Is there a "proper" way to tell a school you aren't taking their acceptance?

[Dissected]

Many of us will be facing this issue in the next week and a half as we approach the december 15th deadline. Do we have to submit heartfelt letters letting them know we are going elsewhere, or is a short-winded email sufficient? How many schools is everyone letting down on december 15th? Ill be turning down 4 of them

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Go with the email. They're gonna get a hundred of them, and they don't feel like reading your life story!

 

[ILikeFood]

Short and sweet

 

[chewsnuffles]

Many of us will be facing this issue in the next week and a half as we approach the december 15th deadline. Do we have to submit heartfelt letters letting them know we are going elsewhere, or is a short-winded email sufficient? How many schools is everyone letting down on december 15th? Ill be turning down 4 of them

where are you going?

 

[Dissected]

where are you going?

good question

Its a bitter battle between DMU and KCUMB right now...Im gonna try and make up my mind this weekend. Ill probably start a poll when Im up late on saturday night trying to make up my mind

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Poll results are indisputable.

 

[saylorsdad]

Poll results are indisuptable just ask fox news after the last couple of presidential debates. They had mccain up 80% to 15% over Obama, turned out good for mccain

 

[Dissected]

Poll results are indisputable.

thats why im starting one, the masses know best right?

 

[e p i c]

Just don't pay. That's my plan.

 

[singinfifi]

The medical school rejection letter.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Dear School X,

After years of jumping through endless hoops that are only tangentially related to healthcare, at best, I am in the most fortunate position to tell you to suck it.

Sincerely,

Too cool for (your) school.

 

[Dissected]

Dear School X,

After years of jumping through endless hoops that are only tangentially related to healthcare, at best, I am in the most fortunate position to tell you to suck it.

Sincerely,

Too cool for (your) school.

The medical school rejection letter.

A combination of these two letters would be extraordinary

 

[beachblonde]

Dear School X,

After years of jumping through endless hoops that are only tangentially related to healthcare, at best, I am in the most fortunate position to tell you to suck it.

Sincerely,

Too cool for (your) school.

I love it! That's fantastic.

But really, OP, a short email will suffice. Say thanks for the offer, you're very honored, but circumstances have dictated that you go elsewhere for your medical education. Be nice and keep it short. You never know where you might end up for residency, so burning bridges at this point would be a bad idea.

 

[brucecanbeatyou]

Yeah, what's wrong with just not paying?

 

[koojo]

Yeah, what's wrong with just not paying?

I was going to use this method as well...

 

[whateva07]

DoktorB how was DMU?? I'll be interviewing there soon.

 

[Dissected]

DoktorB how was DMU?? I'll be interviewing there soon.

Awesome! The facilities are top notch, everyone was friendly, good track record (boards/matching), and if you are into global stuff they have a good program for that. Really comfortable atmosphere. Des Moines is not too big..but thats not a big deal, you're only there for 2 years. It gets effin cold though. The more I think about DMU the more I think Im gonna go there. I just want to look into the rotations a little more. The interview was good, I got grilled a little bit about weaknesses on my app but it wasn't that bad. they weren't trying to burn me at the stake.

 

[Altruist]

The sample letters so far are great.

I prefer this one:

Dear X School of Medicine,

Welcome to Dumpsville. Population: You.

Sincerely,
(me)

 

[hoopstar2323]

Yeah, what's wrong with just not paying?

You should at least be considerate enough to write them and tell them you are not attending. They took the time to review your application and interview you, give them 5 minutes for an email. Waiting until the deadline and not paying on purpose as a way of telling them you are not coming is lazy. There are people out there who haven't received any acceptances, and you writing the school to tell them no opens up a spot for someone else earlier than it would have otherwise. Give someone else a chance to have an early Christmas present of getting accepted instead of being lazy.

 

[e p i c]

You should at least be considerate enough to write them and tell them you are not attending. They took the time to review your application and interview you, give them 5 minutes for an email. Waiting until the deadline and not paying on purpose as a way of telling them you are not coming is lazy. There are people out there who haven't received any acceptances, and you writing the school to tell them no opens up a spot for someone else earlier than it would have otherwise. Give someone else a chance to have an early Christmas present of getting accepted instead of being lazy.

