Am I being too picky, especially now?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

You tell them that you appreciate the opportunity and that you have several offers on the table. Tell them you would like a week(or two if you think it will take this long to hear back from job #2) to make your decision. They should understand that. It also opens the door for negotiation as they know they're not your only option.

Exactly. Without revealing too much (since you haven't been offered the other job yet), I'd graciously explain that you need to take X amount of time to consider your options. This is very common when job hunting.

Obviously you don't EVER want to burn bridges in the job market, and it sounds like you have a solid professional relationship with your boss from your internship. Should you get offered the other position and decide to accept it, definitely explain to your boss your reasoning. I bet he'll understand. It's admirable that you don't want to break your word (you probably shouldn't have given it in this case), but you have to put yourself first. More interesting work, $8K in tuition and a security clearance make it a no-brainer.

Good luck man. Keep us posted.