withdrawing my letter of intent

[calbears84]

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i submitted my letter of intent to umich school of public health in May but have recently decided to NOT attend the school in August. does anyone know what the rules are for withdrawing my letter of intent to umich? appreciate any help

 

[UrSexyLatinDr21]

BUMP!!

 

[dakotaman]

If the letter of intent was just a letter telling the school how much you like it, I wouldn't do anything.

However, if it was a "I WILL attend your school if you admit me," I don't think you can withdraw it without ruining your integrity. I think when you make a guarantee like that, you should hold to it unless they terminate your application. Letters of intent with guarantees should be reserved for your top choice.

Maybe they wouldn't care if you did withdraw it, but I think it's wrong to--in writing--tell a school you WILL attend if admitted and then withdraw the promise later.

Just my opinion! I could be wrong! 🙂

 

[fullofhope]

Originally posted by dakotaman
If the letter of intent was just a letter telling the school how much you like it, I wouldn't do anything.

However, if it was a "I WILL attend your school if you admit me," I don't think you can withdraw it without ruining your integrity. I think when you make a guarantee like that, you should hold to it unless they terminate your application. Letters of intent with guarantees should be reserved for your top choice.

Maybe they wouldn't care if you did withdraw it, but I think it's wrong to--in writing--tell a school you WILL attend if admitted and then withdraw the promise later.

Just my opinion! I could be wrong! 🙂

I understand your rationale... However, does the situation change when you have all ready signed a lease and committed to one med school while the other that you wrote a letter of intent to months before lets you in the first day of classes expecting you to scramble to find a place to live while starting your medical career? I think that when med schools wait until the last weeks, it puts pressure on students and I see that as unfair/unethical as withdrawing a letter of intent.

basically, i'm stuck as to how wrong it is with the current application process. that being said however, i'm sure they'll be some sort of strike against you from that institute regardless of the process.

 

[ccCrazie]

I think you guys are being way too harsh regarding this letter of intent. As classes get closer and closer it's expected that people's situations are going to change and decisions have to be made. I wrote like 4 letters of intent to yale after i was put on their waiting list and a few weeks ago I decided that the wait was taking too long and because of my personal circumstances I had to make a decision. I called Yale and their director of admissions thanked me multiple times for being professional and calling him to let them know I had to remove myself from the waiting list. Your letter of intent says that you will go IF accepted. As long as you aren't accepted, there are no strikes against you for withdrawing. Trust me, they would much rather you withdraw before you get accepted than have you turn them down after they accept you. Write them a letter explaining your circumstances and thanking them for their consideration and I'm sure they'll be understanding.

 

[UCLAMAN]

From speaking to people on admissions committees...Letters of Intent aren't binding anyways...some applicants send out LOI's to ALL of their waitlists. I seriously doubt each school keeps tabs on who went back on their word and then blacklists them in the event they try to apply for residency there. Gees, how much of a hassle would that be if Umich's orthopod residency director has to do a background check on you and see if u went back on your word on a LOI you sent to their school 4 years earlier. Do you honestly think the admissions office is going to keep track of which waitlisted applicants went back on their LOI or not?

In any case...what ccrazie wrote is correct.

 

[ckat]

i agree with ucla...

people are blowing the whole LOI thing out of proportion. no medical school is going to have a black list to refer back to when residencies come around. you think with all the work they have to do, they're going to keep tabs on everyone who has withdrawn?

it is far far better since you know now that you won't go there to tell them so, rather than have them call you up in a few weeks when they've accepted you and tell them no thanks. that would most definitely piss them off, cause think about the amt of time the committee had to spend debating who to pull of the list, and there must have been some considerable discussion about you, and now you're just going to blow them off with a no.

 

[dakotaman]

What you all seem to be saying is promises mean absolutely NOTHING. I wrote one letter of intent to the school I loved the most and ended up getting in. I would have moved to the school the day before classes if I was admitted.

I'm NOT talking about letters that indicate strong interest, like: "I really love your school and I hope I can attend," or "I love your school and it's one of my top choices." I'm talking about a letter that says, "If admitted to your school, I will attend. I unequivocally love your school the most."

I think when you send a letter to the Admissions Committee like that, you're putting your integrity on the line. Verbal promises to an interviewer are one thing, but with written letters of intent, isn't it a promise you shouldn't break? Of course there'll probably be no blacklists, but that's irrelevant.

Perhaps I have an incorrect idea of what a letter of intent is, but if you promise, you promise. 🙂

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by dakotaman
What you all seem to be saying is promises mean absolutely NOTHING. I wrote one letter of intent to the school I loved the most and ended up getting in. I would have moved to the school the day before classes if I was admitted.

I'm NOT talking about letters that indicate strong interest, like: "I really love your school and I hope I can attend," or "I love your school and it's one of my top choices." I'm talking about a letter that says, "If admitted to your school, I will attend. I unequivocally love your school the most."

I think when you send a letter to the Admissions Committee like that, you're putting your integrity on the line. Verbal promises to an interviewer are one thing, but with written letters of intent, isn't it a promise you shouldn't break? Of course there'll probably be no blacklists, but that's irrelevant.

Perhaps I have an incorrect idea of what a letter of intent is, but if you promise, you promise. 🙂

Thats exactly what I am saying...and I AM talking about LOIs that say "I WILL ATTEND your school no matter what" Those letters aren't binding.

However, I agree...someone who sends the same line to 5 different schools lacks some integrity. But in the end they will not get in trouble for it. The bottom line is this...You for sure will go to a medical school when you show up for the first day of class. Showing up for the first day of class IS binding. This is why if you don't show up to the first day of class or orientation or whichever the school deems its first day then you get dropped. And once you do show up for the first day you may not attend any other medical school after that.

 

[DrDRE]

I agree with Ccrazy....

The letter of intent should state that you will attend IF offered a spot. As long as you have not been offered a spot you can withdraw at your discretion.

First, circumstances do change. Second, do you honestly believe that you are the only one in line? There are people ahead as well as behind. If you give themthe courtesy of alerting them, asap, that you are moving on they will understand. Now, if they send you the acceptance email or letter and then you decide to not go...that is weak.