Withdrawing etiquette

[z31]

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Hello! I've been accepted by a school I like a lot and am about to withdraw my application from 2 schools.

With one school it's an uncomplicated case: I have an interview offer for a date in mid-March but will not attend. It's early enough for me to just hit the withdraw button, and send a short email to the interview organizer, right?

At the other school, I completed the interview, liked the school, exchanged follow-up emails with a really awesome and inspiring interviewer, and even had a follow-up phone call. I almost feel like I shouldn't withdraw out of courtesy, but I wouldn't go to this school over the school I've been accepted to and I don't want to hold someone else's place. What's the protocol here? Email my interviewer(s?) as well as the program? Email before withdraw? What should go in the email and what would be obnoxious to include? (or am I just overthinking all of this?)

 

[URHere]

What's the protocol here? Email my interviewer(s?) as well as the program? Email before withdraw? What should go in the email and what would be obnoxious to include? (or am I just overthinking all of this?)

I think you are over-complicating this. You should be fine if you just email or write a letter to the program director and explain your situation. Say that you really enjoyed the school and the program, but that you have decided to accept another offer. You do not need to ramble on about the other program's good attributes or explain why you are choosing to matriculate at the other school. Good applicants withdraw all the time, and schools are used to it.

I also would not suggest contacting your interviewers personally about this unless you have talked about the possibility of rotating with any of them. If there is any chance that they are holding a spot in their lab for you over the summer, then you should get in touch and let them know that you have chosen another program. Again, you don't need to elaborate. Just say thank you, mention that you won't be attending, and move on.