For my graduate studies, I did a quick masters at Georgia Tech. Before applying, I found out about a Presidential Fellowship that would only be available if you applied as a PHD candidate. Therefore, I applied as a PHD candidate and I was able to receive the Presidential Fellowship, however, as mentioned, I ended up graduating a year and a half later with my masters only.
My question is, should I put this Presidential Fellowship on my resume? Can it hurt me since if you look on the Georgia Tech website it mentions this:
"Through the continued support of the Georgia Tech Foundation, President's Fellowships are offered annually to a select number of highly qualified U.S. citizens or permanent residents who intend to pursue doctoral degrees.
Must be applicants for a Georgia Tech doctoral program (not applicants for a master's program who declare doctoral intentions, unless that is the only way a student without a master's degree may be admitted to that program);"
I'm scared that either A: an adcom will think that I am lying in receiving this scholarship since I graduate with a masters. Or B: an adcom will question how I got this scholarship when I only graduated with a masters, and assume that I misled the university in receiving this fellowship.
However, its not uncommon to start on a doctoral track and then change your mind up as you go down that track.
What is my best course of action? As I want to put it on my resume because it is a big fellowship, but I also don't want to get the wrong foot in the door before I start.