Etiquette Question - Letting schools know you won't be attending

[Anonymous]

Lucky enough to have our son accepted into a number of schools with competitive admission. Going through the enrollment information that came with the admissions decisions and there is nothing about not enrolling. My thought is to reach out to the admissions directors to let them know we won't be coming so they can move forward with kids on the wait list. Am I thinking correctly?

[Anonymous]

Are these boarding schools? Trying to figure out how you have already been notified by "a number of schools with competitive admission."

But yes, send their admissions office an email saying that you don't plan on attending. Out of curiosity, what would the other options have been? Or is it just a "we got in" flex to various schools that haven't yet announced decisions?

[Anonymous]

Do it sooner than later, particularly for the local DC schools, as it could open a space for others.

[Anonymous]

Weird. Did you get electronic notice? Almost all have a way of accepting or declining admission through a portal or other electronic method.

[Anonymous]

OP: Should have been more clear; the Baltimore area schools announced decisions today. I know the Dc schools have a few more weeks.

[Anonymous]

Yes, please let them know in a timely way. All the schools have waitlists at this point and many families are hopefully waiting for a space to open up!

[Anonymous]

yes, let the schools know as soon as you know what your plans are.

[Anonymous]

I electronically declined schools, but also sent a particular favorite a note to let them know the specific reason and how sad we were that we couldn’t make the school work for us (distance).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it sooner than later, particularly for the local DC schools, as it could open a space for others.

That’s not the way it works. The schools will go through their process. When they know everyone who has accepted, they will then make a judgement on if they need to go to the WL and what attributes they need to get the class balance they want.

[Anonymous]

Email the Director of Admissions:

Thank you for the offer of admission for kiddo1. While we appreciated so much about your school, especially ( X, Y, Z). We have decided on a different option for kiddo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are these boarding schools? Trying to figure out how you have already been notified by "a number of schools with competitive admission."

But yes, send their admissions office an email saying that you don't plan on attending. Out of curiosity, what would the other options have been? Or is it just a "we got in" flex to various schools that haven't yet announced decisions?

Not Op but I think some if the catholics have released decisions. I read in another thread that The Heights is already rejecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Should have been more clear; the Baltimore area schools announced decisions today. I know the Dc schools have a few more weeks.

I agree let them know reasonably prompt but at least give yourself a bit of time to really really really be sure...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lucky enough to have our son accepted into a number of schools with competitive admission. Going through the enrollment information that came with the admissions decisions and there is nothing about not enrolling. My thought is to reach out to the admissions directors to let them know we won't be coming so they can move forward with kids on the wait list. Am I thinking correctly?

You can send a polite note thanking them and add some very short flattery and then say you are not attending. (Admissions directors move around, talk w/each other etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lucky enough to have our son accepted into a number of schools with competitive admission. Going through the enrollment information that came with the admissions decisions and there is nothing about not enrolling. My thought is to reach out to the admissions directors to let them know we won't be coming so they can move forward with kids on the wait list. Am I thinking correctly?

You can send a polite note thanking them and add some very short flattery and then say you are not attending. (Admissions directors move around, talk w/each other etc.)

I would probably add that this email really should be coming from your son and not really you but by all means, assist and proofread before it gets sent out. Simply for a couple of reasons if for some reason your son doesn't care for the school he selected and would like to reapply for a school he turned down it will look better that he sent it rather than mommy or daddy and shows maturity and accountability. Not to mention it will just reinforce some independence and will also help him understand how things really should be done in life we just don't walk away we need to say thank you.

my two cents for what its worth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lucky enough to have our son accepted into a number of schools with competitive admission. Going through the enrollment information that came with the admissions decisions and there is nothing about not enrolling. My thought is to reach out to the admissions directors to let them know we won't be coming so they can move forward with kids on the wait list. Am I thinking correctly?

You can send a polite note thanking them and add some very short flattery and then say you are not attending. (Admissions directors move around, talk w/each other etc.)

I would probably add that this email really should be coming from your son and not really you but by all means, assist and proofread before it gets sent out. Simply for a couple of reasons if for some reason your son doesn't care for the school he selected and would like to reapply for a school he turned down it will look better that he sent it rather than mommy or daddy and shows maturity and accountability. Not to mention it will just reinforce some independence and will also help him understand how things really should be done in life we just don't walk away we need to say thank you.

my two cents for what its worth

Uh, disagree. Admissions decisions are made by parents. They are the only ones that can contractually accept an admissions offer for their minor child.