Anyone else having trouble declining all of their other admission offers after making a decision? My daughter has made her choice(not officially yet) but has invested so much time in this process and has so many great options that it’s hard to let go of the idea of attending these schools even though obviously she can only choose one. Any chance that any schools would up the merit aid at this point to make them a last minute consideration?
Absolutely in the same boat. Just out of curiosity, where is your daughter going and which schools is she finding it tough to decline? No worries if you’d rather not share.
I have committed to attending Cambridge in the UK, which was always my dream choice. Finding it very hard to decline my other options. The only one I still haven’t been able to turn down is Brown. I absolutely love the university and feel so blessed to have gotten in (this year of all years!). However, I know I can’t afford it, and if push came to shove, Cambridge would win out anyway.
It’s tough!!
My son delayed until two days before the deadline. When we visited him on Parents Weekend his first year (he graduated 2 years ago with a BS/MS in ME) I asked him if it felt like the school was the perfect fit now that he’d been there for a while. HE said “I like it a lot, but honestly, I would have been fine at any of the schools I applied to.” Don’t sweat this. They aren’t on the list if your student didn’t see something good in them. They will only learn the bad about the school they attend, but ALL schools have negatives.
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Yes! I am sad to let them go and the possibilities that could have been. I thought it was just me. 
Honestly, I think declining admissions to top schools can be hard, but in the long run it may be the smartest thing you can do (depending on your financial situation). Being able to graduate without debt is a gift, and I honestly think students who are bright or who could get into a top school will still have the skills to do well in their future no matter what school they go to.
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This is not only a well reasoned opinion, but has been borne out repetitively in academic research.
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Yep, just spent some time today declining offers of admission. All great schools, so I agree, it’s hard to let go. I also felt a little guilty doing it (even though I know I’m just one in thousands and they won’t miss me). Currently going through the mourning process.
Yes, I was saying just this to ds. He hasn’t officially committed, will do so tomorrow, but I’m having a hard time with the idea of declining some of his admittances, one in particular where they admitted 685 students out of 6.5k It seems so…final… which it is, of course, that’s the point, tablamom 
Apparently I like my options a lot more than he does
Went through this last year with the T20 schools D turned down for lower ranked school that gave her nice scholarship to graduate with no debt. Even though she chose an amazing school that also saved us, a ton of money, It was a sad process of what could be.
But fast forward one year and D is happy where she and I am happy for her and love the school.
Right now (in high school) there is a lot of outside pressure to go to these amazing schools, but this is only temporary. Because once you are at the school (think of when you wake a morning in October) rankings seem less important than having friends, getting along with your rooomate, either having to go to a work study job or not etc. and taking out loans or not.
Most schools are great for our kids if they make friends, feel comfortable- of course they are going to have fun being away from home and experiencing independence etc. So whatever the choice you or your kids make will most likely be great.
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