Just curious was declining admissions emotionally difficult for anybody? Why? Where did you choose ultimately?
Turning down Dartmouth and Duke was really hard for me even though I loved my choice more than the two.
I felt that the atmosphere at Dartmouth was incredible and although some may pass it on for its location, I found the isolated feel to it as more serene and calming than boring. I’m a big lover of the outdoors and I could really picture myself going out for hikes and even kayaking near Dartmouth. It seemed like a very tight knit community and was hard to confirm my decision of declining the offer.
Duke was hard to turn down for a different reason. Duke sent me my only likely letter and really made me feel loved and wanted through the interaction of several admissions officers and alumni. I started picturing myself at Duke and became really excited about it (I even cheered on Duke during the whole NCAA tournament even when the championship game was against my state’s team, and it didn’t hurt that Duke ended up winning the title either). I was crazy over the idea that Duke students were very academically driven but could also have a great time partying and had an unrivaled school spirit within its school of peers.
It wasn’t the same turning down these two schools as it was Notre Dame and Georgetown which I liked very much but didn’t absolutely love like the other two. Either way, I am still more than thrilled to be attending Princeton this fall! 
YES I’m not the only one. I put off turning down Penn until 11pm on May 1 even though I committed to Yale in early April. I felt so honoured that I was accepted as a Rachleff scholar and was truly touched by how loved they made me feel (my interviewer called me, they had online international student sessions). Even though I knew that Yale was the school for me, it was still really difficult.
I don’t know how CC-worthy this might be, but a year ago I turned down the local university, and it hurt. I was the recipient of a tuition scholarship, loved the atmosphere, and might have been a top student there. Plus, almost nearly everyone I knew would attend that school. However, for personal, familiar, and financial reasons I couldn’t go.
I’m now bound to a top-20 national university, but that “rejection” still stings.
I had to turn down UCBerkeley due to financial reasons (I’m out of state). Berkeley was my dream school, and getting in was such a great moment. Unfortunately the finances just weren’t there. However, I am happily going to attend Emory University free of cost!