Kindest Rejection Letters

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LizzyM

LizzyM

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Being the bearer of bad news is not fun and being the recipient is even worse. Which schools have the nicest way of saying, "sorry, but you haven't been admitted"? What did you most like about the letter?
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Most of them are the same with the same old core message of "too many qualified applicants, it's not you it's us" which is fine because that probably is true. I can only comment on the one worst rejection letter and it gotta be USC by far. The letter using font that is ridiculously small and with the most generic/lame message ever. USC left a bad impression for me after that letter.
 
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I really liked BU's rejection letter, and is the nicest one I have received (so far).

"The Committee on Admissions of Boston University School of Medicine has completed its review of your application. It is with great regret that I inform you that we will be unable to offer an interview this year. This is a disappointment, as much for those who are responsible for the decision as it may be for you, the candidate who is turned away.

Most of the candidates we are considering this year are qualified to attend medical school and are likely to make important contributions to our profession and to society. Sadly, with more than 100 applicants for every seat in the class, we are forced to deny many exceptional people.

We acknowledge and respect your accomplishments and recognize that our inability to offer you an opportunity to complete the admissions process is a loss for Boston University. Please accept our best wishes for all your future endeavors."
 
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I liked the ones from Boston U and UC San Diego, mostly because they noted that the rejections should not be taken as an indication that we're not qualified. I also liked the ending of Tulane's rejection letter which stated, "We hope you receive an acceptance to a medical school of your choice" which was nice.
 
Definitely UCSF!

"We have come to this decision reluctantly because the Committee on Admissions is fully appreciative of your fine record, one in which you can take great pride. This rejection does not mean that we believe you to be unqualified to attend this or any other School of Medicine on either personal or scholarly grounds or that we think that you will not become a fine physician. It simply reflects the enormous competitive pressure of highly qualified applicants for the limited number of positions here."

EDIT: I like that they include that a rejection doesn't mean you're unqualified. Given how competitive med school is these days, that seems to be true. And it's nice to hear, especially when you're getting bad news upon bad news for much of the cycle.
 
I would've liked more honesty. "You didn't get in because [insert reason]." If I interviewed there, don't send a form letter, but actually write something to me. I paid a secondary fee and for a plane flight or other trip and wrote essays tailored to you, the least you can do is write me a rejection letter.
 
Shipping News said:
I would've liked more honesty. "You didn't get in because [insert reason]." If I interviewed there, don't send a form letter, but actually write something to me. I paid a secondary fee and for a plane flight or other trip and wrote essays tailored to you, the least you can do is write me a rejection letter.
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"Your MCAT was a point below our average, you haven't done anything special, nothing in your application stood out, you were awkward in your interview, the guy we interviewed after was better"

This sounds fun...
 
The kindest rejection letters are actually the "interview waitlists" that schools such as Hofstra use. The applicant is let known that they are good enough for an interview, but not quite good enough to actually ever make it off the waitlist (which is probably 7000 people long, none of which will get interviews).
 
Frank Netter had a pretty nice rejection email.

something along the lines of understanding the disappointing news and hoping that I will be admitted to other schools which I have applied. (Which I did!) 🙂

Rush's rejection was a bit more generic. medical school is competitive blah blah.
 
If I could ask for one thing from rejection letters, it would be for schools to put 'not selected' in the email subject line.

I personally liked Dartmouth's. No excuses about why, no stats or numbers (those don't really lessen the blow), but instead a kind acknowledgement.

"Our small class size limits our acceptances to a frustratingly small proportion of those seeking acceptance to Geisel. Though we are unable to offer you a place in this class, we very much appreciate the time and effort you have invested in your application.
We do hope that you will find the opportunities you seek for medical school and beyond, and appreciate the chance we have had to learn something about you."
 
tumblr_mzvdfdGC4G1r3jsrko1_1280.jpg
 
cherubb3 said:
I really liked BU's rejection letter, and is the nicest one I have received (so far).

"The Committee on Admissions of Boston University School of Medicine has completed its review of your application. It is with great regret that I inform you that we will be unable to offer an interview this year. This is a disappointment, as much for those who are responsible for the decision as it may be for you, the candidate who is turned away.

