Correct protocol for colleges you "don't" choose to attend?

[Katia]

My dd has applied to 5 colleges and been accepted into all five. She has had interviews and auditions, and we have heard back from them on scholarship offers, etc.

Now, she needs to make her choice, but my question is:

What do you do about the colleges you "don't" choose?

Do you write them a thank you/Dr. John letter declining? Just let it go? Or what?

I honestly have no clue! Two of the colleges have sent little thingys you sign to either accept or reject their admission and scholarship offers. Those are easy! But, what about the others?

And, should she email or write to the music professors she auditioned and interviewed with? They spent SO much time with her and her father and I. What is the correct protocol here in this new territory for us?

[Samuel]

If there is not a form, write a short letter or email to the admissions office, saying something like of

Dear (name),

I appreciate your offer of admission and your generous offer of financial support (if true), but I have ultimately decided to attend another institution (closer to home, better fit for interests, offered X, etc. you can omit this).

Best Wishes,



1 paragraph is fine. This could also be sent to a person in an academic dept that was unusually involved in the process, i.e. coach, violin teacher, but it is not necessary. You should let admissions know as soon as you've accepted a different offer because they may have a scholarship waiting list.

[ereks mom]

I've been wondering the same thing!

[Gwen in VA]

All of my kids' acceptance letters came with an accept/decline postcard. You just check the box and pop it in the mail!

[ereks mom]

None of ER's came with a postcard or form like that. I did find a form letter on the Microsoft website (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC300009871033.aspx?pid=CT101467951033). It's called "Letter of Decline for Acceptance to Insitution of Higher Learning". Word2007 users can download it.

[Tokyomarie]

We informed the admissions office by email with a brief note of "Thank you for the offer of admission (and scholarship if appropriate) but I have decided to attend xxx College or University." If the admissions counselors spent significant time with us, we (or rather the student) thanked them for their time. We also sent a separate note by email (though I would have preferred dd to send by postal mail) to the music professors who took time to help us navigate the music admissions process.