<p>I am a transfer student for this coming Fall and I have four wonderful schools to choose from. I have decided to attend Stanford University and am now faced with the task of declining admission to Dartmouth, Cornell and Penn. I was thinking of writing a letter to the schools saying how difficult a decision it was and thanking them for the opportunity to attend their institutions.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with this type of letter? What should I include?</p>
<p>Look at some college rejection letters for reference:
"There were a large number of acceptances this year ..."
"Many competitive institutions had to be turned away ..."
"I am one of the top ranked students in the nation ..."
"Good luck with your future endeavors and consider accepting me for grad school ..."</p>
<p>Yes, you REALLY want to send them a nice letter when you decline your acceptance. If you come across as arrogant, they may remember you if you apply there for grad school.</p>
<p>Taxguy, that is my goal... I was actually floored by my success as a transfer applicant and it pains me to turn any of the schools down because they are all so great and would be wonderful fits for me. Also, I plan on applying to Business School at 3 of the 4 schools down the road and would like to avoid burning bridges. Any advice on how this letter should be written, what should be included, etc. would be great.</p>
<p>Congrats on choosing Stanford. I know this was a hard decision for you. </p>
<p>Taxguy is right you don't want to burn any bridges.
If there is a reply post card in your packet, you can just mail it in declining the acceptance.</p>
<p>Here is what I have thus far, for Dartmouth:</p>
<p>The purpose of this letter is to respond to your admissions decision. After much stress and heartache, it pains me to decline the offer of admission to Dartmouth College. Turning down Dartmouth College has been one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my lifetime as I know it would be a tremendous fit, both socially and academically. After reviewing all of the information, I have decided that Stanford University will be the best option for me. I wish you the best, and I hope my spot goes to someone on the waitlist who will do your fine school justice. Thank you for the opportunity to attend your institution, I appreciate the offer immensely.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on what to add/omit/amend? Thank you for all of your help, you are all great assets to the CC community and you make this place a wonderful research tool.</p>
<p>I would edit out or get ride of the part "After reviewing all of the information, " b/c it sounds like you are giving them like a rejection letter, it just sounds too much like a rejection letter. You can replace that with "In the end or after a long/arduous process....</p>
<p>How about:
I regret to inform you that after much thought I have decided to decline your offer of admission in favor of one from Stanford. This was a personal decision which in no way diminishes my esteem for your wonderful college.</p>
<p>Eporrell22, my D faced the same situation last month. She decided to write a letter just like yours to her second choice school, because that one was really hard to say "No" to. She REALLY wants to keep that bridge open, not burned, just in case she needs to transfer or to apply there for grad school. However, to all the other schools that accepted her, she just sent the reply postcard. Two of them then sent her surveys to find out why she rejected them. That made me think that if these schools want your opinion about why you decided not to go there, they will ask you.</p>
<p>I think it's nice to send a letter- I sent one when I turned down the college that offered me a full scholarship, just telling them that I truly appreciated their generosity.</p>
<p>I was honored to receive the offer of admission to xx U. However, after much thought, I regret to inform you that I will be matriculating at Stanford U next year. [then your third sentence...]</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the help, here is my letter to Dartmouth. Let me know if I need anything...</p>
<p>I am honored to have been considered for admission at Dartmouth College. However, after much thought and stress, I regret to inform you that I am matriculating at Stanford University next year and must therefore decline your offer of admission. Turning down Dartmouth College has been one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my lifetime as I know it would be a tremendous fit, both socially and academically. After reviewing all of the information and discussing prospective universities with my family, I have decided that Stanford University will be the best option for me. Ultimately, the financial aid award provided by Stanford was more favorable and the opportunities seemed to fit me and my family better. I wish you the best, and I hope my spot goes to someone on the waitlist who will do your fine school justice. I want to personally thank (Name of Person) for all of her help and support throughout the process; she is a great liaison for the College. Thank you for the opportunity to attend your institution, I appreciate the offer immensely.</p>
<p>Once again, thank you for all of your help... </p>
<p>Send the letter instead of the postcard if you sincerely were torn. Why? Even though perhaps no one will care one bit, you might be wrong. No, it is not headline news that you are not in the Yield category. But someone in the office did advocate for you and may prefer to know Why? and will be pleased to get a reason. </p>
<p>Keep it brief, state what you will miss most that is unique about College X. I would never compare two schools in an overall way..since all schools of this caliber can be wonderful once you commit to them. Instead, if there is a socially inoffensive and non-pompous reason...(access to relatives, after deliberations...wish to live in another USA Region next, decided you wanted a smaller college or a large urban school after all), it is OK to list a short reason...but not to ever imply College X is slightly inferior. </p>
<p>If someone in admissions represented College X particularly well, comment and express appreciations and sign off. Some people who represent their colleges very well deserve specific compliments and praise.</p>