Most of the candidates we are considering this year are qualified to attend medical school and are likely to make important contributions to our profession and to society. Sadly, with more than 100 applicants for every seat in the class, we are forced to deny many exceptional people.

We acknowledge and respect your accomplishments and recognize that our inability to offer you an opportunity to complete the admissions process is a loss for Boston University. Please accept our best wishes for all your future endeavors."
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That is the best "it's not you, it's me" I've ever seen in my life.
 
Shipping News said:
I would've liked more honesty. "You didn't get in because [insert reason]." If I interviewed there, don't send a form letter, but actually write something to me. I paid a secondary fee and for a plane flight or other trip and wrote essays tailored to you, the least you can do is write me a rejection letter.
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No one owes you a personalized letter just because you followed directions

Also, rejection reasons are typically not cut and dry
 
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I hate when schools use it as an opportunity to sell applying to their post-bacc program -- which, of course, is an additional fee. They should mention the program only if they've already decided to accept you into it.
 
Azete said:
I hate when schools use it as an opportunity to sell applying to their post-bacc program -- which, of course, is an additional fee. They should mention the program only if they've already decided to accept you into it.
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But if you've already been accepted, why would you need/want a post-bacc program?
 
I thought UTHSC had a really polite and well worded email. Included:
"After a thorough review of your application, the Committee concluded it was unable to offer you a position in the 2016 entering class. To be sure, we greatly appreciate your efforts in preparing and submitting your application and congratulate you on your accomplishments to date."
 
I remember thinking Georgetown's was pretty bad. It was something along the lines of "We don't want to interview you. Don't ask us why, please. That is highly confidential information."

In contrast, I remember thinking George Washington's was very tasteful and kind, citing that they are being forced to turn away more highly qualified applicants than ever before and it sounded like they gave you serious consideration. That could all be BS, but it was still a nice way to soften the blow IMO.

EDIT: Here are the actual letters:

Georgetown:

Thank you for expressing your interest in the Georgetown University School of Medicine. The Office of Admissions has completed its consideration of your application for admission. After a comprehensive review, we have decided not to offer you an interview for the Class of 2020.

As decisions are made in strict confidentiality, we are unable to provide you with individual feedback. We emphasize five major areas without assigning weight to a particular section, detailed in the Guide to Application at md.georgetown.edu. Re-applicants are encouraged to review these areas prior to submitting a new application.

George Washington:

At a recent meeting of the Committee on Admissions your application was carefully re-reviewed. I regret to inform you that the Committee has decided that we are not able to offer you an interview and your file will not be considered further for the 2016 admissions cycle.

We want to point out that this decision relates in part to the extreme competition for places in our class. The decision not to proceed further with your application was made on the basis of this careful review. We have done our best to be realistic and judicious in reaching our decisions. I hope that you will understand that this decision is a reflection of the extraordinary talent represented in our applicant pool and that many more excellent candidates are being denied this year than in the past.

We thank you for your interest in The GeorgeWashington University and wish you the greatest success for your educational and professional pursuits.
 
DoctorSynthesis said:
"Your MCAT was a point below our average, you haven't done anything special, nothing in your application stood out, you were awkward in your interview, the guy we interviewed after was better"

This sounds fun...
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Honesty > coddling. "Oh if only we had unlimited slots! Then you'd be in!" Thanks, but I'm not in, so the worst is already here and might as well make this a productive process.
 
I vaguely remember a letter stating that they look forward to seeing my application when it comes time to apply to residencies. Although I didn't make the cut, it did make me feel like they believed I was still capable of making into medicine.
 
heybubbaa said:
I vaguely remember a letter stating that they look forward to seeing my application when it comes time to apply to residencies. Although I didn't make the cut, it did make me feel like they believed I was still capable of making into medicine.
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Shoulda saved that letter. Then come residency application time, send it in with your ERAS and demand an interview.
 
whatever5 said:
I remember thinking Georgetown's was pretty bad. It was something along the lines of "We don't want to interview you. Don't ask us why, please. That is highly confidential information."

In contrast, I remember thinking George Washington's was very tasteful and kind, citing that they are being forced to turn away more highly qualified applicants than ever before and it sounded like they gave you serious consideration. That could all be BS, but it was still a nice way to soften the blow IMO.

