how to decline an interview and withdraw?

[striped sweater]

i know there are some threads on this but i could not find one for this exact situation. if you have scheduled some interviews but have been accepted to a higher choice, do you then call the schools to bow out of the interviews or do you formally withdraw your application. or both? or what?

if you do NOT have interviews, is it necessary to withdraw your application, or is withdrawing reserved only for schools to which you have been waitlisted or accepted?

and just how is withdrawing an application done? is email okay?

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[!dr_nick!]

Yes. I think it is only professional to do both.

 

[docquaker]

you should withdraw from schools even if you haven't been waitlisted or accepted. email is fine...they will usually tell you if there is anything else you need to do. congrats!

 

[Supercluster]

I believe the AAMC recommends that you first cancel an interview by phone (so the school has as much time as possible to invite someone else), and then follow up with a letter of withdrawal.

If you don't have an interview, it isn't really necessary that you withdraw if you're just curious to see if you'd get an interview. I would say that if you immediately refuse the interview invite, there's little chance that you would be taking anyone else's spot. But, realistically, if you positively don't want to go, you might as well withdraw.

I guess email is okay for withdrawals, but I think snail mail is more official because then you're sending a real signature. I would suggest you send a short and respectful letter. Hope that helps!