Proper ettiquette when applying to two summer research internships?

[philosonista]

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Hello, SDN.

I've been putting together my summer plans for research, and I've come across a few opportunities in which I am interested. Now, however, I run into a bit of a problem. The application for a scholarship of which it is uncertain I would get is due in April, while my decision to commit to another research position that I already have secured is due in a few weeks. The problem is that I greatly favor the research position for which the application is due in April, and I would love to apply. I can't help but think it would be extremely rude to back out on my guaranteed position if I secured my ideal internship. At the same time, I would hate to miss the opportunity to land the internship I want by neglecting to apply. The timeline for my college education allows only one summer for research, so I cannot do one this summer and apply for one the next.

Advice? What kind of etiquette would make it possible to apply to both and back out on the other if necessary without being rude, or is there no such etiquette? 😳 I plan to ask my principle researcher tomorrow, but I thought SDN might have some idea...

TLDR: How can I avoid being rude when committing to a summer research position before I apply to the summer research position I really want?

 

[medmedman]

Dude honest answer? Don't worry about being rude. Do what you need to excel forward.

 

[Microglia]

Apply anyway, they won't miss an undergrad very much. It'd be a different story if you were a grad student or postdoc..but an undergrad ditching shouldn't surprise them very much. Just be polite and sincere; it's one thing to ditch, and it's another to not be cordial about it.