EDIT: Here are the actual letters:

Georgetown:

Thank you for expressing your interest in the Georgetown University School of Medicine. The Office of Admissions has completed its consideration of your application for admission. After a comprehensive review, we have decided not to offer you an interview for the Class of 2020.

As decisions are made in strict confidentiality, we are unable to provide you with individual feedback. We emphasize five major areas without assigning weight to a particular section, detailed in the Guide to Application at md.georgetown.edu. Re-applicants are encouraged to review these areas prior to submitting a new application.

George Washington:

At a recent meeting of the Committee on Admissions your application was carefully re-reviewed. I regret to inform you that the Committee has decided that we are not able to offer you an interview and your file will not be considered further for the 2016 admissions cycle.

We want to point out that this decision relates in part to the extreme competition for places in our class. The decision not to proceed further with your application was made on the basis of this careful review. We have done our best to be realistic and judicious in reaching our decisions. I hope that you will understand that this decision is a reflection of the extraordinary talent represented in our applicant pool and that many more excellent candidates are being denied this year than in the past.

We thank you for your interest in The GeorgeWashington University and wish you the greatest success for your educational and professional pursuits.
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Translation: "We randomly picked names out of a hat, and put yours in the rejection pile. Sorry! But I bet you'll get lucky somewhere else." I can't imagine GW or Georgetown having a more thoughtful process given the # of apps they receive.
 
Shipping News said:
Translation: "We randomly picked names out of a hat, and put yours in the rejection pile. Sorry! But I bet you'll get lucky somewhere else." I can't imagine GW or Georgetown having a more thoughtful process given the # of apps they receive.
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Yeah, I'd be surprised if you were wrong. Still, I liked GWs letter better because it gave you some insight into the process and at least put forth the effort to sound like they weren't annoyed you applied in the first place.
 
Of the rejections I've received, my "favorite" to read was Rochester. I was surprised I even survived several big rejection waves... It struck me as odd that they seem to value mission trips. Definitely nowhere on my application lol

"The Committee on Admissions has completed a thoughtful and careful review of your application. I am sorry to inform you that it is not possible to offer you admission to the class that will matriculate in August, 2016.

This year we received over 6,500 applications for the 104 places in our entering class. Many highly motivated and qualified applicants have applied to Rochester and it is truly unfortunate that we can only accept a few of these outstanding applicants.

In addition to outstanding academic records, many of our applicants also have enhanced their academic careers by participating in significant and sustained extracurricular activities, including research, clinical and medical shadowing experiences, study and volunteer programs abroad, and outreach to underserved communities here and in developing countries. Rochester values "patient-centered" medicine and we are particularly interested in applicants who have extended themselves well beyond their comfort zone. This often includes extensive volunteer or work activities with people from different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, both in their local communities and elsewhere, far beyond the campus environment.

Because you did not receive an acceptance to Rochester does not mean that you are not qualified for medical school. It simply means that we have to be very selective with our highly qualified group of applicants, and endeavor to identify and interview those who we think will be the best match for our medical school and our mission. Naturally, we wish you the very best in your future career goals and hope you will be successful in gaining admission to medical school."
 
I have to second BU as being the best. It was extremely kind and genuine. I particularly like any rejection letter that refers to numbers of applicants vs spots (E.g. UCSD said they have 64 applicants per seat).

The worst one I have encountered was UCSF. "The review of your application to the four-year program at UCSF is now complete. We regret to inform you that you will not be offered an interview for a place in that program."
 
Dr Tony T. Chopper said:
I could maybe repurpose this to break up with my girlfriend.
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"I have completed my review of our relationship. It is with great regret that I inform you that I will be unable to offer a continuation of our relationship this year. This is a disappointment, as much for the one who is responsible for the decision as it may be for you, the candidate who is turned away.

Most of the candidates I am considering this year are qualified to date me and are likely to make important contributions to my sex and personal life. Sadly, with more than 100 applicants for every seat on the D, I am forced to deny many exceptional people.

I acknowledge and respect your accomplishments and recognize that my inability to offer you an opportunity to complete the dating process is a loss for me. Please accept my best wishes for all your future endeavors."
 
I didn't really receive any good rejections- the only ones I got were silent. Those were pretty much the worst- you just get nothing back until the end of the cycle and they're like, "Sorry, but no." Just let me know earlier so I don't have to keep my hopes up, the waiting is murder.
 
