I had a skype interview a couple weeks ago with a professor at one of the schools I applied to that I thought went pretty well. Later, by some random miracle I got accepted into 3 other schools that are my top choices and I am now deciding between. I wasn't sure whether I was still in the running for this earlier school I had a skype interview with (due to me drawing incorrect conclusions from stalking this website ) but I just got invited to interview there. I am not going to go to this interview because it'd be a waste of their money and time on me since I have other offers and will not consider this school anymore. I plan on sending a generic email to the admin assistant declining the invitation to visit and asking them to remove me from consideration.
My question is what should I email the professor I interviewed with? Most recs for personal declining emails to professors say to just be straight about the program I am choosing. But I haven't picked where I'm going yet and won't know until my last visit in April. Would it be cocky if I say I am considering two other schools instead and name them? I don't want to insult this current school or professor. But also the professor got his PhD at one of the schools I'm considering. I just had a very honest/direct conversation with the professor during my interview and think he deserves the courtesy of my transparency, I just don't want to accidentally offend or come off pompous.
