5 Reasons to tell a college you will NOT be attending

College Decision Day is right around the corner. The May 1st deadline is when many colleges expect responses from admitted students; although, 2024 may be a little different due to the delays and issues with the FAFSA. Despite these hurdles, official acceptance is a key part of the admissions process and declining offers tends to be overlooked by students anxious to move forward with their academic journey. If you have decided not to attend a college, take the time to send a response stating you will not be attending in the fall.

Declining acceptance to schools demonstrates gratitude and good manners. Students really need to reach out to those colleges they will NOT be attending and let them know the final decision. Perhaps now more than ever since aid packages and scholarships are in the air...

Every admissions team evaluated (and probably still are) hundreds of credentials from interested students. This painstaking endeavor is deserving of a "Thank you" or "No, thank you." It's easy to forget about the other schools once a decision and deposits have been sent; however, these schools may end up being an option for transfer or graduate school at a later date. Student personal information remains in the database and sending a letter is an opportunity to maintain a positive relationship with the college.

While it's normal to feel a little awkward about communicating to a college that you are basically “rejecting," there are several reasons to do so:

1. Colleges care. Speaking as a faculty member from a small, regional college, I know that admissions officers care. From the director of admissions to the financial aid advisors, members of the admission team invest time and energy into the students they recruit. Your essays, transcripts and letters of recommendation are saved in a file and in some cases, admissions team members may debate and defend your application during weekly reviews. In some instances, members of academic or athletic teams may have identified you for a scholarship and extended themselves professionally on your behalf. It can be disappointing when a potential faculty member or coach believes in your potential and then doesn't receive the courtesy of a response.

2. Institutional memory.  As mentioned earlier, admission team members build relationships with high schools, counselors and other student representatives that allow them to take chances on potential enrollees for whom the school advocates. If you fell into a questionable category due to grades or scores that might be below the usual admitted student profile, your response helps future applicants by reassuring the college of your gratitude. With applications being electronic, it doesn't take long for an admission representative to add a negative comment in your digital file. College with strong digital histories maintain a long institutional memory and one bad experience may take a long time to forget - students from your high school may face scrutiny the would otherwise not exist if a respectful response had been received. Don't forget future siblings or friends that may apply in the future...nobody wants a negative remark that stereotypes your high school or program.

3. Wait lists.  The earlier you let a college know you will not be attending in the fall, the sooner admission representatives can make decisions on students on a wait list. While this year may be a little different with lots of schools fighting for candidates, students in competitive programs or applying to competitive schools really owe it to their graduating peers. The timetable for admissions teams to make decisions has been pushed back due to FAFSA resulting in a delay in acceptance letters, aid offers and other criteria. While May 1st is historically Decision Day-the reality is, it may be in June this year. The delay means that your competitive program may have even more limited seats due to faculty scheduling, course availability and other budgetary constraints related to the size (income $$) of the incoming freshman class. There really is more nuance to this, but suffice it to say, declining acceptance sooner rather than later benefits everyone.

4. Opportunity to Provide Constructive feedback.  Once a college knows your decision, it’s likely they will want to know which offer you selected and why.  This is your opportunity to provide constructive feedback and influence future recruiting efforts. Feedback on the application process, customer service, program availability and other details will make the experience for future applicants better. You never know, your feedback may result in a future networking opportunity!

5. Transfer and/or Future admission.  I touched on this briefly above, but if none of the other above-listed reasons fail to move you, consider the possibility that you may be circling back to this same admissions office and asking for reconsideration in the form of a transfer application. You may see students from this college at an academic or other event (e.g. sports) and you may end up applying to graduate school, a professional program (law school, medical school, etc) or even working at the school. Don’t lose the opportunity to maintain good relations with an admissions office, an athletic department or academic discipline that may see your name and file again in the future. The institutional history combined with unknown future paths make sending a response letter even more important than ever.
   

It’s not hard to let a college know you will not be coming. Take a few minutes to review your acceptance letter or online portal for a quick response option. You can also call or send an email to the devoted admission representative that assisted you through the process.

