromthebox]

Its not the accepted person's fault if the waitlister loses money/is on the wait list...

Not their fault at all. But also it is kinda douchey to sit on several offers you know you're gonna decline right up till the 15th/16th. If you are still deciding or waiting on aid info, nothing wrong with not declining early. But if you know for sure than why wait?

 

[lostbunny]

Not their fault at all. But also it is kinda douchey to sit on several offers you know you're gonna decline right up till the 15th/16th. If you are still deciding or waiting on aid info, nothing wrong with not declining early. But if you know for sure than why wait?

I think having multiple offers and just waiting anyways is up to the person anyway. Even if you've wanted to go to Uni A since you were a fetus, having the actual option of going to Uni B or C might maybe make you hesitant to just decline them anyway. I want to go to Murdoch, but if I was in a situation where I was accepted to Murdoch, Sydney AND Melbourne- I'd for sure re consider and think and toss and turn and pull my hair out anyway.

What if you accepted to Uni A, but then something happened.... sayyy a new announcement of some residency specialization or new lab specializing in what you want to do opens up at Uni B- then you're f*cked and will kick yourself for declining Uni B. What if a zombie apocalypse happens at Uni A and then you're f*cked because you've declined Uni B and C already. Your roomie could eat your brain at night.

People who have multiple offers: ... do whatever the hell you want- keep them till the last date, don't reply to them, decline them right away... they're YOUR seats that you've earned, you can decide what to do with them!!!

 

[Virginger]

my $0.02

its a sweet gesture if you care enough about others to declining earlier than the deadline because you are thinking about the waitlisters, of course not required, but still very nice.

as a waitlister that doesnt fit into her pool of "i have other offers," i still appreciate any2003's message.

 

[StartingoverVet]

I think having multiple offers and just waiting anyways is up to the person anyway. Even if you've wanted to go to Uni A since you were a fetus, having the actual option of going to Uni B or C might maybe make you hesitant to just decline them anyway. I want to go to Murdoch, but if I was in a situation where I was accepted to Murdoch, Sydney AND Melbourne- I'd for sure re consider and think and toss and turn and pull my hair out anyway.

What if you accepted to Uni A, but then something happened.... sayyy a new announcement of some residency specialization or new lab specializing in what you want to do opens up at Uni B- then you're f*cked and will kick yourself for declining Uni B. What if a zombie apocalypse happens at Uni A and then you're f*cked because you've declined Uni B and C already. Your roomie could eat your brain at night.

People who have multiple offers: ... do whatever the hell you want- keep them till the last date, don't reply to them, decline them right away... they're YOUR seats that you've earned, you can decide what to do with them!!!

Oh please. Sure you can do whatever you want, that is the point.

And your examples are ridiculous. Make your decision, accept it and move on and do the right thing.

I took a while to decide amongst my 3 acceptances, but as soon as I was sure, I declined the other 2 (right around this time if I remember). I didn't wait until the last minute for some "new information" that in 999/1000 cases (if that few) will not occur.

Try to see things from other's point of view.

What you CAN do and what you SHOULD do are not the same, and I feel like you are in the wrong profession with that attitude.

 

[Minnerbelle]

I took a while to decide amongst my 3 acceptances, but as soon as I was sure, I declined the other 2 (right around this time if I remember). I didn't wait until the last minute for some "new information" that in 999/1000 cases (if that few) will not occur.

I agree with this. People should definitely take all the time they need to make the decision, because it IS a pretty big decision... But there's really no need to wait until the very last day to make that decision when you're forced to. What can they realistically change between march and April? Some schools might have their budgets done at that time (maybe, I dunno) but even then, you don't need that particular year's budget to know about how much tuition tends to increase, or how much you're expected

 

[Minnerbelle]

To pay for tuition. If the school is going to announce some major curriculum change that will affect YOU, then I'm sure they would have announced that before interview time and whatnot. Yeah they might announce a couple changes here and there, like an extra residency spot or something, but that doesn't really concern an incoming first-year

 

[bunnity]

I think it much less ridiculous to say "do whatever you want" than to demand that people take action like the OP and others did.
A gentle reminder that your decision may affect others? Sure.
Acting like it is your right to tell other people what to do with their lives? Not okay, and there are plenty of legitimate reasons to be waiting right now (waiting for financial aid info, leverage for scholarship money, may be checking out new cities in the next few weeks, looking at jobs possibilities for SO's, talking to current students to find the school that is the best fit...).

 

[Minnerbelle]

I think it much less ridiculous to say "do whatever you want" than to demand that people take action like the OP and others did.
A gentle reminder that your decision may affect others? Sure.
Acting like it is your right to tell other people what to do with their lives? Not okay, and there are plenty of legitimate reasons to be waiting right now (waiting for financial aid info, leverage for scholarship money, may be checking out new cities in the next few weeks, looking at jobs possibilities for SO's, talking to current students to find the school that is the best fit...).

I took the above comments to mean people who have pretty much decided where they want to go, but just haven't gotten around to sending in letters declining their spots at the other schools. Not so much that people who are still trying to decide should hurry up just so that people on waitlists get notified earlier/don't lose their deposits.

