Rejecting PhD offer after accepting

[pvfm]

Hello,

I received a fully funded offer from my safe school in early March and I was waitlisted in my first choice school in late March. I contacted the grad admission coodinator in my first choice school on 04/14, and he told me that my application was still being considered for admission, but no faculty member had extended an offer to me. So, I accepted the funded offer from my safe school on April 15. However, a professor from my first choice school contacted me on April 16 saying that he will offer me a place in his research group. 

Can I reject the offer from the safe school? Are there any legal or ethical implications? I don't want to burn bridges...

[limonchello]

There's a lot of posts like this. Yeah, it will burn a bridge and they won't be happy, but they will understand. I'm on my tablet and can't easily search for the other posts, but it basically is that the school needs to release you and then you're able to properly accept the second offer. Do what's best for you! There's no legal issue really.