Basically what the title says.
I was accepted into several schools, and well, you can of course only attend one college. However, I feel really bad saying ‘no’ to some of these schools, especially two of my state schools both of which are essentially giving me full scholarships. One of my friends who is in the same situation as me was thinking of writing a personal note to the school explaining why and appreciating their offers. I want to do that as well, and I was wondering what would be a nice/polite way to go about writing this letter (w/o making it seem too much like a rejection letter to a college).
Thanks 
<p>Just use the reply card that most colleges send. Don't worry about hurting the colleges' feelings. They're used to it. Even the best schools have hundreds of students go elsewhere every year.</p>
<p>You can just send in the card if you wish.</p>
<p>If some particular person at one of your "rejected" schools has been especially nice to you, sent you a lot of information or run interference for you, then it would be reasonable to send that person a note. You don't need to explain anything, just that you have decided to attend another school (and you can name that school if you wish).</p>
<p>Many schools do follow-up surveys of students who chose to go elsewhere. They do this to find out more about what factors led students to choose other schools -- in a statistical sense, not to track you in particular. That's where you can spell out your rationale if you feel the need to do it.</p>
<p>janeeyre - my son had exactly the same problem. What he did was write them a letter thanking them for the admission along with the great merit aid package, but he would not be able to accept the offer because he changed his major (yes, they offered the same major but his final school he could get his masters in five years + he wants to major in Art History and the Cleveland Museum of Art is right next to his campus. How could you pass that up [plus a great scholarship]?). He told them that everyone he had ever talked to was helpful and very nice and mentioned that they had a fabulous Honor's Program. Put the letter on nice letterhead and that was that. </p>
<p>A few day's later they sent a postcard asking him for more info. (like where did he end up going, and reasons, etc).</p>
<p>The nicest thing to do is to -- once one knows one will not accept a college's acceptance -- send back the reply card. It's amazing how many students don't bother to do this, and, of course, that hurts the college because they don't know whether to go to their wait list.</p>
<p>It also is a nice gesture to take the time to return the survey that many colleges will send after they receive your rejection. Your filling out the survey lets them know what factors influence students into rejecting their college.</p>
<p>If you really feel bad just sending the reply card than you can include a letter (this is the form our school gave us)
Your Address
XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
Date</p>
<p>School's Address
XXXXXX
XXXXXX</p>
<p>Dear Admissions:</p>
<p>I have carefully evaluated the packet I received and appreciate the consideration you have given me to attend XYZ University. However, I have chosen not to attend. I would like to thank the Admissions staff for the time and thoughtful review you have given to my admissions application and do appreciate the effort made to help me through this arduous process. I expect that this year will be a wonderful year for everyone! Thank you.</p>
<pre><code> Respectfully,
Your signature
</code></pre>
<p>nah just say im not attending you paid 50 bucks spent time working on your app i thnk u deserve to do whatever u want</p>
<p>If the reason why you are not attending is financial should it be mentioned? I'll be saying no to a bunch of schools(like four) purely because I got NO money from them... I am quite bitter about it and I'd be crazy if I said I was happy with my admission packet and the admissions office. I mean... I'm grateful I was accepted but not that I can't afford it.</p>
<p>Thought?</p>
<p>anovice - most of the colleges will send you a postcard to fill out. Just fill it out, and if you wish to put in the blank that states the reason you didn't choose the school was because of no fin aid then just write it down. I think there are a lot of students just like you who didn't receive money. I have seen this over & over. Before you ever send out an application you should check into the fin aid aspect if it is a consideration for you. When you first start selecting colleges every one tells you that just because your scores are great, blah, blah, blah that you will get merit aid. Doesn't happen at most top schools. We need to get the message out there:)</p>
<p>mominsearch... it wasn't a matter of financial aid but a matter of merit money. Why would I be offered a top research position(supposedly offered to the top 25 at one school and the top 130(out of like 6000) at another yet get NO merit scholarships at either school?!? I'm also a minority in my field... I got lots at some schools and none at others. I guess it was all luck because I know people with very similar stats who came out with decent scholarships. </p>
<p>I will fill out my cards but I will also be attaching a letter stating why I did not choose their institution(because it was not completely based on money) and why I picked another.</p>
<p>And I agree that we need to get the message out there :) CC unfortunetly fosters this idea and IMO leaves alot of kids disappointed in the end. It is a great resource but it's information is far from fact... but like I said, still a great resource.</p>
<p>anovice - so many people don't realize that many of the top schools do NOT give out merit money only aid based on your parents/your income & savings, etc. I am so glad that my son's college didn't use the equity in our home as part of the decision when they give out fin aid. It kind of looks like most of the "name brand" colleges do this. Otherwise, it would be a state college (honor's program) for him. Good luck at the school you will be attending!</p>
<p>colleges dont have feelings... its a college not a person</p>
<p>I was in the same situation last year. I wrote a letter (it's A letter, meaning the same one for every college) to the director of admission or anyone that I've asked for help from, thanking them and telling them that I wasn't going to attend. One exception was UW-Madison. I only sent the decision card. I figured no one was going to read my letter because of large # of applicants.</p>