Accepting offer while on funding waitlist

[hello2525]

I have an offer from my first choice econ PhD program but am still on the waitlist for funding.  While I'm virtually certain that I would attend even without first year funding, I'm concerned that if I accept now they may be less likely to make me a funding offer (and instead offer it to someone else from the fellowship waitlist who is still holding out).  Does anyone have a sense of whether this is something that actually happens, or am I being overly paranoid?  I would love to just accept and have it over with, but I don't want to jeopardize my possibility of getting funding.  Thanks in advance!

[GeoDUDE!]

I think accepting and attending a PhD program is accepting and attending a program where they don't want you there. I would wait for funding.

[terefere]

I would also wait for funding. No reason for you to give signals that you would be willing to attend without funding. It feels nice to be over with admissions but it will feel even nicer when you get funding.