The waiting is finally over. Congratulations! You've got one or more offers for admission to graduate study. It may take time for you to decide which to attend, but never hold more than one offer in hand because there are other applicants waiting anxiously to hear.
So what do you do? Each time you get an offer, compare it with the one you have in hand and determine which to decline. Repeat this comparison process as you receive each new offer.
Admissions committees will appreciate your timeliness and honesty - and they will be able to move on to the next candidate on their list. You hurt other candidates, your peers, by holding on to offers that you have no intention of accepting. Notify programs as soon as you realize that you'll decline their offer.
Declining Admission
How do you decline an offer of admission? Send a short email or fax a letter thanking them for the offer and notifying them of your decision. Address the note to your contact person or to the entire graduate admissions committee, and simply explain your decision. Be sure to type your name and then sign the letter. You may notify the program by email, fax, or phone, but be sure to follow up with a written letter because messages are sometimes lost.
Pressure to Accept
You may find that some programs may pressure you to make a decision and accept their offer of admission before April 15. It's not appropriate for the committee to pressure you, so stand your ground (unless you're absolutely certain that it is the program for you). Remember that you're not obligated to make a decision until April 15. When you've accepted an offer of admission, remember that you are committed to that acceptance. If you attempt to be released from an acceptance agreement, you might make waves and gain an unsavory reputation among graduate programs in psychology (it's a very small world indeed) and among the faculty who have provided you with letters of recommendation.
Accepting Admission
When you're ready to accept an offer of admission, call or email your contact for the program and follow up with a written letter that is faxed and then mailed to the program. A short professional looking note indicating that you've made your decision and are pleased to accept their offer of admission is adequate
