Saying Yes... then No?

[aMusingsBlog]

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Today is the day that all of us have been waiting for/dreading... DECISION DAY!

I am stuck in quite the predicament. Yesterday I found out that I MIGHT receive a call with an offer today. If so, I would need to let them know TODAY what my decision is.

I have no idea what to do, because I feel that one night is not a sufficient amount of time to make a decision that would impact the rest of my life.

Others (non-psyc) people have proposed that I say "yes" and then mull it over.

My uncertainty stems from the fact that I would leave a really good full-time RA position (with the chance of being a first-author publication) for a school that was not my top choice. I am currently on the waiting list of my top choice (with very little chance). I MIGHT be willing to risk it, to apply to my top choice again next year.

I am completely torn 50/50 because it is a really good program that I would be turning down with a pretty good package, BUT i am not 100% sure that the research area/the way the program is run is ideal for me.

What should I do, if I receive that call today? Could I in good conscience say "yes", only to possibly say "no" later on?

OR, did anyone take the chance on a school they didn't know was exactly the right fit? Did it work out or not?

 

[voyeurofthemind]

Today is the day that all of us have been waiting for/dreading... DECISION DAY!

I am stuck in quite the predicament. Yesterday I found out that I MIGHT receive a call with an offer today. If so, I would need to let them know TODAY what my decision is.

I have no idea what to do, because I feel that one night is not a sufficient amount of time to make a decision that would impact the rest of my life.

Others (non-psyc) people have proposed that I say "yes" and then mull it over.

My uncertainty stems from the fact that I would leave a really good full-time RA position (with the chance of being a first-author publication) for a school that was not my top choice. I am currently on the waiting list of my top choice (with very little chance). I MIGHT be willing to risk it, to apply to my top choice again next year.

I am completely torn 50/50 because it is a really good program that I would be turning down with a pretty good package, BUT i am not 100% sure that the research area/the way the program is run is ideal for me.

What should I do, if I receive that call today? Could I in good conscience say "yes", only to possibly say "no" later on?

OR, did anyone take the chance on a school they didn't know was exactly the right fit? Did it work out or not?

IMHO, I would take the firm offer that you have in front of you. Nothing is guarenteed for next year. If you commit to this program you really need to follow through on your word. Otherwise you might be taking a spot from someone who would have attended.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Personally, given the huge amount of flux and uncertainty in the admissions process, I'd take the offer it it were given and would just go ahead and get started on my education. While getting another publication and having more research experience would no doubt strengthen your application, there's still no way of knowing how you'll fare in next year's admissions cycle.

If the program that may offer the acceptance is fully funded and accredited, again, I would take it, assuming they would allow you to follow your general research interests.

When you say you aren't sure that they way the program is run is "ideal" for you, what exactly do you mean? Keep in mind that odds are, no program is going to be 100% perfect for you, even your top choice. There will be things in grad school that upset you, rub you the wrong way, or make you wonder if either a) you made the right choice, or b) you deserve to be in grad school to begin with. That's all pretty normal. In the end, it's generally more about what you do with your time in school than it is where the schooling happened.

As for accepting an offer and then turning it down, it's possible (i.e., they can't MAKE you attend), but realize that unless it's due to some significantly-disruptive unforeseen event, it'll likely burn some bridges--both with that program, and potentially with any programs with which that site regularly converses.

 

[aMusingsBlog]

Thanks for your replies!

Don't worry, I didn't end up getting an offer.