although hollingworth wished to study philosophy or psychology at graduate school he received no offers for an assistantship and instead found himself as the principal of a high school. however, he received an offer of an assistantship from james mckeen cattell at columbia university within a few months of his taking on the position. in 1908 hollingworth’s fiancé, leta stetter hollingworth, who up until now had been living in nebraska, joined him in new york where the two were married. the following year he received his doctorate from columbia, having completed his dissertation on the accuracy of reaching.