Let me start by saying congratulations to all accepted students.
While you are in the process of deciding what school you will select,I would like to ask a special favor. If you have confidently ruled out a school, please notify them as soon as possible. If you are relying on revisit day, absolutely go if you can and see if that helps make the decision more clear.
I ask this because I have seen people talk about going to revisit day to schools they are not considering, just for the trip and the swag. Unfortunately for those on the waitlist, this can be difficult to read. So I appeal to you, please think of others and open a slot to a school you are certain you do not want to attend.
That being said, do take your time to make a careful decision and best of luck wherever you choose to go.
I’ve given that advice to a few people whose children were admitted to several well known schools. I told them that if a certain school is not in the running, do not wait until April 10.
@wjeanj2005 Love your profile pic.
We’ve actually already turned down 2 schools both we had received some FA (One of the schools we were initially waitlisted but they took us off the list last week but we passed). We are going to go revisit both schools we have left in the next week and should make our decision by then, as soon as we have our decision we will inform the other school.
Yes, please inform any schools you know you will not be attending. However, due to yield management, one person declining does not correlate to an open slot. A slot will not open up until a school finds itself underenrolled. If a school sends out 120 admissions to fill 100 slots, it will not be underenrolled until the 21st student declines. But, every turn-down helps toward that threshold, so please don’t dally. OTOH, until the A10 response deadline, schools will not have a complete enrollment picture, so do not expect any WL movement before then.
@ReluctantDad Congratulations on the acceptances and getting off the wait list. All the best with whatever school you choose and have fun revisiting.
It’s a courtesy to the school, and also freeing for the applicant, to let them know of your decision when you are certain of it - either way, yes or no.
As noted, you do not need to feel rushed, though.
Responding earlier than the deadline will not make a difference to WL movement. Schools will fill their beds regardless. All expect a certain % of applicants to turn them down, so all accept more students than they can take. If more turn them down than expected, they will go to their WL, and few will have an incentive to to this before A9 (although it does sometimes happen.). At that point, they will know better what they are missing.
So to be clear, someone declining doesn’t necessarily “open a space.”
The OP’s request that you be considerate in how you speak of opportunities you have, even if they don’t appeal to you, if wholly appropriate. There are others here who would love to have them, so be sensitive to them.