 

[shellbell4e]

So if you know 100% what offer you are going to accept, decline the others now! 🙂

I feel like many people skip over this last sentence.

 

[ANY2003]

I think it much less ridiculous to say "do whatever you want" than to demand that people take action like the OP and others did.
A gentle reminder that your decision may affect others? Sure.
Acting like it is your right to tell other people what to do with their lives? Not okay, and there are plenty of legitimate reasons to be waiting right now (waiting for financial aid info, leverage for scholarship money, may be checking out new cities in the next few weeks, looking at jobs possibilities for SO's, talking to current students to find the school that is the best fit...).

Wow...ok. I never acted like it was my right to tell people what to do with their lives. If you need time to make a decision, by all means take it. I merely meant to point out that if you are 100% sure (as I said in my original post), there's no reason to hold on to offers when another person is waiting for that spot. Of course, there are legitimate reasons to not make a decision right away. I never encouraged anyone to hurry up and decide. People have the right to hold on to all their offers until the 15th. This is a big decision, and once you decline an offer you can't have it back. For me, I know 100% where I'm going to go, and there's no reason for me to hold onto the other offers. So for me, it just makes sense to let the other offers go.

 

[GreyMatter 17]

This year we have til April 16.

So no rush 😉

 

[lostbunny]

What you CAN do and what you SHOULD do are not the same, and I feel like you are in the wrong profession with that attitude.

Wow like thats relevant.

P.s. this is an ONLINE DISCUSSION board. For all I know you could be some naked greasy b*stard posting on SDN posing as a vet student.

I entitled to my opinion, you are to yours as well but throwing low blows is just stupid.

Some of my examples were probable, some jokes just to lighten the mood to not take something so stupidly serious... like worrying about who's mailing their declined offers right now, and why people aren't.

People who are just slacking and waiting for the deadline, or have probably forgotten about the offers they want to decline, probably don't even check SDN.

 

[hopefulinva]

As soon as I knew for sure I was headed to VMRCVM I declined my seat to Illinois, for exactly this reason!

Illinois is an awesome school and I would have loved to have gone there - and I'm positive there was someone on the waitlist that felt the same way. I wouldn't like being suspended in limbo, so it didn't seem fair for me to hold on to it when I knew it would come to nothing.

I had made the decision to attend VMR while at home for spring break, and Illinois also only allows mail-ins. I hadn't brought the paperwork with me and I was so antsy to get home and send it out!

 

[PrincetonDogMom]

Wow like thats relevant.

P.s. this is an ONLINE DISCUSSION board. For all I know you could be some naked greasy b*stard posting on SDN posing as a vet student.

I entitled to my opinion, you are to yours as well but throwing low blows is just stupid.

Some of my examples were probable, some jokes just to lighten the mood to not take something so stupidly serious... like worrying about who's mailing their declined offers right now, and why people aren't.

People who are just slacking and waiting for the deadline, or have probably forgotten about the offers they want to decline, probably don't even check SDN.

Is it really a low blow, I wonder?

The person seems to think that veterinarians should be considerate, caring people. I could see how not rejecting a school you have very little chance of attending could be seen as inconsiderate. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I agree.

Taking an action that only mildly benefits you at someone else's great expense.

 

[sunshinevet]

I think what lostbunny actually said was lost in translation - and the stress of those who have been/are waitlisted.

She wasn't trying to say "omg hold on to your spots for the last possible minute because your better than those people on the waitlist so to hell with them!!!"

What she was saying was "you earned that acceptance fair and square, so don't let anyone pressure you into declining an offer until you're good and ready".

Saying that the veterinary profession is the wrong one for her because of this is ridiculous. I think on this board, its probably the lowest blow you can give!

It IS a really hard decision to choose between vet schools - and EVERY YEAR we get threads on here from people on waitlists telling people with multiple acceptances to make up their minds - these threads range from polite (like this one started) to downright militant. At the end of the day no one should be guilted into rushing this decision - yes we understand there are people on waitlists! But like Lostbunny, I don't feel there is the responsibility for people to rush to decline their acceptances for the sake of those on waitlists.

I understand that the OP was talking about people who were 100% sure of their choice. But I think that fact has been forgotten by a few people along the way.

 

[Emiloo4]

I think what lostbunny actually said was lost in translation - and the stress of those who have been/are waitlisted.

She wasn't trying to say "omg hold on to your spots for the last possible minute because your better than those people on the waitlist so to hell with them!!!"

What she was saying was "you earned that acceptance fair and square, so don't let anyone pressure you into declining an offer until you're good and ready".

Saying that the veterinary profession is the wrong one for her because of this is ridiculous. I think on this board, its probably the lowest blow you can give!

It IS a really hard decision to choose between vet schools - and EVERY YEAR we get threads on here from people on waitlists telling people with multiple acceptances to make up their minds - these threads range from polite (like this one started) to downright militant. At the end of the day no one should be guilted into rushing this decision - yes we understand there are people on waitlists! But like Lostbunny, I don't feel there is the responsibility for people to rush to decline their acceptances for the sake of those on waitlists.

