So please if you are not going to attend notify the schools.
(Especially if the school happens to be UNC Chapel Hill

Ditto. I do not understand why some people will have five or more offers, and can't at least pick a couple to decline. Of course, one can be undecided between two or three, but more than that? You won't hurt any feelings and you don't have to say where you are going, but please don't wait---there are so many on waiting lists, and they (as well as admissions directors) are getting more and more nervous as the deadline approaches.Goran15 wrote:I realize this has been mentioned before and I apologize for repeating. There are a lot of people waiting for a decision.
So please if you are not going to attend notify the schools.
(Especially if the school happens to be UNC Chapel Hill)
negru wrote:Because people don't like interacting with people, also they don't like wasting time searching for the right email address, and searching admission emails for any extra instructions.
That is true. But if you send a reply, they can act on the waiting list right away. The form takes longer (and is seldom necessary if you're declining). It's just courteous to them and your fellow students to let the admissions director know as soon as you know.negru wrote:Most of my schools want both a reply, and some other form. Some emails are also automatic so I have to search around for what needs to be done.
You're correct, although I can't remember the name of any student who declined abruptly during the past 20 years---those things aren't something one remembers. Still, it would also be nice to say a few more words than a sentence. But don't spend days composing the message....negru wrote:It's also not always as easy as a one sentence reply. People do get offended or upset, so if the respective school will likely be a prospective postdoc location you better be careful what you say and how you say it. Especially if you visited.
This is an excellent idea. We don't put the GRE codes on the site, and it would be trivial to do so. We will do so before the next cycle. We do have all the instructions in one place...negru wrote: How about schools put just ONE BIG link to the app, on the DEPARTMENT homepage, also put ALL instructions (both general AND department specific - including the damn GRE CODES for heaven's sake, it's really not very difficult!) within 1 inch of said link, then we'll talk about answering back in a timely fashion. Sorry, but this is not just my opinion.
I agree completely. It's especially hard turning down faculty positions or postdocs, since they are offered one at a time, and you are often friends with the people you're saying no to. When you get several faculty offers, negru (and I'm sure you will)negru wrote:Well, it depends if you had any connections at the school, like if your profs pushed your name a lot, talked around etc to get you admitted, or if you already knew some of the faculty. It gets even harder if you interact very positively with profs when you visit. Especially if said profs are among the top people in their field. Let's just say it's not easy at all turning down very famous people.
Sure, some schools really had everything very organized, I'm certainly not directing my frustrations at your school. But some schools were just an extreme pain in the ass. Stanford for example, despite having the biggest application fee. It still takes me a couple of tries before I get to the actual application page. You just click links which say "go to online application" but just keep going in circles.admissionprof wrote:This is an excellent idea. We don't put the GRE codes on the site, and it would be trivial to do so. We will do so before the next cycle. We do have all the instructions in one place...negru wrote: How about schools put just ONE BIG link to the app, on the DEPARTMENT homepage, also put ALL instructions (both general AND department specific - including the damn GRE CODES for heaven's sake, it's really not very difficult!) within 1 inch of said link, then we'll talk about answering back in a timely fashion. Sorry, but this is not just my opinion.
Remember, responding in a timely fashion is especially important to other students, not just the department--so don't hurt other students just to spite the department.
The bigger schools seem to be better organized in this.admissionprof wrote:This is an excellent idea. We don't put the GRE codes on the site, and it would be trivial to do so. We will do so before the next cycle. We do have all the instructions in one place.
couldn't agree more. It really pissed me off how some schools (ie UCSB) needed TWO OFFICIAL transcripts from EACH school you attended. Since I completed coursework at 4 different schools (1 university, 3 junior colleges), that cost me an extra $50!negru wrote:Because people don't like interacting with people, also they don't like wasting time searching for the right email address, and searching admission emails for any extra instructions.
If schools don't have an easy online form you complete and submit, possibly with a link from the homepage, expect to get answers around 14-15 april or never.
I mean sorry, but we already spent hours per each school making sure we're not missing any hidden deadlines, disclaimers, special instructions, number of transcripts we need to send at each address, extra forms, extra info we need to submit via something other than the online app, some of which may appear either on the university homepage or the department homepage. Some schools make the process as painful and confusing as possible, so they really shouldn't expect any gratitude from anyone.
How about schools put just ONE BIG link to the app, on the DEPARTMENT homepage, also put ALL instructions (both general AND department specific - including the damn GRE CODES for heaven's sake, it's really not very difficult!) within 1 inch of said link, then we'll talk about answering back in a timely fashion. Sorry, but this is not just my opinion.
at least i don't also have to sacrifice my first born to decline their offerTo accept or decline the offer of admission on the web, you first need to set up your Stanford University Network Identification name (SUNet ID). Approximately 24 hours after you have set up your SUNet ID, you will be able to log in to Axess to accept or decline the offer.
, click on "Decision Status". Go to your admissions letter - there should be a link to create a UCLA ID. Once the ID has been created, you need to find the Statement of Intent to Register - use that to decline the offer.