MathCat

Well, I'd say more real analysis would be beneficial, but perhaps not serve your purposes if you don't get a good grade. Numerical analysis is completely different. I've never actually done any, but (I believe) it is about doing computations on computers. There are lots of issues of efficiency and round off errors, algorithms, etc. I don't really know anything more than that, but it is not at all similar to real analysis. You might like it, I can't say. Complex analysis is a bit nicer than real analysis. As the names suggest, real analysis is about real valued functions, space, sequences, series, etc., while complex analysis is the same thing, but now over the complex numbers. However, the results are actually quite different - a lot of statements that you'd like to make in analysis fail in the real case, but are true in the complex case. For example, a complex function that is differentiable once is infinitely differentiable, a stark contrast to the real case. They both use similar proof techniques, though I'd say complex analysis arguments are usually a bit more topological, since you can't rely on order properties. Do you know how rigorous the complex course would be? Often a first course is more computational and pretty straight forward, while a second course is completely rigorous (and harder). What's your main goal for taking another course?

It's not clear to me if you know this, so I'll just say it: numerical analysis is a completely different beast than real analysis. It might be good to have, especially if those programs suggest it, but it's not going to show you can do the stuff you did in real analysis. That being said: what did your real analysis I course cover? There's a fair chance complex analysis will be quite a bit different too, but that depends on what you saw in that course.

I believe you can 'redeem' just a partial amount of it. E.g. if your degree only carries on for 8 months after you get it, you would get 2/3 of the funding. I'm not positive about this, but you should look into it.

Yes, I got an email that my status changed. It was identical to all the other status change emails.

Probably not at the same school, unless you do something to strengthen your application a lot. Perhaps this is a sign you aimed too high. Re-evaluate, do what you can to improve your application for the next season, and choose realistic programs to apply to next time (it's possible you chose realistic schools this time, and you were just unlucky, but it's hard to say).

The point of the deposit is to deter people from doing what you are proposing, but I don't think it would mean you can't do it - you would just forfeit your deposit.

Good luck. Really own it when you go - make it the right choice!

I accepted my offer almost two weeks ago, but it was such a relief to have made a decision. It was like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. And then a few of my professors obviously disagreed with my choice, which was a bit of a bummer. I'm completely certain it was the right choice for me amongst my options, but some of them questioned my turning down the most prestigious school I got into (although it's not any higher ranked than where I'm going, it had Ivy League wow-factor going for it.)

I think it is worth being upfront with both schools about the timelines you have. GW cannot honestly expect you to attend if you don't receive that job (no funding? come on!), and perhaps they can speed things up. At the very least, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask that they extend the deadline until you know about the job, since that's obviously a huge factor in the decision. UMD may be able to extend your deadline, as well. I would pessimistically guess that the transfer of your Masters degree credits at GW will be counteracted by the time spent at the centre job slowing down your PhD progress. Thus, I'd say you would probably not graduate any earlier at GW. But, as biostat2015 said, you would come out with a few years of experience already. If you want an industry job, that could be huge, if this job is taken seriously. I don't know what the reputation is. If UMD does not extend their deadline, I would accept their offer (waiting at long as possible to do so). If GW comes through with the job offer while their admissions offer is still on the table, and you decide that's what you want to do, it's possible you could get a release from UMD and attend GW.

Definitely a hard call. Perhaps you could ask UMD for an extension? It might be a long shot to get it extended that long, but it's worth asking. Does GW know the time crunch you are under with UMD's offer? When is your deadline to respond to each offer?

footballman2399 raises a good point. I'm biased, because I want an academic job. There could be a lot of benefits of the job experience at GW. I still think it will make completing the PhD much harder, though.

I agree, UMD seems better. 35 hours/week is too much - I have family members working full time while doing PhDs, and it's taking them a very long time to finish. They are also very stressed.

Things have settled down now that I know where I'm going, so I've planned my summer. I'll be continuing research that I started last year, working towards getting a publication from that. I have my eye on a couple of conferences that I'll attend if I can get some financial support from them. I'll study for writing quals upon entry, and then move near the end of the summer.

