<p>Hello, I am new here. Our daughter is narrowing her list down and is ready to decline offers from a few colleges. She liked the schools, or she would not have applied, but believes that they are very similar to schools closer to home. In her letter, should she give a reason?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>Hi cbmom - there is another thread "telling a school no" that has some responses you can read as well.
My d was very succinct in her replies, something along the lines of " since I applied my educational plans have changed and I will not be attending XYZ" ( her GC recommended the wording)
2 of 3 schools sent e-mails asking her to complete a survey of why she chose ABC etc. OUr own big state u never responded at all LOL No surprise there as it is a huge school and they were overadmitted so probably happy she didn't come !</p>
<p>You can make this an object lesson in etiquette if you want to, but all that is really necessary is to write "Declined. Thank you." on the bottom of the acceptance letter and fax it to the admissions office. </p>
<p>The work study student in charge of updating the data base with your declined status will more easily get it right that way than if your daughter sends a separate letter with reasons no one will read anyway.</p>
<p>When my D declined for two distant schools who offered her scholarships, she wrote a letter to each to tell them the real reason (change in family situation due to illness; she no longer wants to go to school so far away) and wished them luck with recruiting the next class. She thought since these two had gone out of their way to offer her scholarships, they deserved a better explanation than "declined."</p>
<p>And there is nothing wrong with doing it that way. </p>
<p>Just make sure it is super clear what the name and SSN of the applicant is, so it does not get misposted.</p>
<p>Thank you all. </p>
<p>SpringfieldMom, these have offered scholarships also and have sent several letters and emails. I also want her to be able to reapply for transfer IF that should occur in the future.</p>
<p>Dear School,</p>
<p>As you probably know, we have been receiving an uprecedented number of acceptances from outstanding educational institutions this year. While you have many outstanding achievements and are obviously destined for great things, we regret that we will have to decline your generous admission offer. We wish you the best in your future endeavors, and thank you for thinking of us here at the Wash family. We appreciate your efforts and know that you will be successful with whoever you accept.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>WashDad Jr.</p>
<p>
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2 of 3 schools sent e-mails asking her to complete a survey of why she chose ABC etc. OUr own big state u never responded at all
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That just means your state u doesn't pay the College Board to for the ASQ (Admitted Student Questionnaire). It costs a lot of money and to be frank, we can't pay for it either. </p>
<p>We developed our own web survey to serve the same purpose, but some schools just don't have the resources.</p>
<p>I think it's nice to reply to a school as soon as a final decision is made. Obviously students have until May 1st, but many know before that. If enough students reply before May 1st, a school may be able to go to the waitlist early and save a waitlisted student the expense of depositing at another school.</p>
<p>I think it's nice to tell a school where you'll be going and why (esp if it's money...it may help some offices bargain for more allocations).
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The work study student in charge of updating the data base with your declined status will more easily get it right that way than if your daughter sends a separate letter with reasons no one will read anyway.
[/QUOTE]
We read those letters. It's extremely important to compile stats about why students don't accept an offer. It helps improve the process for future years.</p>
<p>I don't know of any schools that let a student worker log in those letters (not saying it doesn't happen anywhere). Inquiry cards, sure, but not enrollment information.</p>
<p>WashDad - CLASSIC! You are so funny, I always enjoy reading your posts.</p>
<p>Since I am new, it took me a minute to realize that WashDad's tongue was in his cheek. My first thought was, "He cannot be serious." And then I realized he wasn't.</p>
<p>Daughter cannot tell them where she will attend as she has not made a final decision but thank you, Dean J, for your perspective.</p>
<p>If you're faxing the declination, do NOT put the social security # on the letter for security reasons.</p>
<p>I sent emails to the schools I was turning down or was turning down the waitlist for thanking them, saying where I decided to go and why, and for a couple of the schools I liked best I spoke briefly about what I liked about them. I got personal responses from admissions officers at Harvard and I think another school I can't remember.</p>
<p>I figured it helps them keep track of students who turn them down, and it just seemed like the right thing to do.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you're faxing the declination, do NOT put the social security # on the letter for security reasons.
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Right, that is why i recommend hand-writing the Declined note right on the bottom of the acceptance letter, which already has whatever numbering system the college is using, then faxing it to the admissions office fax. </p>
<p>Faxing is actually pretty secure. Better than surface mail, better than email. Our fax machine prints out a confirmation of what was sent, when, where and that it was received OK.</p>
<p>I stand corrected on the work study logging thing, and that the reasons letter would go unread, at least at Dean J's school. At some other big state schools, though, I wonder.</p>
<p>For some schools, my daughter simply returned the postcard. There were a few where she felt like she had developed a relationship with the adrep. To those she handwrote personal letters. In response, both replied that they would keep her acceptance open should she decide to transfer, one going so far as to keep her scholarship offer available for two years!</p>
<p>I think my son will write a short note to each. With the small LACs, it does feel like there's a relationship. It's going to be hard to say no to some of these wonderful schools. On the other hand, as Dean J mentions, each "no" might mean some other happy student is taken off a waitlist.</p>
<p>Fireflyscout, wow! What schools were willing to keep the scholarships available? That's remarkable...I didn't think any school would do that.... If a student doesn't write a "thanks, but no thanks", IMO it really doesn't matter in most cases. If you don't submit a deposit, you forfeit your place in class, anyway.</p>
<p>my son wrote personal very short notes to each of his schools when he declined, thanking them for the honor of admission. He included the card that comes with acceptances of course, checked in the proper place.</p>
<p>In a couple of cases (smaller LACs where he was treated like a desired individual) he gave one specific and true reason for his final choice. Nothing petty like "your gymnasium is really depressing." More information about a better fit in his chief extra curricular activity. Schools can come to the wrong guess about why you chose another place if you don't speak up.</p>
<p>Let's face it, my son would have gotten a fine education at any of his schools and the faculty was probably comparable at most of them. I am glad he understood that.</p>
<p>He specifically acknowledged a terrific staff member or student ambassador or something about the recruitment experience that was a standout. </p>
<p>the end.<br>
I feel these notes have two purposes. One purpose was to help my son say goodbye to his alternative futures, each of which had merit and value. Life is full of choices, but few human beings on this planet have the chance to "choose" a college. This is a true privilege.
The other purpose was to acknowledge those persons in any institution who recruited students with integrity and personal touches when possible.</p>
<p>WashDad - thank you! I've been looking for the right letter to use! :D</p>
<p>Another reason we visited so many schools (20) was so our son could see how many great options are out there. If, even after our well-planned search, he finds his first choice to be not the match he'd hoped for, he'll have lots of good ideas about transfer options. Writing a brief "thanks for the honor of admissions" seems to me like a way of saying (to himself, as much as anything), "This is also a great school, even though I'm choosing another."</p>
<p>I do not think our son wrote any such letters. But he did complete several surveys sent asking about the decision-making process.</p>
<p>And he did get one nice letter from admissions of one college wishing him well and informing him that if things did not work out, the admission offer and merit scholarship would be available for the next school year. He did write a thank you note to them as a result.</p>