Going back on a Letter of Intent, Advice appreciated

[CatN1nja]

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Hello everyone!
After much lurking I thought you all could offer me some advice. My situation is a bit unique, but I feel like general advice would be helpful for everyone considering going back on a Letter of Intent.

To cut to the chase, I’ve been accepted to School Y back in February and School X has me on their waitlist. I also wrote School X a letter of intent back early in February.
Truth is I would really like to begin planning housing and make set plans for the summer. I’ve held out for School X for over 2.5 months now, and going to School Y is a perfectly reasonable choice.

Currently my only hesitation on backing out my letter is that I’m afraid to mess up the plans of future applicants from my UG school, especially if they write the School X a LOI. Also, our division head has called one of the admissions officers on my behalf to affirm my LOI. I would hate ruin that relationship.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Also I’m sure others would appreciate general advice about backing out of a LOI.

Thanks

 

[DAPI]

Hello everyone!
After much lurking I thought you all could offer me some advice. My situation is a bit unique, but I feel like general advice would be helpful for everyone considering going back on a Letter of Intent.

To cut to the chase, I’ve been accepted to School Y back in February and School X has me on their waitlist. I also wrote School X a letter of intent back early in February.
Truth is I would really like to begin planning housing and make set plans for the summer. I’ve held out for School X for over 2.5 months now, and going to School Y is a perfectly reasonable choice.

Currently my only hesitation on backing out my letter is that I’m afraid to mess up the plans of future applicants from my UG school, especially if they write the School X a LOI. Also, our division head has called one of the admissions officers on my behalf to affirm my LOI. I would hate ruin that relationship.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Also I’m sure others would appreciate general advice about backing out of a LOI.

Thanks

And this is why a school should never take a letter of intent seriously 🙄

 

[gyngyn]

And this is why a school should never take a letter of intent seriously 🙄

We don't!

 

[NedStark]

Hello everyone!
After much lurking I thought you all could offer me some advice. My situation is a bit unique, but I feel like general advice would be helpful for everyone considering going back on a Letter of Intent.

To cut to the chase, I’ve been accepted to School Y back in February and School X has me on their waitlist. I also wrote School X a letter of intent back early in February.
Truth is I would really like to begin planning housing and make set plans for the summer. I’ve held out for School X for over 2.5 months now, and going to School Y is a perfectly reasonable choice.

Currently my only hesitation on backing out my letter is that I’m afraid to mess up the plans of future applicants from my UG school, especially if they write the School X a LOI. Also, our division head has called one of the admissions officers on my behalf to affirm my LOI. I would hate ruin that relationship.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Also I’m sure others would appreciate general advice about backing out of a LOI.

Thanks

You wrote your letter of intent before they made a decision. Then they waitlisted you. As far as I'm concerned, as long as you write to them withdrawing from the waitlist, you do not owe them anything nor have you breached your informal contract. But you do need to withdraw before they make you an offer. Good luck!

 

[anguisette]

We don't!

OP, I think it's fine to withdraw from their waitlist even though you sent a LOI. Since your division head called to vouch for you, have you spoken with that person to let them know why you're thinking about withdrawing now?

 

[as1212559]

I remember the good ol' days when intent meant something.

 

[Cambino]

I remember the good ol' days when intent meant something.

????

😕

 

[alpinism]

Do you know how high up you are on their WL?

I would contact the school and ask them if they can give you any info about your chances of acceptance. Explain to them your situation and how you would really like to begin making housing plans for the summer.

As per the LOI, at the very least don't go back on your letter before June. Most WL movement doesn't begin to happen till late May anyway. You should have already known this before writing the LOI. Additionally, you might not ever end up being accepted, and if you are accepted later, you can cross that bridge when you come to it.

 

[pv515]

I would go to school X, and withdraw the letter of intent. If school Y should take you off the waitlist without having that letter, then feel good about it and maybe go there. I think it's too late in the game to be promising them you will attend if you are gearing up for X already.

 

[Mako555]

when you email them to withdraw, just include a nice sentence about how you like the school but you feel it is time to move forward with another option. that is all that is necessary.

just make sure you withdraw before being accepted! if you write a LOI, and are accepted, and then you withdraw, that is 100 times worse than what you are doing. I imagine your wording was something like "if accepted, i would absolutely attend." you are not even breaking your promise if you wrote it like that.