Should've got it in writing!

[Festivus]

Wow...

I have already accepted an offer, registered for classes, found an apartment in a different city, etc. I received an unofficial offer via email from the progam director in early May that was shortly followed by an official acceptance letter with a $15,000 assistantship offer with full tuition waiver from dean of the college.

On Friday, I recieved an award letter (the official binding contract that requires my signature) from the department head (whom I have never met) that is $1500 less than what I committed to. There is no reference to the previous amount that I was offered or why it has changed. ( Am I entitled to know why, or should I just be appreciateve that I am receiving anything?) I have since turned down an offer at another school, based on the previous offer.

I have taken time off from work to travel to said different city to meet with the program director (who is now my advisor). I was under the impression that it went extremeley well. I feel like he could have at least given me a head's up or something. You would have never known from the impersonal wording of the form letter that I had taken the time to travel to the school earlier in the summer.

Now, I am very appreciative to have any offer, but this kind of takes the wind out of my sails. Of course, I will call my advisor to make sure that this amount is not a mistake, but it doesn't look like it is.

How can I ask what is going on without sounding ungrateful and hostile?

(I sure was glad that I recieved the letter on a Friday afternoon, so I could have time to cool off over the weekend)

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[Eigen]

If you have the initial offer, then you *do* have it in writing.

I would say you can certainly ask why it was lowered without coming across poorly.

It may be that the department's financial situation has changed, or it may just be that they forgot what they had previously offered you.

A short e-mail, simply asking if the amount in the most recent award letter is correct (since it differs from the one you were previously sent) is a good place to start. Emphasize you just wanted to double check before you signed it.

Depending on the response, you can work from there.

Pay-cuts happen. My PI had too many people to fund this summer, so we all ended up with pay-cuts to make it work. It may just have been that they didn't have the funds they thought they did to support the new grad students this year.

Edited July 26, 2010 by Eigen

[Festivus]

If you have the initial offer, then you *do* have it in writing.

I would say you can certainly ask why it was lowered without coming across poorly.

It may be that the department's financial situation has changed, or it may just be that they forgot what they had previously offered you.

A short e-mail, simply asking if the amount in the most recent award letter is correct (since it differs from the one you were previously sent) is a good place to start. Emphasize you just wanted to double check before you signed it.

Depending on the response, you can work from there.

Pay-cuts happen. My PI had too many people to fund this summer, so we all ended up with pay-cuts to make it work. It may just have been that they didn't have the funds they thought they did to support the new grad students this year.

Yeah, I guess I do have something in "writing" (but nothing signed by both parties), so it doesn't much matter.

I speculate that this is the result of some deparment-wide budget cut (but I won't know until I ask, will I ?)

I'll make the call right now.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Festivus]

It turns out there has been no change in my offer. I did not work this summer term. So of course I won't be paid for it.

Hallelujah! Way to jump to conclusions! Next year I will receive the full amount.