Declining an offer while on a visit

[Sconnie]

I am visiting one of my top 2 choices the weekend before April 15th so I will have to make the decision while I'm there.  How do I politely decline the offer while still asking to be reimbursed for the travel expenses related to the visit that they agreed to pay?  I'm not saying I am going to decline for sure but I am having trouble coming up with a way to say thanks for your consideration and bringing me out here but I decided to go with the other school.

[Nerd_For_Life]

Decide on the 15 after you've already gone home, gotten reimbursed, etc.

[Guest HEPhD13]

Decide on the 15 after you've already gone home, gotten reimbursed, etc.

 

^ Agreed

 

That would just be awkward and I'm going to venture into the distasteful category. If you have already made up your mind, literally a month in advance, just tell them now that you will not attend and save the time and possibly money. There are probably people on the waitlist that would be happy to take your spot if you aren't going.

[Sconnie]

I havent made up my mind yet but I just wanted to have advice on how to handle it if I decided to go to the other one.  After I scheduled the visit I immediately thought about the awkward position it could put me in if I decided to go elsewhere.

[juilletmercredi]

Go home, and think about it on the plane ride home.  Send them an email on April 15 with your decision.  Even if you haven't already made up your mind, if you tell them while you are there, it will seem like you had already made up your mind before you flew out there and they may get upset about that.