I declined two schools.
One called to offer acceptance, and I declined on the phone.
The other one, I committed to, then declined after I was admitted to my first choice off waitlist.
This is my exact letter, with pseudonyms...
Ms. Smith:
It is with sincere regret that I have to withdraw my acceptance to ____ this fall.
I apologize for the lateness of this decision. Please advise if I have to do anything further to make this choice official.
Thank you,
Jay Imess
I could have told them I was heading to my now-alma mater, and I could have told them why I thought this was the right choice...but I didn't see the point. I didn't expect a response or particularly want one, but I got the following about ten minutes later:
Dear Ms. Imess,
Thank you for letting me no (sic) that you won't be able to attending (sic) our screenwriting program in fall 2007. I'll make sure to let the faculty know.
Sincerely,
Mary Smith
I don't include the typos to diminish the school, by the way...rather just to show just how little it really matters to these people that you're not coming. Don't tell them why...unless it's a financial issue, they're not going to try to change your mind, and honestly, most of the time they won't try to change it even then.
They won't give you a guilt trip. They're not used car salesmen.
This is a joyous time, it shouldn't be painful...at the most, slightly awkward. Be polite, be concise, and send it out as soon as you muster the courage to take the leap wherever you ARE attending...each day you delay is one more empty mailbox for some anxious waitlister.
