Retracting Letter of Intent - Possible?

[DumbMD]

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Hi everyone,

I interviewed at two schools, for anonymity let's call them Cold School (CS) and Warm School (WS).

Now, I interviewed at Warm School, loved it, and was accepted. Then I interviewed at Cold School, loved it, and submitted a letter of intent.

I currently received a letter from Cold School letting me know that I was not admitted, but that I am a top alternate and based on past years there is a "very good" chance I will be admitted by "late April."

In the meantime, I just went for a second look weekend at Warm School.

I fell in love with it. I am regretting my decision to put in a letter of intent to CS, and right now am exactly 50-50, but I want the chance to reflect on it and choose instead of having to accept if I am ultimately admitted.

Is there any possible way to retract the Letter of Intent with any amount of grace?

If I retract the letter of intent, do I jeopardize my chances of getting into Cold School (which could now see me as flaky)?

I also want to add that I have not been accepted at Cold School yet, I am still on the waitlist, so it would not be a situation where I was accepted then declined, I would have retracted before being accepted. It still seems pretty terrible though.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

 

[HawaiiHereICome]

Hi everyone,

I interviewed at two schools, for anonymity let's call them Cold School (CS) and Warm School (WS).

Now, I interviewed at Warm School, loved it, and was accepted. Then I interviewed at Cold School, loved it, and submitted a letter of intent.

I currently received a letter from Cold School letting me know that I was not admitted, but that I am a top alternate and based on past years there is a "very good" chance I will be admitted by "late April."

In the meantime, I just went for a second look weekend at Warm School.

I fell in love with it. I am regretting my decision to put in a letter of intent to CS, and right now am exactly 50-50, but I want the chance to reflect on it and choose instead of having to accept if I am ultimately admitted.

Is there any possible way to retract the Letter of Intent with any amount of grace?

If I retract the letter of intent, do I jeopardize my chances of getting into Cold School (which could now see me as flaky)?

The last thing I want to mention is that both these programs are actually MSTP, or MD PhD, programs, and therefore this decision is an 8 year thing, not a 4 year thing.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NMGsRmZTFQ&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

An LOI isn't binding. Just explain that you no longer wish for your application to be considered. They have plenty of applicants they won't miss you

 

[slatermd]

Just please don't tell me that cold school is Mayo.

 

[HawaiiHereICome]

Just please don't tell me that cold school is Mayo.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s[/YOUTUBE]

Looking at his old posts looks like he's looking at St. Louis and MCGeorgia

 

[slatermd]

Excellent stalking. I thought about it but got too lazy.

OP, if you retract a letter of intent, I can only imagine that this will hurt your chances of getting in off the waitlist. It doesn't appear flaky, it is flaky.

I would reflect on this situation as if you had already been accepted to both schools. If you decide you really want to go to CS, bide your time until they make a decision. If you decide (before there is any decision from CS) that you want to go to WS, withdraw your CS application.

 

[Parts Unknown]

Hi everyone,

I interviewed at two schools, for anonymity let's call them Cold School (CS) and Warm School (WS).

Now, I interviewed at Warm School, loved it, and was accepted. Then I interviewed at Cold School, loved it, and submitted a letter of intent.

I currently received a letter from Cold School letting me know that I was not admitted, but that I am a top alternate and based on past years there is a "very good" chance I will be admitted by "late April."

In the meantime, I just went for a second look weekend at Warm School.

I fell in love with it. I am regretting my decision to put in a letter of intent to CS, and right now am exactly 50-50, but I want the chance to reflect on it and choose instead of having to accept if I am ultimately admitted.

Is there any possible way to retract the Letter of Intent with any amount of grace?

If I retract the letter of intent, do I jeopardize my chances of getting into Cold School (which could now see me as flaky)?

I also want to add that I have not been accepted at Cold School yet, I am still on the waitlist, so it would not be a situation where I was accepted then declined, I would have retracted before being accepted. It still seems pretty terrible though.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

A letter of intent isn't exactly a legally binding contract. Schools receive thousands every year and use them as scrap paper. If you think about it, your real letter of intent was your frigging application.

If you end up having a choice, go to the school you want to attend. It's really that simple.

 

[DrBowtie]

Just don't do anything. IF you have a decision to make, then you can make it.

 

[DumbMD]

Thanks for your input everyone. I'll think it through a lot more, then choose (if I have to).

 

[IlDestriero]

Thanks for your input everyone. I'll think it through a lot more, then choose (if I have to).

Your screen name seems appropriate. If you want to have any chance at all of an acceptance to your cold school, keep your change of heart to yourself. Your non binding commitment can only help with your acceptance there. If you turn them down if they decide to offer you a spot off the wait list, the world will not stop, some other student will not go without an acceptance, they will simply offer it to another student. The dean is not going to lose any sleep over your going back on the commitment that you made in your letter. Take the time to consider your options and wait until you need to make a decision. You might change your mind again.

 

[bucks2010]

Yes do NOT send them any kind of retraction. Wait until you get an acceptance to make a decision. Besides, if you end up turning down the acceptance the spot will just go to the next kid on the wait list - so in the end it won't matter at all. Just don't send them some kind of "retraction" letter... that's a terrible idea.

 

[rhesuspieces]

Looking at his old posts looks like he's looking at St. Louis and MCGeorgia

People consider St. Louis cold?

 

[patel2]

Realize that a Letter of intent is nothing more than a strong interest letter. LizzyM has said it's not taken that seriously, other than as an indication of interest, and that schools in no way expect you to legally or morally abide by your letter that "you will attend." Decide between the two if and when you get in, but don't do something stupid like retract it, as it will just confuse the med school and potentially hurt your chances

 

[Helen Wheels]

If you turn them down if they decide to offer you a spot off the wait list, the world will not stop, some other student will not go without an acceptance, they will simply offer it to another student. The dean is not going to lose any sleep over your going back on the commitment that you made in your letter. Take the time to consider your options and wait until you need to make a decision. You might change your mind again.

+1 👍