What penalties would someone incur if they withdrew from a wait list after writing a letter of intent to that school post-interview? To be specific, the letter would say something like "I will definitely come to your school if accepted." Obviously it would be a really crummy thing to withdraw, but what are the tangible repercussions? I would really appreciate input from Adcoms like LizzyM and Catalystik. Thanks.
Withdrawing from a wait list after a letter of intent
- Thread starter mongoose1
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If the letter just said you'd attend if accepted then you're golden. They didn't accept you post-interview, they waitlisted you. Would you feel compelled to drop everything and attend if they offered you a spot off the wait list in late August? Wait lists are a necessary evil, but they exist mostly (only?) to benefit the school--it's your job to look out for yourself.
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From what I understand, a LOI (the I being Intent in this case) isn't binding in any sense. In fact, it's better to withdraw now than to wait and withdraw once you get pulled off the waitlist. Med schools understand that things change, especially once you get financial aid info. No one will hunt you down and yell at you, if that's your concern. 😀
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Youll be fine with withdrawing, theyve had their shot to accept you if that's what they wanted to do.
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If you withdraw before they accept you, then they won't pull you off the waitlist, so you will never be obliged to keep your "promise" to attend if an offer is made. There will be no repercussion.
Do you mind sharing the reason for your change of heart?
Do you mind sharing the reason for your change of heart?
Thank you everyone for your helpful posts, I really appreciate it.
In short, the reason for my change of heart has to do with an unexpected change in the life plans of my romantic other. While I still think the school I wrote a letter to is an amazing school where I would be very happy, it would now be very hard to make things work there. There is another medical school that I've been accepted to and would be happy at that is compatible with her new plans, so I hope to go there. If I had been accepted outright to the first school after my letter, I would have figured out some way to make things work... but withdrawing now just seems easier. Actually, I've heard this school does not have much wait list movement, so I doubt I would have been admitted anyway.
In short, the reason for my change of heart has to do with an unexpected change in the life plans of my romantic other. While I still think the school I wrote a letter to is an amazing school where I would be very happy, it would now be very hard to make things work there. There is another medical school that I've been accepted to and would be happy at that is compatible with her new plans, so I hope to go there. If I had been accepted outright to the first school after my letter, I would have figured out some way to make things work... but withdrawing now just seems easier. Actually, I've heard this school does not have much wait list movement, so I doubt I would have been admitted anyway.
