Can I cancel a physics PhD visit day, after they've booked my flight?

[PhysPaig]

Hello everyone! I have a visit day for a school coming up that they booked my hotel and flight for. I was initially interested in the program, but my partner recently received a dream job offer in Boston. I have been offered a spot at two PhD programs there, so I'll likely pick one of those in order to let them pursue this opportunity. My visit day is in a week at this other school that isn't in Boston, but there's basically no chance that I'm going to accept my offer to go to that school now. Should I inform them of this so that they can cancel my accomodations(hotel and flight) and potentially get some portion of the money back? I can also just go to the visit day and not tell them of my plans to deny my offer soon after, but it feels a bit bad to take their money.

 

[romsofia]

The moral thing is to contact them with exactly what you told us here.

But it's hard to say no to a free vacation!

 

[Choppy]

Yes, just tell them where things stand. It's not going to offend anyone if you cancel on them.

In general graduate admissions people prefer to know where things stand sooner rather than later. There may be some students on a waiting list that they can make a secondary offer to once they know you're not coming.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I agree with what was said here, but I would take it one step further - withdraw you application for admission. You're not just holding on to a few hundred bucks, but you're holding on to a slot someone else can use, Let someone else have it.

 

[PhysPaig]

I agree with what was said here, but I would take it one step further - withdraw you application for admission. You're not just holding on to a few hundred bucks, but you're holding on to a slot someone else can use, Let someone else have it.

Oh yes certainly. I withdrew last night when I told them that I was likely going to another program for the reason stated in my post. It just felt weird cancelling on them since I doubt they'll be able to refund the flight, and I said I would go. But I think everyone here is right

 

[CrysPhys]

Oh yes certainly. I withdrew last night when I told them that I was likely going to another program for the reason stated in my post. It just felt weird cancelling on them since I doubt they'll be able to refund the flight, and I said I would go. But I think everyone here is right

It's great that you have a conscience, but don't fret about the airfare. You're thinking in terms of rock-bottom vacation fares with strict refund policies upon cancellation. But business trips seldom are booked that way, since cancellations tend to be more frequent.

Regardless, the university would waste even more money (and people's time) if you didn't cancel. So keep that in perspective.