Don’t forget about all the others who helped you along the journey—counselors, teachers, school administrators, athletic coaches, transcript clerks and outside recommenders. They’ve cared enough to support your applications, and they deserve to know your options as well as your final decision. Never miss an opportunity to make a good impression and send a "thank you" note.  Let everyone who has believed in you know which college or program you have decided to pursue.  Then, have that amazing party!

Unique Scholarships for College!

Sharing another website for earning scholarship money! The Bold.org offers unique scholarships for college - exclusive to their platform. The exclusivity means your changes of winner (earning?) are higher.

The website protects your data and there are no ads or unrelated offers. Students need to create a robust student profile, then search for panels that match. This is not a large database which can be good, but also challenging since funding sources are exclusive to the website and may take some creativity to locate. Students can apply to as many scholarships as possible - check the eligibility requirements before applying. Some applications are one-click once you have created your profile!

Some of the scholarship options target diversity, educational experiences and interests. The website also has opportunities for current college students, grad school hopefuls and those considering medical school. Bold.org partners with highly vetted and often recognizable companies to offer financial support. Additionally, these companies may offer networking resources or other options during the educational journey. See my previous post on mentorship linked below. The website generates some income from referrals to these partner companies as well.

The Benefits of Having a Mentor in College: Why You Should Consider Seeking One

As you are weighing options, I recommend to my students to investigate some of the lesser-known features of the colleges offering admission. Mentorship opportunities may be a defining factor - do you need a mentor in college? Some benefits of having a mentor in college include: assistance with navigating your courses, finding internships and other resume-building options.

 College mentorship may come in different forms. Greek life is one option. If you are interested in Greek life and joining an organization along these lines, ensure your college provides ample information about the quality, security and oversight. The first stop is the college or university website and somewhere under campus life, there should be an explanation of the school's requirements as well as punishment for infractions. Fraternities and sororities offer networking and social experiences that foster growth. Networking may lead to future internship or job opportunities and if elected to a position within the organization, students may build their resume. Greek organizations connect new members with mentors in future career paths. I will be posting a blog in the upcoming weeks for pros and cons of Greek life.

Another mentorship opportunity exists with honor societies. While some are similar to a fraternity or sorority and may even have a Greek name, these societies do not have residential facilities and are directly linked to a program, discipline or niche area. Some popular societies include Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society for Leadership and Success. There are tons more! These are two that are common at both 2-year schools and 4-year schools. Both offer access to scholarships available to members only as well as resume-building opportunities. Additionally, alumni from the school's chapters may have direct influence on current membership through networking, fellowship, internship or industry tour assistance. These options will be chapter specific and worth talking to the advisor on campus to see how membership will benefit you.

Finally, I have two other options and one leads to the other. If you have identified your intended major, ask to speak with the program chair or if there is an assigned academic advisor for the program, set up an appointment with them. Between March and June is a great time to catch these folks. Faculty usually have summers off and advisors are likely giving tours to interested students for the next admission cycle. Some things to ask your potential faculty mentor include:

• Can you tell me about your background in this field? (probably want to start with some small talk...)

• Do you have connections with local industry partners for internships?

• What career path do you recommend for me in my first, second, transfer, etc? Have a general idea and allow the faculty member to provide their insight.

• If you will need to transfer to another school, maybe ask for suggestions. Faculty in entry-level disciplines will know what is required to get into top schools...political science generally know about law school (LSAT as well) criteria; social work and psychology also well-versed in transfer programs for grad school to meet industry requirements to practice; natural science faculty also have insight into medical career paths.

• And then ask some development questions...what books to recommend I read? Are there resume builders you suggest? What are some things you would do differently?

While a faculty member may be crunched for time, they are generally more informed than academic advisors. However, a dedicated advisor to a program (e.g. aviation) may have the connections and time to devote to mentorship - not to mention, it is likely part of their job to ensure placement after graduation.

There are other options for finding a mentor as well. Maybe you really liked an instructor or particular advisor - ask if they would help you on your path. Perhaps, you really liked a guest speaker, send an email afterwards. Or, there is a club on campus that has connected you to like-minded individuals, send an email or participate in a larger event sponsored by the club. Get involved in the community! College is a time for exploration as well as development - finding a mentor will help you on your career path.