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Get used to being happy anywhere you go because you will have very limited options for tenure track or post doc after you graduate. I.e., you will have to take what you can get.

well you aren't friends, yet, so what is there to discuss? it is very likely that they have a pool of applicants to choose from - 2/4 of my POIs were pretty clear that despite our chemistry, they will pick the best applicant (which of course will be me).

just be glad that you don't have to wait for acceptance letters while also writing a master's thesis that is already late

No, you are in denial about your role in the situation.

No, you are in denial about your role in the situation.

waking up at 11

i'd hope that a person entering graduate school would already the life skills of an adult

Ok you don't go to graduate school to build up your investment portfolio. You can definitely live fine on 21600 as a single person in southern california. There are people living on much less.

honestly, this is going to figure so insignificantly in your life that i would stop worrying. quickly get all the information you can to make a decision and then be done with it. whichever school you reject isn't going to even remember you a month from now.

whoever told you that has no idea what he or she is talking about. it is perfectly normal to go work with a particular professor.

i'd suggest not bankrupting yourself over a PhD which may not drastically improve your life-time earnings.

waking up at 11

are the reasons why you shouldn't stay. i am surprised that the PI hasn't suggested you go elsewhere...

waking up at 11

Ok you don't go to graduate school to build up your investment portfolio. You can definitely live fine on 21600 as a single person in southern california. There are people living on much less.

never discuss funding people

have you ever been on google scholar? if you search for your POIs by initials and last name, most of their bibliography will come up with a pretty good estimate of the number of times the papers were cited. Use this metric as a back of the envelope way of comparing the professors. Check out the number of citations and the frequency with which they have been publishing in the last 5-10 years. You want someone who is currently active. As for the number of times cited, it is really good and not common at all for a paper to have >100 citations in the last 10 years. Also look to see if they publish in top journals. Nature and Science are two to look for. You can figure out how good the journals are in google by typing "JOURNALNAMEHERE" "IMPACT FACTOR". Impact factors >4 are a good sign >8 even better. Of course most of this is arbitrary but it's a pretty quick and dirty way to make an impression. 
 
It is also possible in some search databases to get the professors' H-score , which is a metric combining all of the above. I think that web of science will generate one??? I know that google scholar does for authors that signed up for them to.

1. she hasn't been offered any money
2. it is before april 15
 
she can rescind her acceptance. let's not get all dire and drastic here.
 
http://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CGS_Resolution.pdf
 
no money = no obligation

1. she hasn't been offered any money
2. it is before april 15
 
she can rescind her acceptance. let's not get all dire and drastic here.
 
http://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CGS_Resolution.pdf
 
no money = no obligation

yes, they are too long and winding, almost like a stream of consciousness 

it's really difficult to read your posts janie

i don't know what is with biology departments but they are often the slowest the react of any department! hang in there

yes, they are too long and winding, almost like a stream of consciousness 

You should e-mail your POI or grad advisor at U of T immediately to inquire on your application status as you have already received another offer

i'd hope that a person entering graduate school would already the life skills of an adult