How do you decline acceptances?

[WEsternU2013]

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Hi all!

I've been trolling around the forums for about 2 years and never posted =X.

I was accepted into my top choice, Western U! The thing is, I've been accepted to other schools. How do I go about declining my offers? I am holding seats to 3 schools and when should I notify them? I just don't want to be committed to one school as of now just in-case something goes wrong then at least I have a back up.

Please help...=)

Thanks!

 

[medicalCPA]

Hi all!

I've been trolling around the forums for about 2 years and never posted =X.

I was accepted into my top choice, Western U! The thing is, I've been accepted to other schools. How do I go about declining my offers? I am holding seats to 3 schools and when should I notify them? I just don't want to be committed to one school as of now just in-case something goes wrong then at least I have a back up.

Please help...=)

Thanks!

Just tell them nicely that you will not be able to attend ("Thank you for accepting me. However, I will not be able to attend XX School of Pharmacy this year," or something similar). You don't have to give a specific reason; they would not have given you one if you had been rejected. If you are sure that Western is your first choice, you should turn down the other two schools you are holding, and you should do it as soon as possible so that they can offer the seat to someone else. That's just plain good manners. And the earlier you do so, the more time that alternate has time to do things like background checks, immunizations, making plans, etc.

 

[avuong]

Hi OP,

You can call or email those other schools and say,
---
Dear Office of Admissions,

I must withdraw my application because I have been accepted to Western.
Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
[your name]
Pharmcas ID#
Other ID #s



P.S. can you actually hold my spot until August just in case Western doesnt work out?
Thanks again!

[your name]

 

[medicalCPA]

P.S. can you actually hold my spot until August just in case Western doesnt work out?
Thanks again!

[your name]

Seriously, would you actually accommodate this request if you worked in the admissions office?

 

[avuong]

hmmm....

i dont know, lets take a vote.

me personally i would say yes because i'm a nice guy.

--
btw OP, congrats on getting into your top choice. This is a process everyone goes through and there is always risk in picking one school and withdrawing from the rest. If there is no reason Western would rescind, (not finishing pre-reqs, background check, finding marijuana in your urine during drug screen), you should be fine. Relax, the hardest part is over.
and Best of luck!

 

[WEsternU2013]

Hi OP,

You can call or email those other schools and say,
---
Dear Office of Admissions,

I must withdraw my application because I have been accepted to Western.
Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
[your name]
Pharmcas ID#
Other ID #s



P.S. can you actually hold my spot until August just in case Western doesnt work out?
Thanks again!

[your name]

Ha ha nice!

Thanks for the layout! Maybe I'll try the P.S. thing. I hope I don't burn any bridges along the way since I do plan on teaching some time down the road.

 

[bluesickle]

Hi OP,

You can call or email those other schools and say,
---
Dear Office of Admissions,

I must withdraw my application because I have been accepted to Western.
Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
[your name]
Pharmcas ID#
Other ID #s



P.S. can you actually hold my spot until August just in case Western doesnt work out?
Thanks again!

[your name]

Two comments:

1. The school doesn't need to know where the OP got accepted to since they're not going to do the same for him/her after a rejection.
2. The OP is going to look foolish if s/he includes the P.S. in the e-mail.

 

[alenadoma]

TO OP: Mind sharing the other schools you've been accepted to?

 

[aboveliquidice]

Hi all!

I've been trolling around the forums for about 2 years and never posted =X.

I was accepted into my top choice, Western U! The thing is, I've been accepted to other schools. How do I go about declining my offers? I am holding seats to 3 schools and when should I notify them? I just don't want to be committed to one school as of now just in-case something goes wrong then at least I have a back up.

Please help...=)

Thanks!

Personally - I think it is inappropriate to hold seats at other institutions if you have no intention of attending those schools any longer. Typically, if you screw up your acceptance for one school (fail organic or whatever), you would be screwing your acceptance for all schools.

Someone right now is waiting on those spots - waiting longer means others have less time to prepare. It is generally considered common courtesy to let other schools know you have been accepted elsewhere.

That being said - if you have decided to hold on to your seats - I would not send ANY letter to the effect that you will be giving up your seat. When you are ready, send them the letter (or call) - but do not communicate anything to the effect prior to making such a decision.

 

[charfdorn]

Hi all!

I've been trolling around the forums for about 2 years and never posted =X.

I was accepted into my top choice, Western U! The thing is, I've been accepted to other schools. How do I go about declining my offers? I am holding seats to 3 schools and when should I notify them? I just don't want to be committed to one school as of now just in-case something goes wrong then at least I have a back up.

Please help...=)

Thanks!

If you contact those other schools now, and ask nicely, you might be able to get your deposit back. Worth a shot.

What could go wrong? Someone already said that what screws up one acceptance probably kills them all.

 

[BelmontUSOP2]

As an Assoc. Dean, I would ask that anyone in this situation please extend the courtesy to the schools that they will not attend and let the admissions personnel know your intentions as soon as you have made it. Doing so means that we have more accurate information for planning purposes and we can offer that seat to another deserving candidate.

The later the news comes, the harder it is to help other applicants get all needed activities completed in order to matriculate.

Be thoughtful of others. It'n not hard to do, and such action has a way of coming back to you when you most need it.

Eric H. Hobson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Belmont University SOP

 

[Ephany]

If you call, is it also necessary to email or write a letter so that the school has written confirmation of your decision?

 

[aboveliquidice]

If you call, is it also necessary to email or write a letter so that the school has written confirmation of your decision?

Typically - It must be written - In email or letter - something in physical form is required to document that you have given up your seat.

Email is quick and easy - I would consult the school in question for verification...

 

[Farmercyst]

When I declined Western I did it by phone. Basically said thanks, but I've already been accepted somewhere else. That's all it took. Simple, I know, but after all the complexities of the application process, something should be simple.😉

Some schools will send out a survey asking why you declined, if accepted, where, and what you thought about their application process. I believe Western does because I seem to recall filling out their survey. I know USC must have something similar because the last two years they were able to give stats on how many people declined admission, and what percentage of those declining went to other schools (Western, SF, SD, & UOP primarlily)