Wow, you make a lot of assumptions. Whatever.

I particularly like the "they took the time to review your application and interview you" part. Thanks for making me laugh.

 

[psy]

you know...I tried that 5 minute email thing. Turns out the admin wasn't very happy to hear I declined. He expressed his thoughts in a very...uhh explicit manner.

 

[e p i c]

you know...I tried that 5 minute email thing. Turns out the admin wasn't very happy to hear I declined. He expressed his thoughts in a very...uhh explicit manner.

Do tell...

 

[Chocolate Bear]

you know...I tried that 5 minute email thing. Turns out the admin wasn't very happy to hear I declined. He expressed his thoughts in a very...uhh explicit manner.

Whoa! Seriously?

 

[JamesBond15]

you know...I tried that 5 minute email thing. Turns out the admin wasn't very happy to hear I declined. He expressed his thoughts in a very...uhh explicit manner.

Now that is interesting. Please do tell.

 

[stonewall22]

While your school is high quality and impressive, there are many high quality and impressive schools, so I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend your school. I would like to wish you the best of luck in the future, and hope that you can meet all your goals. If you would like to know of anything you can do to make me more likely to choose your school in the future, please contact my wife.

Best Regards,

Stonewall22

Edit: After reading the thread, I see someone beat me to it.

 

[psy]

Wait you are going to med school for a 2nd time? Why the "to choose your school in the future"?

And as to the adcom response...he basically told me how a bad and horrible person I am to be taking an interview slot from someone who truly wants to attend his school. That letter made me feel guilty for an entire day. I did put a lot of thought into deciding and all. It was not an easy decision. Sigh...

 

[stonewall22]

Wait you are going to med school for a 2nd time? Why the "to choose your school in the future"?

And as to the adcom response...he basically told me how a bad and horrible person I am to be taking an interview slot from someone who truly wants to attend his school. That letter made me feel guilty for an entire day. I did put a lot of thought into deciding and all. It was not an easy decision. Sigh...

Where are you going?

 

[psy]

PNWU. This may come out as weird but one of the "minor" reasons I chose it was for the fruits around the area.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

And as to the adcom response...he basically told me how a bad and horrible person I am to be taking an interview slot from someone who truly wants to attend his school. That letter made me feel guilty for an entire day. I did put a lot of thought into deciding and all. It was not an easy decision. Sigh...

Whoa, this makes it sound like you told him you wouldn't attend his school, before you even went to the interview. I'm assuming this isn't the case.

Did you attend the interview, get accepted, then realize you had a better acceptance in hand? (This is what I assumed happened, before you posted your response)

 

[Dissected]

Wait you are going to med school for a 2nd time? Why the "to choose your school in the future"?

And as to the adcom response...he basically told me how a bad and horrible person I am to be taking an interview slot from someone who truly wants to attend his school. That letter made me feel guilty for an entire day. I did put a lot of thought into deciding and all. It was not an easy decision. Sigh...

Holy crap! I wonder if they send this to everyone?? EVERY school has people decline their acceptances, how can they expect their school to be good enough to be everyone's dream? That bothers me ...talk about burning bridges! you mind PMing me which school that was? I might have to write a letter to them too

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Holy crap! I wonder if they send this to everyone?? EVERY school has people decline their acceptances, how can they expect their school to be good enough to be everyone's dream? That bothers me ...talk about burning bridges! you mind PMing me which school that was? I might have to write a letter to them too

Pffft! If some high-on-his-horse adcom harasses me after I politely decline, I'm not sure what I'd do. I guarantee I'd even the score, though.

 

[Bleurberry]

Pffft! If some high-on-his-horse adcom harasses me after I politely decline, I'm not sure what I'd do. I guarantee I'd even the score, though.

I can't even compute. LECOM sent along with theinterview notice that one should cancel 10 days prior and they'd notify when the time was appropriate, and I'm planning on doing just that.
I didn't apply many places.

 

[e p i c]

PNWU. This may come out as weird but one of the "minor" reasons I chose it was for the fruits around the area.