On another thread, somebody mentioned a $1000 one that didn't even go towards costs. Now that's preposterous! The whole deposit thing kind of sucks, but when you see all these threads of people intending to accept and rescind, you can understand why they do it. I'd just remember that $400 is not that much in the long run, even if it sucks now - you've surely spent more money on less worthwhile things over the years.

Seriously, try calling them. It should get you a more immediate answer.

They probably do it to reduce the number of people who accept and then rescind their acceptance later.

I would call them. If that doesn't help, I'd accept the offer, and rescind later if the funding is terrible. You don't want to lose your spot.

I agree. I think this is an advisor problem! I think a period of leave followed by returning to a new advisor could be very good, if possible.

Not a rejection letter, but somebody posted this rejection on the results search: University Of Victoria Linguistics, PhD (F14) Rejected via E-mail on 28 Mar 2014 I 29 Mar 2014 "We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission for the following reason: The Department of Linguistics has reviewed your file and judged your application to be not competitive with other applicants to the program." How nice!

I also usually think it's better to go somewhere new, for new takes on things and networking benefits, but I agree that it sounds like school A is the better choice by far. Money is not a good reason to choose a program, provided both offer enough to live on. It's the first thing you will forget when you are done.

This is largely cross-posted from the Math & Stats thread, so I'll cross-post part of my answer from there: I don't know about the stats program, but I know in math, U of T often retains many of its Masters students for PhD studies there - it's often a lot like a direct-entry PhD in the US. Also, if you wish to apply to other programs, you can still use some LORs from people from your undergrad. Many people do 1 year Masters programs at places like U of T or U Waterloo and then go straight on to PhD programs. Regarding research, I had the same concerns (I also considered 1 and 2 years masters programs, although I'm going to a PhD program), and professors assured me that you don't get into much real research in a Masters either way. Although the 2 years is definitely better, I don't think it outweighs funded vs. unfunded considerations. You usually do better in the academic job market coming from the US than coming from Canada, but that applies more to PhD programs than Masters. Unless you have the savings to fund yourself for the UW program (including the high cost of living in Seattle), I'd say go to U of T. It's not worth taking on debt when you have a good funded offer. U of T is definitely among the top schools in Canada, and is considered by many to be the top school. I don't know about the statistics ranking of UW, but U of T is ranked higher in math than UW is.

I also don't like using a laptop all the time, but whenever I've gone with a light-use laptop and desktop for the rest, I've regretted it, and ended up upgrading my laptop (and thus spending more than if I'd just bought a nicer one to begin with). I plan to buy a monitor to plug my laptop into when I'm at home instead.

The funding you listed above is similar to what I was offered, but tuition for a Canadian citizen is $4,500 total. It's not a lot to live on in Vancouver (I spoke with students living in on campus housing, btw, and most are very cramped, e.g. sharing a 1 bedroom with 2-3 people total - and apparently the rent is going up a lot next year? I don't really know), but it is livable, and definitely better than an unfunded US offer.

I don't even like U of T (personal preference only - I can't stand Toronto) and I'd still say it's a no-brainer for taking U of T. I don't particularly like the 1 year program either, but funding is hugely important. Go with the funding. U of T is also very well regarded. You can still get into a PhD right after if you want to - you would probably use 1-2 references from your undergrad because you wouldn't have much time to get a meaningful letter from anyone at U of T, but that's alright. I don't know about the stats program, but I know in math, U of T often retains many of its Masters students for PhD studies there - it's often a lot like a direct-entry PhD in the US.

Well, it seems like UC Merced is not a good personal fit for you. Not attending anywhere this year doesn't close the book on getting a PhD - you could take this year to work and apply to programs again in locations that work better for your SO and are a better fit for your interests. The extra time to think about whether you really want to do this might not be a bad thing. It sounds to me like you don't want to go to UC Merced.