Tough Decision - help?

[RileyG]

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Here's my dilemma. Hopefully some of you vets on here can help me out with some advice.

I found out just before the April 1 deadline that I did not get into my top choice school (School A) so I accepted the offer from my second choice school (School B). I have no problems with attending School B...it has descent funding (they are giving me a fellowship) and the program and the people seemed like a great fit for me. School A was by far my top choice though...MUCH better funding, plus it caters to people who want to go into clinical neuropsych (which I do) and School B does not.

But today, I just got an email from my POI from School A saying that there will likely be another opening and he wants me to come there afterall. I have already committed to School B, but School A would be a better match for me now and in the long run. I know once you make a commitment, you are supposed to stick with it (that's why it's called a commitment) but I am seriously considering reneging my commitment to School B.

What would you do? Advice?

 

[NewPsychStudent]

Honestly? Do not even think twice about feeling guilty. You should go to the school YOU want to go to. Not only did you put in the time, effort, and money into this process to secure a position at a school you wanted to go to, but it is just senseless to give up a program you know is better for you out of guilt. On top of that, do you honestly believe any institution would make a decision out of guilt? They do what is best for them, and we should do the same. This is the game they created, and 9 times out of 10 it is to their advantage, just not in this case.

 

[psy86]

My feeling is that the rules are there to keep people from being flaky, accepting multiple offers, stringing programs along, or engaging in otherwise sketchy behavior.

You acted under good faith with the information you were given. Now different information is available.

Is school B going to be pretty annoyed if you bail? Yes. Is it worth attending a school you're not excited to attend when you have an offer from your dream school in order to prevent that annoyance? I think not.

Just be REALLY careful that the offer from school A is totally solidified before saying anything at all to school B.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

go to the school you want to go to.

Agreed.

A program doesn't want someone who would rather be somewhere else, and pass on the next person (who may REALLY want to be at their program). Also, it is still 'early'...compared to being in August and coming to this realization.

 

[callmebruce]

Double agreed.


Speaking as someone on a waitlist at their #1, there are surely people on your B school's waitlist just dying to get in.

So your "selfish" choice actually benefits someone else as well.

 

[WaitingKills]

Oooohhhh!!! How exciting!!!

Definitely go with school A. Remember that you are going to be there for 5 years. You might as well be happy and not constantly regretting the situation like you would if you stuck with school B.

 

[RileyG]

You guys are awesome. That really helps the decision. I will make sure the offer is solid, and if it is, I will be accepting School A. It really is a matter of me feeling guilty for bailing on School B...someone else said it this way...

"for you, it's a life changing decision...for School B, it'll be a small pain in the ***"

Thanks everyone for your advice!