How terrible is it...

[Muffin is Injured]

... to accept an assistantship from one school and then decide to attend another? I accepted a very generous assistantship back in April from a program that is perfect for my academic interests, but then I received a call a few days ago offering me an assistantship from what had been my dream school. Although the program that I'd be completing at my "dream school" is not my ideal choice, it is also a very generous offer and would give me the chance to work with some of the most widely recognized names in my field. I haven't made my final decision yet, and one thing that keeps gnawing at me is how awkward it would be to bail on the school that I've already accepted when I'm supposed to be starting classes in a month.

Has anyone been in this situation before?

[rainy_day]

Make your decision based on fit, fit, fit.

[Mal83]

My first question is, simply out of curiosity, how could your dream school not be your ideal choice? Shouldn't the school that's ideal be the dream? I went through a slightly similar situation in that I accepted an offer to one school and then months later I got notice that I had been accepted off of the waitlist at my dream school, which is ideal in every way. So that day it was kind of a no-brainer to let the other school know I wouldn't be attending. Now, I had no extras like fellowships or assistanceships involved in my decision making process, so I guess it wasn't as hard. I wasn't exactly overjoyed to send off that "I'm not coming" email I wished it hadn't come to that, but I couldn't turn down my only offer at the time in hopes that I'd make in off the waitlist somewhere else 2 months after the fact, which is when I found out. It was quick and painless though, within a few hours I got a response from the coordinator that basically amounted to "sorry you can't attend, good luck." There was no way I was turning down my dream school, dream program, dream degree, and dream city...so you have to get through that bit awkwardness in order to pursue exactly what you want, it's your life, not theirs...I'm sure in your case it would be much better to call since there's funding involved and you're so close to the start of it all...

Edited July 31, 2011 by Mal83

[Muffin is Injured]

My funding from my "dream school" comes with the stipulation that I earn a dual degree... I know that doesn't sound like a bad deal (poor thing, getting paid to stay in school longer, haha), but I don't have any particular interest in the second degree program. If there were some way that I could attend my dream school without doing the dual degree program, then it'd really be a no-brainer, but I can't get the funding without completing both degrees. The school that I'm currently set to attend has less prestige in my field, but the program requirements are perfectly aligned with my dream job. The costs would end up being about the same at both programs, so that doesn't help me in my decision making... it's going to be a tough call. Thank you both for your feedback!

[rising_star]

Don't do a program you're not excited about. It's as simple as that.

[Mal83]

Oh...wow, that is tough, I kind of agree that if you're not excited about the other degree then it might not be the best decision. I mean that's a lot of effort to put into something that you know isn't of interest to you...I don't know, depends on your priorities, dream school + doing something you don't really need/want or less prestigious school + exact fit...good luck with that decision!