I understand that the OP was talking about people who were 100% sure of their choice. But I think that fact has been forgotten by a few people along the way.

👍

 

[PrincetonDogMom]

I think what lostbunny actually said was lost in translation - and the stress of those who have been/are waitlisted.

She wasn't trying to say "omg hold on to your spots for the last possible minute because your better than those people on the waitlist so to hell with them!!!"

What she was saying was "you earned that acceptance fair and square, so don't let anyone pressure you into declining an offer until you're good and ready".

Saying that the veterinary profession is the wrong one for her because of this is ridiculous. I think on this board, its probably the lowest blow you can give!

It IS a really hard decision to choose between vet schools - and EVERY YEAR we get threads on here from people on waitlists telling people with multiple acceptances to make up their minds - these threads range from polite (like this one started) to downright militant. At the end of the day no one should be guilted into rushing this decision - yes we understand there are people on waitlists! But like Lostbunny, I don't feel there is the responsibility for people to rush to decline their acceptances for the sake of those on waitlists.

I understand that the OP was talking about people who were 100% sure of their choice. But I think that fact has been forgotten by a few people along the way.

I see.
I think there are 2 conversations going on. First, if you really know where you are going please reject other schools. Second, if you need time to make up your decision, then that is ok. I think both of those things are correct. And I don't think anyone is saying anything else. Maybe there is some disagreement over what it means to have your mind made up, or 100% or something.

 

[sunshinevet]

I see.
I think there are 2 conversations going on. First, if you really know where you are going please reject other schools. Second, if you need time to make up your decision, then that is ok. I think both of those things are correct. And I don't think anyone is saying anything else. Maybe there is some disagreement over what it means to have your mind made up, or 100% or something.

Absolutely there are 2 conversations going on.

And I think saying that someone does not belong in our profession because they have not carefully read the thread is really rude and uncalled for...

 

[RxyBrtn]

The schools I got into and waitlisted at encourage you that once you have made your decision, promptly respond so that the waitlist can move.

I agree, take your time to make the decision that will be life-changing. Once it's made, do work! 😀

 

[fromthebox]

Absolutely there are 2 conversations going on.

And I think saying that someone does not belong in our profession because they have not carefully read the thread is really rude and uncalled for...

Yes, and I'm not reiterating that. But lostbunny kinda wandered in and took a dump on the thread. Which was also uncalled for. And she pretty much implied that SOV was not a vet student and called him "a naked greasy bastard" an ad hominem for an ad hominem I see.

I'm sorry, if people who have multiple offers and know where they want to go but hold on to those extra spots because "they can do what they want with their spots, they earned them!" That's a selfish bastard kinda thing to do and I wouldn't really want them as a class mate.

 

[NStarz]

Sorry, guys, I am definitely guilty of this. I decided a couple of weeks ago on OSU and haven't sent in my 'thanks, but no thanks' letters yet. That would've required me looking up addresses and finding envelopes and stamps. Rest assured, they are going in the mail tomorrow.

Don't flame me 🙁

 

[fromthebox]

Sorry, guys, I am definitely guilty of this. I decided a couple of weeks ago on OSU and haven't sent in my 'thanks, but no thanks' letters yet. That would've required me looking up addresses and finding envelopes and stamps. Rest assured, they are going in the mail tomorrow.

Don't flame me 🙁

It's cool. it isn't a guilt thing at all, just a nudge.
Much love.

 

[bearito]

Sorry, guys, I am definitely guilty of this. I decided a couple of weeks ago on OSU and haven't sent in my 'thanks, but no thanks' letters yet. That would've required me looking up addresses and finding envelopes and stamps. Rest assured, they are going in the mail tomorrow.

Don't flame me 🙁

Hey NStarz, is that Oregon State or Ohio?

 

[NStarz]

Hey NStarz, is that Oregon State or Ohio?

Ohio! It's under my name 🙂

 

[RadRadTerp]

Sometimes a little RTFA goes a long way.

 

[GreyMatter 17]

Mailed my CSU decline this morning.

To the wait listers!

 

[su_grad2007]

I agree with this. People should definitely take all the time they need to make the decision, because it IS a pretty big decision... But there's really no need to wait until the very last day to make that decision when you're forced to. What can they realistically change between march and April? Some schools might have their budgets done at that time (maybe, I dunno) but even then, you don't need that particular year's budget to know about how much tuition tends to increase, or how much you're expected

Actually, Texas A&M did a pretty significant increase in tuition and informed us of that about a week before the deadline, it might have been less than a week actually. It affected all incoming and future students. They hadn't raised tuition in years so it wasn't really expected and there were people in my class that were very upset about it because they had other offers they would have considered differently had they known sooner. But, they had already declined those offers and accepted Texas A&M. One person in my class actually tried to fight the raised tuition for our class actually because of that (we had already been sent the previous tuition information) but we were told it was a university decision not a vet school decision. It is possible that something may change your mind before April 15th, maybe not likely, but possible. It's a big decision and I can see where even people who are 100% sure they want to go to school A, may want to hold on to those acceptances until the deadline. And I was waitlisted so I understand that perspective too. I just thought I'd give an actual example of the fact that things do change and that may or may not affect your final decision.