Too bad you didn't get into UCSF.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I can't even compute. LECOM sent along with theinterview notice that one should cancel 10 days prior and they'd notify when the time was appropriate, and I'm planning on doing just that.
I didn't apply many places.

Yeah, I've never seen any kind of unprofessional admissions office behavior, either. Sounds really annoying.

 

[e p i c]

And as to the adcom response...he basically told me how a bad and horrible person I am to be taking an interview slot from someone who truly wants to attend his school. That letter made me feel guilty for an entire day. I did put a lot of thought into deciding and all. It was not an easy decision. Sigh...

I'd write a letter to the dean. This guy's a piece of shyte.

 

[psy]

That was the director of admission.. not sure the dean would care.

For those who must write a response to decline, make sure you make it short and don't give them your reasons for not accepting. Just say you have chosen another school and end the letter.

 

[e p i c]

...

 

[ILikeFood]

Dear Dean,

 

[psy]

I decline. Thanks bye.

 

[Dissected]

dear dean,

hahaha

 

[cdcd67]

I decline. Thanks bye.

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cdcd67]

Dear Dean,

]ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cdcd67]

O sorry..i don't know why that came separately

 

[GoggleOryzae]

Hi! I recently got accepted into two programs, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about telling one program no. There was not any declaration of intention like paper to send back.

Do I just wait for the time to expire on putting down a deposit or should I write a formal e-mail/letter to the school?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[NontradICUdoc]

this is the time for you to act professionally. That being said, you should not just wait until time runs out because you are putting the school in a tough place and you are holding a seat that you do not want from a student who does want it.

that being said. Write a letter or e-mail directed to the director of admissions. Start by telling them how appreciative you are of their offer and how you feel about the offer. Then tell them that unfortunately, you will have to decline their offer. That's it. for example:

Dear Mrs/Mrs./Dr/ Admissions Director,

I would like to start off by tell you the honor that I have in being granted an acceptance to your school. Unfortunately I will have to decline the offer and free up the spot for another student.

Thank you very much for the time you took to consider me. Good luck with your school and I am sure that your incoming class will be very successful.

Sincerely,


M. Edical.

Or you can just say:

Dear Admissions Dude,

Whoa man, I cannot beleive you fell all that crazy $hit that I said on my application and then gave me an interview. I was like, whoa, do thees guys like, like me or what?? I am telling you man, it felt, cool.

then when I went to visit, like, your campus and stuff and that Dr. suess guy, I think that's his name, well that dr guy talked to me, I was like whoa man. I wana be a doctor cause I wanna like make a lotta money so I can like ya know, surf a lot of time man. and he was like, "sir", I never have anyone call me sir before, I was like, yo man....sir is for my father. You can call me dude.

And then he was like "dude, is that your best answer?" and I am like, well, yeah man the pizza guy will be here in like 5 minutes wanna share?

so then when I got your letter telling me that I got in, I was like whoa man that is cool. the I got your like, bill and I was like DDDDUUUUUUUDDDDEEEEE that is a lot, I mean a lot of pot that I would like, have to give up and then that schedule, I was like, whoa are you kidding me? I need that time to surf man.

So admissions, dude, I'm gonna have to say, like no way man. Surf's up

 

[brucecanbeatyou]

so then when I got your letter telling me that I got in, I was like whoa man that is cool. the I got your like, bill and I was like DDDDUUUUUUUDDDDEEEEE that is a lot, I mean a lot of pot that I would like, have to give up and then that schedule, I was like, whoa are you kidding me? I need that time to surf man.

So admissions, dude, I'm gonna have to say, like no way man. Surf's up

WTF? If a school did have a Dr. Seuss on its board of admissions, do you honestly think that anyone would turn them down? Come on!

 

[Dissected]

WTF? If a school did have a Dr. Seuss on its board of admissions, do you honestly think that anyone would turn them down? Come on!

I wish my last name was seuss...I would have no choice but to become a doctor. you would have a choke-hold on the field of pediatrics

 

[GoggleOryzae]

Ha ha! Thanks for the input. Totally going to use the second example. XD

 

[brucecanbeatyou]

I decided to just send really short emails thanking them for the acceptance but I was attending a much younger, better looking, and exciting School of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

[Dissected]

just informed them... [bracing for impact ]