<p>How should I tell a music school nicely that I'm rejecting them? Three of them, in fact. I have never been good with words, especially when I need to someone down. It always ends very badly because I don't know what to say. </p>
<p>I have been had meetings teachers at these school and they all were very nice towards me. I have kept them update on my decision process. Two of them even kept in regular phone contact with me and my parents. I liked all of them. The biggest issue is that they all went to bat for me in securing sizable scholarships ranging from 15k to 22k. (OMG, way beyond what I thought my parents and I were exepecting) I feel so bad about letting them down by not going. </p>
<p>Now that I have officially decided on the music school that I will attend, I'm FREAKING OUT about how to go about writing. Yes, I'm going to chicken out and just write to them because I just can't picture myself doing it over the phone. </p>
<p>Please give me some advice on what type stuff I should say. How do I tell them that I'd rather study with someone else? </p>
<p>I'd like to thank anyone in advance for replying to this thread. :)</p>
<p>Sandrah, since you have contact information, I think you should just send a personal heartfelt email to them, thanking them for all of their time and interest in you. Tell them it was a hard decision, but that you’ve selected another school. I’m sure yours will be one of very few personal "no"s they get. And good for you acknowledging that real human beings have invested in you and might appreciate a personal answer.</p>
<p>I agree with SJTH. You can tell them where you decided to go because they will be curious. They will not be offended because they will know that you can only choose one school. Be sure you let the admissions offices know as well as the teachers. In your admission packet there was probably a post card other form that you can fill out to decline admission.</p>
<p>Sandra: Don’t feel guilty–teachers know that students apply to several schools and that students talented enough to get large merit awards will almost always be accepted at several schools. So most good teachers get many times as many rejections as they get acceptances. They are accustomed to this, and you are not, so it is actually much tougher on you. </p>
<p>Do send a personal thank you, as others have suggested. Writing it (rather than phoning) is not chickening out–and many teachers are busy enough now that it is difficult to connect with them on the phone.</p>
<p>You asked specifically about wording. I would write something like: “Thank you so much for all of your assistance during the admissions process. I have greatly appreciated your time and interest. My decision was a very difficult one, but I have decided to attend School X in the fall.” You could include things like the following if they are true and relevant: “I especially appreciated the lesson that I had with you” or “I hope that I will have an opportunity to study with you in the future.”</p>
<p>Do not feel badly! The rejected teachers will be getting a studioful of students that are almost as good as you in the fall!</p>
<p>Sandra, it is very hard to tell the schools that you are not coming but they will understand. Write them e-mails just as you wrote conveying your regret and appreciation. It helps to write the admissions personnel, teacher and anybody else who had been in touch with like a conductor who has called personally. You can let them know which school you are going but you don’t have to explain. Just tell them after long and hard thinking, you feel this school fits you the best at this time. The admissions personnel face these kinds of situations and will understand. My son had to send many e-mails to people in 5 schools this year after his decision. All of them sent the most gracious e-mails back. Good luck!</p>