glucklich

Thanks sD and Nancy. Your opinions resound with what most people have advised me so far. It really is too bad the US and UK systems can't be a little more in-synch with their graduate program notification times. You can't treat two offers as equals if one comes with funding and the other not yet.

Hmmm. I'd really appreciate some input on a conundrum I have: An offer of a five year fully-funded ($20K+ stipend each year) position in a top 3-4 public US college (dept ranking in the twenties) vs. offers from Oxford, Cambridge and LSE for one year M.Sc programs. I've always wanted to study in the UK, but the US offer is pretty hard to beat in the current economic climate. I won't find out whether I get funding as an international student in the UK until May or June, but I need to let the US school know by April 15. It's possible that if I do the year-long masters in the UK, when I apply to PhD programs a year later, my chances of getting in to a top-ranked university may be improved. On the other hand, if I don't get funded in the UK, I will have kissed goodbye a meaty five year scholarship. I'm in the social sciences. I'd be really grateful for any thoughts you might have. Glucklich.