<p>Hello. I received a (electronic) letter of acceptance this weekend. While this was a reach school, and I am rather pleased about getting in, I realize that my heart isn't into it the way many of you seem to be here, and the unmet financial need is way above my head as well. Heck, even the plane ticket cost to even visit is too much for me.
My question is thus: I am still deciding on what school to attend, with an inclination against Middlebury at the moment. Will me declining sooner open up another spot for a kid who really wants and deserves it off the waitlist? Or is that simply rushing into a poorly thought out decision?
Input would be great, as while my heart really goes out to the waitlistees, I also don't want needlessly waste the chance of a splendid four years.</p>
<p>My two cents: Do not decline until you are absolutely sure that you will not choose to attend. THEN, decline and feel good about it.</p>
<p>I don’t think declining sooner will open up a spot for another kid. Schools expect a certain percentage of accepted students to decline their offer. Think on it.</p>
<p>They won’t begin looking at the wait list until after mid-May regardless.</p>
<p>Thank you much for the input! It helps with the guilt, and I will follow your advice .</p>
<p>Do you have any other offers, especially to one of their “sister schools?” If so, if that offer is better, take it to their FA dept and see if they’ll match. Also, most schools keep a budget that goes to helping students travel to the school for a visit(not sure if Middlebury can or not) and by helping I mean paying the airfare. Call up FA and admissions and see what they can do for you, make the trip there so there are no regrets. Who knows, you may fall in love like many of the students from this site and want to claim the spot you earned.</p>