<p>For those who know they won't be attending a school to which they were admitted, the sooner you let them know, the better it is for students on the wait list.</p>
<p>Since it’s been raised as a question in the past, do not worry about making your admissions contact feel bad if you decline their offer of admission. Yes, they like you and hoped you would go to their school, but they don’t take any of this personally. (And just remember: they had to say no to kids they really liked during the admit cycle.)</p>
<p>Last year, there was a delightful AO at a well regarded girls school, who really championed my kid’s application. She loved the school but also loved another, which on revisit Day clearly became her first choice. When CameoKid emailed her to very politely decline the school’s generous offer, the AO responded by saying " I want you to know that I am personally devastated by your decision not to attend. This school is a perfect fit for you". I was quite taken aback, and my kid felt guilty, so I tried to make light of it by saying “wow, I guess you must have REALLY made an impression on that one!” But, I thought… Devastated? Come on, Really??? 8-| </p>
<p>Wow, just…wow.
Okay, well then amend my earlier comment. Most AOs, and all of the sane ones will not take it personally. I take extreme issue with adults who emotionally manipulate children, and I’m sorry your kid got that wacky response.</p>
<p>TP - agree. Sometimes the basking in acceptance glory can go on too long. That, coupled with the normal anxiety about turning down a school that accepted you, slows the notification process. I second the urging of kids and parents to be as speedy as possible once they’ve made a no-go determination. So many other kids are on tenterhooks.</p>
<p>@Albion: On revisit day we had an AO tell our child that they would cry if our child didn’t attend their school. Child decided to attend another school in the area and hopes to not run into this particular AO in town or at school sports games or other events.</p>
<p>Another vote for telling the schools you won’t be attending as soon as possible. No need to wait until A10 if you know now which school you will attend.</p>
<p>I vote early too! Please, guys, for me? :)</p>
<p>When we told schools that our child wouldn’t be attending, we always added that it was a pleasure to get to know them (the AO) and the school.</p>
<p>If you’re checking on WL status before moving forward with another school ( before the A10)- Same thing if there’s no movement: We’re moving ahead with an acceptance from another school but it was an absolute pleasure getting to know you and your School. Thank you so much, but we’d like to remove our name from the WL . </p>
<p>Easy. :)</p>
<p>Most schools don’t feel guilty when they send you a rejection letter. They just found the students with better feel.
By the same token, students don’t need to feel guilty. You just find the better fit for whatever reasons and AOs have no problem understanding it. </p>
<p>When we went through this we immediately notified the schools we knew she wouldn’t be attending and waited only for the ones we were revisiting.<br>
We turned down one school who had offered 11K in FA. The very next day a poster came on here very excited that the school had called her and offered their kid this exact amount.
You’ve had some really good fortune - pass it on.</p>
<p>I was accepted by Milton, and I have decided not to attend. They sent me a package (with the decision card) but I’m an international student and I was wondering whether I could just email the admissions office with my decision… or do I have to mail them my decision card? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>@boardingschoolx: Just email them.</p>
<p>@SevenDad Thanks for the advice! I’ll email them accordingly.</p>
<p>Is it better to do this through email or over the phone? Should I write a letter? How can I be as polite and proper in doing this?</p>
<p>Most schools have forms in which you fill out.</p>
<p>I called the admissions office to let them know as soon as possible, and I asked them to remove S2’s name from the revisit day.</p>
<p>S2 also sent a polite email to his interviewer, thanking the school for its generous offer of admission; thanking the interviewer for his consideration; mentioning what a difficult decision it was to make; wishing him & ** School all the best.</p>
<p>In addition to the forms, I sent handwritten notes to the head of admissions at both schools I decided not to attend. I also sent handwritten notes to people who wrote recs for me- I suggest y’all do the same!</p>
<p>Since I didn’t receive a form from any of my schools, how would you recommend I go about doing this? Can I simply email my AO thanking her and turning down the offer?</p>
<p>@prepschoolhopes Well, you turn it down using their portal, and then you can send an email out to that AO.</p>