Renegging on an LOI

[CRAZYTERP]

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So let's say someone wrote a letter of intent to a school saying "If I get in I am going here," and then gets accepted but backs out to go to another school. Probably not a good idea right? Does anyone know what the consequences are?

AND, does anyone know what happens if u are waitlisted after the letter is sent. Does that basicaly remove any formal agreement you made before the waitlist decision. I mean are you free to go anywhere else even if u have a hcance of getting in later?

 

[VienneseWaltz]

If they waitlist you, do whatever you want--you have no obligation to them. ... unless you write them a letter saying that if they accept you off the waitlist you will come.

As for the first thing, yeah, it looks bad if you say you will come and then don't, but they can't keep you from matriculating somewhere else. I'm told they will remember that if you apply there for residency.

 

[Habari]

its equivelent to a 'word of honor' - if you're a person that values that - then you'll keep it, if you don't care - they certainly aren't going to be suing you. the more people that send out frivolous letters, the more stringent they will be about them, and perhaps stop seeing the value in them. so whatevs you want.

the waitlist- i would be inclined to say that you're not bound by your word anymore, cause they didn't hold up their end. my interp.

 

[e-spin]

I am under the impression that the purpose of a letter of intent was to show the school that you are really serious about going to school there, ie it is your top choice. And I thought that it would help your cause if you are a "borderline" applicant or waitlisted. So that the schools can be confident that by accepting you they wont have to go back to their waitlist pool to fill that spot and they can fill their class and be done with it!
The LOI isnt like the LOI NCAA scholarship athletes sign...in other words, I dont think that you are obligated legally, or otherwise, if you have sent such a letter to some school. HOWEVER, I do think that the school you send a LOI to should be you top choice. If everyone sent LOIs everywhere it eventually will be looked upon as superfluous papers to stick in applicants' files...if they arent viewed that way already by some schools. =) That's my input hope it helped!

 

[CRAZYTERP]

Originally posted by Habari
its equivelent to a 'word of honor' - if you're a person that values that - then you'll keep it, if you don't care - they certainly aren't going to be suing you. the more people that send out frivolous letters, the more stringent they will be about them, and perhaps stop seeing the value in them. so whatevs you want.

the waitlist- i would be inclined to say that you're not bound by your word anymore, cause they didn't hold up their end. my interp.

I am totally with you with the honor system. I mean I wrote them syaing I would go and if they accept me they take a spot away from someone else which is totally not fare. With the waitlist I am in agreement. The only problem is this fricking winter we have had on the east coast man. I mean i just found out I got into miami yesterday and seriously, I cannot think of a better place to be for four years especially after the weather we have had the last three months. I mean I am indian and I am pale as $hit. This is not how it is supposed to be!

 

[CJLaw]

Legally, an LOI is not binding--in any fashion. However, to ensure the intergrity of the LOI as well as your own, I believe an applicant should send it only to their top choice. The ramifications of boatloads of people renegged on LOI's is that adcoms will eventually see them as frivoulous and no longer put any weight into them. That might not effect you, but when I send my LOI to Penn (cause I would give my left testy to go there) I want them to believe me and consider when making a decision.

 

[e-spin]

If you havent heard from them yet...or have been waitlisted...just withdraw your app. They havent given a spot to you yet, no harm no foul, I say. BUT, if you are going to wait to see if you have been accepted and then decline after writing that letter...that's kind of shiesty...BUT I do hear ya on the weather...fricking Philly is COLD and SNOWY! 😉

 

[Wrigleyville]

I wouldn't send a letter of intent to a school unless I was certain I wanted to go there, waitlist or no waitlist. I doubt your LOI said anything about it being void if you went on the waitlist-- Presumably the school would be your first choice whether you were the first one accepted or the last one off the waitlist.

At any rate, letters of intent mostly come into play during waitlist season anyway, so you'd be flushing the whole point of one down the toilet if you didn't want to get in off the waitlist.

Wrigley

 

[mws99]

Originally posted by e-spin
If you havent heard from them yet...or have been waitlisted...just withdraw your app. They havent given a spot to you yet, no harm no foul, I say. BUT, if you are going to wait to see if you have been accepted and then decline after writing that letter...that's kind of shiesty

That's exactly what I was thinking. If I were you I would withdraw before they have a chance to accept you. That way, they would probably just close your file and forget about the LOI.

 

[poloace]

if they accept you and you back out... i'd be concerned about them finding out where else you got in and letting that other school know that you screwed them over. i mean, i don't think that the school that offered you the acceptance would revoke it.... but, you never know-

p