Last year, I applied and was accepted into my first choice college. My family and I immediately began investing our time and money into this college, visiting twice to attend a Preview and to compete in a scholarship competition. I was sure that this was going to be MY school, so sure that I went ahead and sent in the $250 deposit fee that was required to secure my spot. However, within an extremely short time frame, my interests shifted dramatically, and I discovered another school that seemed to fit my subject of interest, as well as my moral standards, a lot more than the school that I was planning on attending.
So with that being said, here’s the question: What is the best way tell a college that I have invested so much of my energies in that I no longer want to attend their school? and…that I want my money back? (in an extremely polite and mature way, of course)
Thanks for your answers!
It was a deposit - you can’t get your money back. You should just sent them a short note that says, “I have decided to go to a different school, so I won’t be enrolling at X.” You won’t be the first - there’s no need to go into a long explanation.
It’s a good lesson to learn now. If someone puts down a large deposit on a house and changes their mind, they’re out the money.
You won’t get your money back, but canceling enrollment shouldn’t be that hard. Check out their website and/or call the admissions office to find out how.
Was your acceptance Early Decision and there for binding?
It wouldn’t hurt to ask for the deposit, you could add… ’ if possible, please refund my deposit, I appreciate your consideration of my request. Respectfully, xxx’
I’m very confused by the fact that this post starts off with “last year.” Do you just mean Fall 2016? (I.e. last calendar year but still this academic year)
@i-wannabebrown I assume they mean they applied and were accepted last fall as have been “investing” in this college ever since. We got into one last September and when you find out that early - anytime in the fall - you just get to know that school better it seems (if ya like it anyway). I think the OP feels connected to the school (maybe more than the schools does) but I can see that happening.
OP, this is no big deal. Send an email to admissions from the email on your common app or the one you communicate with them currently (they won’t accept a withdraw of commitment from mom or dad) saying you would like to withdraw your commitment. You can flower it up with “After great thought and consideration…” But seriously, it is two or three sentences at the most. Every school gets these.
If you want to just let May 1 come and go, you can do that as well - meaning, send nothing. Either way, the deposit is a goner.
If you didn’t apply ED, you are fine. You may have invested a lot, but guess what? They probably accepted more students than they have space for, and expect some students to turn them down. But if you applied under an early decision arrangement that is binding, that is a different story. And the point of your deposit was to commit to attending. It is no problem to back out before May 1, but you don’t get your deposit back.