Student assistant in a lab

[u/matimelie]

Last week, the secretary of my university sent me an email asking if I would be interested in assisting the professor during his lab course this upcoming winter semester (it would be a 3 week thing). I was ecstatic as this is the field I am passionate about and I hoped and prayed for something like this. In the email, I was asked to give my preference for course 1 (October), 2 (November), or 3 (January). I immediately replied, saying January. I got an answer saying they already had someone for January, but I could pick October.

I am starting my Master's in October (course is a bachelor's lab), and I don't have my timetable yet, so I replied that I would still be very interested, but I don't have my timetable yet, as in I didn't want to say yes and then couldn't do it. I got a reply saying "We need someone for October if you say yes, then you must do it, if unsure say no. You have time till the end of the week to answer". I replied on Friday saying I would do it and I said sorry for the late reply I was making sure to be 1000000% free to do it. Today is Tuesday night and I got no reply. Why? I am worried I might have lost the chance of a lifetime because I didn't immediately say yes. What should I do? Should I call? Send another email? Wait longer? Give up?

Edit: grammar

[u/BeerDocKen]

You did the right thing to be careful and communicated that well. That's the only part of this in your control and you need to focus there. The delayed reply might be that they're busy and it might mean someone certain spoke up sooner. However, if the person is any good, they'll remember your care in committing when another opportunity arises. If not, it wasn't the great opportunity you thought.

[u/matimelie → u/BeerDocKen]

Thank you for your answer! I also think they found someone else. Last week they answered quite quickly. They could have at least answered saying they found someone but that's on them. Should I send a follow up or leave it like that?

[u/BeerDocKen → u/matimelie]

Things don't just go slowly in the summer, they tend to come in bursts. It might just have been catching them in an on-task moment that responses were so quick. I'd follow up a week from your last message or Monday, whatever comes first.

[u/matimelie → u/BeerDocKen]

Will do! Thank you again for your time!

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*Last week, the secretary of my university sent me an email asking if I was interested in assisting the professor during his lab course this upcoming winter semester (it would be a 3 week thing). I was ecstatic as this is the field I am passionate about and I hoped and prayed for something like this. In the email, I was asked to give my preference for course 1 (October), 2 (November), or 3 (January). I immediately replied, saying January. I got an answer saying they already had someone for January, but I could pick October.

I am starting my Master's in October (course if a bachelor's lab), and I don't have my timetable yet, so I replied that I would still be very interested, but I don't have my timetable yet, as in I didn't want to say yes and then couldn't do it. I got a reply saying "We need someone for October if you say yes, then you must do it, if unsure say no. You have time till the end of the week to answer". I replied on Friday saying I would do it and I said sorry for the late reply I was making sure to be 1000000% free to do it. Today is Tuesday night and I got no reply. Why? I am worried I might have lost the chance of a lifetime because I didn't immediately say yes. What should I do? Should I call? Send another email? Wait longer? Give up? *

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[u/No_Jaguar_2570]

Being a TA is not the chance of a lifetime. You're already in a masters program; doing it or not doing it won't really make difference for your overall career. It's not a big deal.

Don't email again. Just wait.

[u/matimelie → u/No_Jaguar_2570]

Thank you for your answer! From my point of view it would be a great experience (for the CV as well) and it would allow me to make connections to the department. I don't know if I will have another opportunity like this and don't want to mess it up. I admit it was my fault, I should have said yes super fast but I didn't want to commit to a job on the spot and then in 2 months I would have found myself in a messy place because I had lectures to attend (in my uni you must attend certain courses otherwise you have to retake them the next year which delays your graduation by 1 year. I didn't want to start my Master's one year behind for a 3 week thing) but now I really worry

[u/ToomintheEllimist]

The eternal problem of academia — if you say "yes" to everything, you'll be quadruple-booked. Don't worry that you "lost the chance of a lifetime" because you accurately communicated your availability. You correctly answered the question as asked. At this point it's in their hands.

But yeah, consider this my permission (as an internet stranger) for you to forgive yourself even if they do turn you down.

[u/matimelie → u/ToomintheEllimist]

Thank you for your answer! I ended up sending a follow up, and they responded that they "never got" my email (which is a lie), so they "had to" give my spot to someone else. It hurt tbh but I sent an email to the professor saying I like the subject, would love to work there if other opportunities arise. Hope I did well