How to Write a Graduate School Acceptance Letter

Youve  applied to graduate schools, and lo and behold, youve been accepted to the program of your dreams. You may think youre all set and you need only  pack your  bags, book a flight or load your car, and head out to grad school. But, you need to take one more step to ensure your position at the school will be open and ready for you when you arrive: Youll need to write an acceptance letter. Admissions officers have to be sure that you are ready to attend; otherwise, they will likely give your spot to another candidate. Before Writing Your Letter or Email Your graduate school applications were just the first step. Maybe you received  several  offers of admission, maybe not. Either way, remember to share the good news with friends and family first. Dont forget to thank your mentors and people who wrote  recommendation letters on your behalf. You want to maintain your educational and professional contacts as your academic career progresses. Writing Your Reply Most grad programs notify applicants of their acceptance—or rejection—by email or phone, although a few still send formal letters by mail. Regardless of how youre notified, dont immediately say yes. This is especially important if the good news comes in a phone call. Thank the caller, likely a professor, and explain that you will reply soon. Dont worry: You wont suddenly have your acceptance revoked if you briefly delay. Most programs give accepted students a window of a few days—or even up to a week or two—to decide. Once youve had a chance to digest the good news and consider your options, its time to write your graduate school acceptance letter. You can respond via a letter that you send through the mail or you can reply by email. In either case, your response should be short, respectful, and clearly indicate your decision. Sample Acceptance Letter or Email Feel free to use the sample letter or email below. Simply replace the name of the professor, admissions officer, or admissions committee of the school as appropriate: Dear Dr. Smith (or Admissions Committee): I am writing to accept your offer to enroll in the X program at [graduate university]. Thank you, and I appreciate your time and consideration during the admissions process. I look forward to attending your program this fall and am excited by the opportunities that await. Sincerely, Rebecca R. Student Though your correspondence seemingly states the obvious, it is very important that you make it clear that you intend to enroll in the graduate program. And, being polite—such as saying thank you—is always important in any official correspondence. Before You Send the Letter or Email As you would with any important correspondence, take the time to reread your letter or email before you send it. Ensure that it doesnt have any misspellings or grammatical errors. Once youre satisfied with your acceptance letter, send it. If youve been accepted into more than one grad program, youve still got some homework to do. Youll need to write a letter declining an offer of admissions  to each of the programs you rejected. As with your acceptance letter, make it short, direct, and respectful.