Unless rejection letters actually referenced personal info in your app, I think it's almost impossible for schools to address an applicant's greatest fear (as unfounded as it may be in reality)....which is that no one, or not more than one person, truly really read your whole app and seriously considered your candidacy, and did so while very awake, coherent, and focused. And how could applicants not have this fear when they know schools are inundated with 13,000 to 15,000+ applicants, and you know probably at least 80% or more of those applications are very competitive.
 
Mad Jack said:
"I have completed my review of our relationship. It is with great regret that I inform you that I will be unable to offer a continuation of our relationship this year. This is a disappointment, as much for the one who is responsible for the decision as it may be for you, the candidate who is turned away.

Most of the candidates I am considering this year are qualified to date me and are likely to make important contributions to my sex and personal life. Sadly, with more than 100 applicants for every seat on the D, I am forced to deny many exceptional people.

I acknowledge and respect your accomplishments and recognize that my inability to offer you an opportunity to complete the dating process is a loss for me. Please accept my best wishes for all your future endeavors."
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Died. :laugh::laugh:

Nietzschelover said:
Unless rejection letters actually referenced personal info in your app, I think it's almost impossible for schools to address an applicant's greatest fear (as unfounded as it may be in reality)....which is that no one, or not more than one person, truly really read your whole app and seriously considered your candidacy, and did so while very awake, coherent, and focused. And how could applicants not have this fear when they know schools are inundated with 13,000 to 15,000+ applicants, and you know probably at least 80% or more of those applications are very competitive.
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Not everyone can be an ubermensch.
 
I like when they have something about application status in the subject line so I know I'm opening a rejection email, instead of the generic "X School of Medicine" subject line. It's also nice when they say my name in the greeting, instead of "Dear Applicant" or skipping it entirely.

Besides that, the rejections I got were basically the same structure. Sorry, but we have a lot of applications and can't interview you. Good luck with the rest of your schools or next year.
 
"Dear Applicant,

We will not accept you to our school and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it."
 
Shipping News said:
I would've liked more honesty. "You didn't get in because [insert reason]." If I interviewed there, don't send a form letter, but actually write something to me. I paid a secondary fee and for a plane flight or other trip and wrote essays tailored to you, the least you can do is write me a rejection letter.
Click to expand...

Preeeach! *thumbs up*
 
At this point (4 rejections for 23 apps, no IIs, lots of silence from schools that are rejecting) my feeling about the particular phrasing is overwhelmed by the implications.

Communication, whether it is a rejection or just a status change, has been appreciated over silence. I didn't read too critically past "we are unable to offer you an invite" for any of them. That's key to my method of repression...
 
NonTrad16 said:
At this point (4 rejections for 23 apps, no IIs, lots of silence from schools that are rejecting) my feeling about the particular phrasing is overwhelmed by the implications.

Communication, whether it is a rejection or just a status change, has been appreciated over silence. I didn't read too critically past "we are unable to offer you an invite" for any of them. That's key to my method of repression...
Click to expand...

Agreed. I would take even the harshest of rejection letters in October over the world's kindest silent rejection that doesn't come until June.
 
UCSF definitely. As others have said already- very kind and optimistic. Didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't like Stanford's rejection letter though- kinda harsh and too blunt.
 
Give it to me straight and tell me WHY I didn't make the cut. I do appreciate nice rejections letters and all...but the fact of the matter I was rejected, and I want to know the areas in which I can improve upon.
 
UCSD's was adorbs. It was so nice I had to reread to make sure I was rejected. Ohhhh UCSD, I just wanna pinch your cheeks!
 
^i can vouch. The school is timid at turning people down, like a cute girl who doesn't want to hurt the feelings of boys who line up at her door with daisies and chocolates.
 
I think the "less is more" approach is the best when it comes to letters of rejection. Just let the applicant know up front that they did not get in (ideally in the first sentence so as to not keep the reader in suspense). Maybe a few kind words after that, but keep it brief. It's been my experience that these rarely actually provide much comfort to someone who doesn't have any acceptances, and that the more verbose the letter, the more disingenuous it comes across. Those are just my two cents, though, I'm sure there are many people who will disagree.
 
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