I’ve applied to three in-state colleges (all EA) and have been accepted by all three. One of them for sure I doubt I’m going to attend - it was a safety/fallback choice - but how would I politely tell them that? Or would I have to tell them at all?
I feel like informing the college would be the considerate “don’t burn your bridges” kind of thing to do… but how late/early in the game can I email them and tell them?
It’s the polite thing to do. It’s a business. Harvard, with the highest yield rate extant, still has over 20% of its accepted students email them to say NO. Your local college won’t get hurt feelings. Email them to clear up the administrative follow up that would otherwise ensue.
You really need to email both the rep and admissions office right away. Other kids might be yearning for your acceptance. It is unfair to not tell them you aren’t accepting. Just say “thank you for the offer but I have accepted at another college. Please feel free to give my place to,another applicant.” Anything simple is fine.
Yes, you do need to communicate with a school when you decline their acceptance offer. I would not rush to do that just yet. Now is the time to have a serious discussion with your parents about their ability to pay for college. Let them know which school is your first choice, and go over actual numbers for what the cost will be each year if they agree to pay for it.
Ask HOW they will pay–will it be from savings, from current income, from a generous grandparent, from loans? And who is responsible for repaying any loans? Ask if there are any financial uncertainties looming that might affect ability to pay? Is there an aging relative they have agreed to care for, a business that is sinking and needs more $$ to survive, a medical scare in the family that could jeopardize employment income?
Some parents will be more open in this discussion, other parents are not comfortable sharing their financial details. But the point is, you need to say to them “I am about to decline my financial safety school. Is there any reason I need to keep this school as a viable option?”
Ask what costs you will be responsible for during college. Do they expect you to earn your own spending money, or work summer jobs to pay for some small amount of the tuition? Do they support you in your choice of college, or do you have any misgivings that they might pull their financial support along the way?
Have you received all the merit aid/need-based aid information from all your schools? If not, you don’t have a full picture of what your costs will be, and you should hold on to your financial safety.
If you have any doubts about your family’s financial ability to pay your college bills, don’t race to decline the safety school’s offer. Take time to work through the financial details.
You don’t have to tell them until May 1. We waited until a few days before that to tell any college. Who knows what could happen to change your mind before then? Family or personal illness, finsncial change, change in major interest are a few examples. Keep your options open. Colleges offer more acceptances than they have spots for, assuming some students will turn them down. They also maintain a waitlist in case more students turn them down than they expect. You are not hurting anyone by waiting. They aren’t going to send off another acceptance tomorrow if you turn them down today.
It is courteous to notify them by May 1 if you are not attending, though. You can email or call, or sometimes there is a postcard if they send you an admissions packet. It is good to be polite when you do this; if you decide to transfer later, a college that already admitted you once is a good target school, so be well mannered through your whole transaction with them. Which is just civilized behavior anyway. 
You can inform them of your choice at any time prior to May 1. But I would not inform any school of that decision until you are absolutely positively 100% certain that you will not attend. If you just “doubt” you will attend, I’d hold off for now.
@T26E4 @Lindagaf @powercropper @intparent @happy1 Thanks, guys, sorry for the late reply.
Yeah, the reason I haven’t informed them right away is because I am still taking into account that I could change my mind, and it’s not a decision I want to rush. So I’ll probably wait till the spring, when I’ve a better idea of where I want to go and start informing the college and whatnot. Thanks again, you guys were really helpful!