The decision to leave school is rarely an easy one, but students face it every day for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it happens because health and stress adds up and the student needs a break to refocus. Other times, the demands of work or family require one to leave school. In other cases, the institute simply turns out to be a bad fit.When you need to write the letter notifying your school that you resign as a student, professional communication is key. If you misstep, you can harm your chances of getting back into school later or your professional relationships with mentors. Use these resignation letter for school templates to help you shape an effective letter.
Resignation Letter for School Template
This letter belongs to Tena Monday, a full-time student leaving her place at school due to family pressure. It represents a graceful way to inform teachers and advisors of your choice, balancing clear explanation, discretion, and professional language.
Dear Mr. Knudson,
You know how much I value my experience at this university and how much effort I spend ensuring my experience outside the classroom remains as rewarding as my experience inside it. Unfortunately, maintaining that balance currently requires me to give up my place in the professional writing program to focus on family demands.
The changing circumstances in my life caught me off-guard, and to make sure my family has what they need, I must change my goals from school to supporting them. Once this hard time passes, I hope to return. For now, my family needs another full-time worker sooner than my studies allow, so I must give up my further education.
For now, I, Tena Monday, resign from my role as a student in the Department of English.
I wish I could stay to complete my degree, and I hope the program can find a way to welcome me back when it becomes possible for me to return to my studies again. Until that time, my new skills provide me with a way to gain an entry-level toehold in my chosen career. That would not be the case without your help. I hope my future circumstances allow us to study together again soon.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Tena Monday
How To Write a Resignation Letter for School
If you never wrote a resignation letter before, the process can seem intimidating. In reality, such a communication usually winds up being simple. The key is to maintain discipline with the language and to provide nothing but what is necessary. When writing a letter specifically for school, it is important to touch on what the educational experience taught you and what you take with you as you go.
Following along with the letter template above, you see the importance of opening with a reminder of your feelings about the program you attend. This sets the tone by letting the reader know you do not choose this resignation lightly. If you do not feel this kind of gratitude, a polite opening that reflects warmly on your time still represents your best way into the discussion, so find a way to make an honest, reflective statement that finds something positive in the experience.
In the body of the resignation letter for school template, you can see the student outlining the changes to her life that required leaving school. She leaves out excessive detail, though, because the goal is to explain why she must leave, not to relate future plans. She also states her intention to return. This becomes important if your resignation is temporary or you see yourself wishing to return at a later date but you lack the ability to predict when. It helps the advisor understand, and it gives that same advisor notice that could be helpful when Tena attempts to re-apply to school. That shows the reader was in the writer’s mind as she wrote.
What To Avoid in Your Resignation Letter for School
Resignation letters for school wind up being short and to the point for a reason. They exist to terminate your relationship with your educational institution, but they should not be confrontational. Avoid airing any grievances with the school, and focus instead on informing the institute that you need to leave and how this process will need to work. Do not offer lengthy explanations for why you are leaving; succinct, straightforward statements should suffice.
It is vital that your language reflect a sense of gratitude and community if you hope to return to school or to use the contacts from your time in education as references for jobs or other opportunities. That means you should also avoid discussing problems you encountered with staff or other concerns that contributed to your decision. Keep it focused instead on what you got out of what education you completed and how you hope to eventually return, if that is the case.
How To Follow Up After Sending Your Resignation Letter for School
You should not need to send a follow-up letter to a letter of resignation unless you receive no response after waiting for 48 to 72 hours. Typically, the recipient should acknowledge getting the resignation by that point, allowing you to move forward with the knowledge that your school understands.
If you do not receive an acknowledgment or any instructions about proceeding further, then sending an inquiry about any further requirements might be necessary. If that happens, gently remind the recipient that you resigned from school and ask directly what you need to do to wrap things up. That should be enough to elicit a response.
Top 5 Resignation Letter for School Letter Writing Takeaways
1. Directly address the fact that you must leave school
Your letter needs a clear and unequivocal statement of resignation because it is an official part of your record.
2. Include any information the recipient needs to help you finalize your time as a student
If you need to move out of the dormitories or your departure involves separating from a team or an on-campus job, asking for help when you resign as a student lets your school know how to tie up everything as you go.
3. Make a brief statement explaining the reasons for your departure
You should not feel obligated to persuade the school of your reasons for leaving, so keep it short. You do need to tell them something, though, and a brief statement of the cause of your departure puts to bed any worries or questions.
4. Refrain from airing grievances
Many people leave school every year due to disappointment with the program, their performances, or even the staff. Even if these reasons lie behind your choice to leave school, attempting to air grievances as you go out the door is likely to be ineffective.
5. Let them know how to support you
If you have plans to return or to transfer to another school, let your advisor or your professors know how they can facilitate your next educational steps. This can get you the professional support you need to move on from this experience.
