I just went into the one I have access to and there's a "reply" link. Once you hit that, you can hit "accept" or "decline."

So you might not be looking for the word "decline" on the main page of the portal. Look for something about replying.

^I say this with a kid on five waitlists who would love to wrap up this process before May 1. It isn't happening and I totally understand why.

RD acceptances can be held until May 1 and if there is any uncertainty at all over the enrollment decision, the kid should not decline anything. They should not be harangued into doing so.

If declining is important for freeing up spots to the waitlist prior to May 1, the school will have a button. If a school doesn't have a button, assume that declining is not going to impact their waitlinst between now and May 1. Once May 1 comes and you haven't deposited, your offer of admission is revoked anyway.

Always keep in mind that there is NEVER one-for-one declined acceptance for a waitlist acceptance. A top school with RD yield of 30% will still accept in RD triple the number of spots they have left (after early decision), which in most cases means a couple thousand kids need to decline before the school would move on the waitlist. Or they would need to be receiving more declines than they have in past years for this point in April.

Most schools don't worry about the declines. Their enrollment management consultants, via extensive algorithms, track deposits. If they aren't on track for deposits compared to prior years, they might start to move on the waitlist before May 1.

Indiana doesn't have one.

Anonymous wrote:My son's college counselor recommended sending decline emails and provided a template for one. He said it frees up the space quicker for other deferred kids and it looks good for the high school.

So rather than a button? Do you just send it to general admissions email?

Anonymous wrote:NP wondering the same thing. What is the etiquette re: declining offers. DD has received some nice ones with merit and talent scholarships. Do those warrant an email?

Mine has been emailing her interviewers or personal email contacts, especially those in her major, when she declines the school. She may end up applying for their grad program or run across them in a professional capacity someday, and wants to hopefully be memorable in a good way.

But general admissions officers, no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have twins who are seniors, they recently made their decisions and then declined 10 colleges between the two of them, and neither had any issues finding where to decline the offer in the various portals.

Name the schools where you can't find this.

And? Some schools don’t have decline buttons. Just because the schools you declined had them doesn’t mean every school does.

What are the schools that don’t?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have twins who are seniors, they recently made their decisions and then declined 10 colleges between the two of them, and neither had any issues finding where to decline the offer in the various portals.

Name the schools where you can't find this.

did you see them do this?

I was sitting at the table with them as they were doing it, and they were talking through the questionnaires that most schools asked when you declined.(where are you going, why did you choose the other school, etc). So I know they did it.

My son's college counselor recommended sending decline emails and provided a template for one. He said it frees up the space quicker for other deferred kids and it looks good for the high school.

Anonymous wrote:all the "we" in this thread...

Anonymous wrote:I have twins who are seniors, they recently made their decisions and then declined 10 colleges between the two of them, and neither had any issues finding where to decline the offer in the various portals.

Name the schools where you can't find this.

did you see them do this?

Anonymous wrote:I have twins who are seniors, they recently made their decisions and then declined 10 colleges between the two of them, and neither had any issues finding where to decline the offer in the various portals.

Name the schools where you can't find this.

And? Some schools don’t have decline buttons. Just because the schools you declined had them doesn’t mean every school does.

I have twins who are seniors, they recently made their decisions and then declined 10 colleges between the two of them, and neither had any issues finding where to decline the offer in the various portals.

Name the schools where you can't find this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all the "we" in this thread...

... is normal. Teamwork. Most kids aren't mature enough to do all the details of the college applications themselves.

But real college is about 120 days away.