<p>I want to be as respectful as possible when declining offers. These offers are for M.A. programs NOT Ph.D. programs. I was wondering if it was unnecessary to do anything but simply decline an offer by using the standard forms or should I use the form and personally write folks at the department?</p>
<p>My main concern is that I will be applying to many of these same schools down the road for a PhD, so I don't want to ruffle any feathers. Advice?</p>
<p>I would simply say: “Thank you very much for granting me a chance into your great program, but I’ve decided that the best decision for me, at the moment, is elsewhere. I, however, will be looking into your program again into the future.”</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>blah blah</p>
<p>when i sent out my rejections, i personalized each letter. there weren’t that many to send out, (un)fortunately. i sent a personalized letter to each faculty member i had been in contact with (the DGS, my potential advisor, and any other professors i had been in contact with).</p>
<p>they all responded to my email warmly and each of my potential advisors actually talked at length with me about my research interests, recommending books to read or archives that might be useful.</p>
<p>i told them what offer i had accepted and who i would be working with at my chosen school. unsurprisingly, my potential advisors had very kind words to say about my program of choice and my advisor. i study a very small corner of a relatively young subfield (20th century caribbean-central american history). all of these professors know each other. some of them went to grad school together. i will run into all of them at conferences. i thought it was important to go beyond mere cordiality and express an interest in continuing an academic dialogue with them into the future.</p>
<p>ESPECIALLY since you may reapply to these places for the PhD, i urge you to go beyond a mere form letter. tell them where you’re headed instead and that you hope to apply for their PhD program once you’ve finished your MA. thank them for their time and interest in you as a potential researcher.</p>
<p>don’t brown-nose them or anything, but let them know frankly what your plans are and express regret at not being able to accept their offer. at a minimum, send this letter to your potential advisor. it’s up to you whether you send it to the DGS (it depends how much contact you’ve had with him/her).</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I’ve already begun the process of personalizing the first letter.</p>