bigfluffybearcat

Hi everyone! I’m joining UW for the MA-PhD program in English. 

I think there are benefits and drawbacks to both scenarios you've presented. I'm going to try to remain unbiased based on the two schools you've mentioned.

Penn State:

Pros: Would allow you to start next year. Small Rhet-Comp program. Funding for 4 years if accepted into PHD program. Interesting and varied coursework. Mentoring program.
Cons: Admission into PHD program isn't guaranteed. There is a possibility that you won't get into a PHD program after applying. (Note: This is true for any MA program that doesn't automatically enroll you into a PHD program).

University of Washington:
Pros: Location (You indicate that you'd prefer to be in an urban environment). Great transportation system. More diversity. More progressive political view.
Cons: Expensive city. Limited coursework?
As a result of this, I have some questions. Are you 100 percent sure that you're interested in Rhet/Comp? Do you have previous experience in taking rhet comp courses outside of Freshman Writing? Have you looked at the courses both universities offer? Are there courses at both universities that you'd be interested in taking? If you decide you're not interested in Rhet Comp, would both schools be open to allowing you to change your concentration area? Seattle is generally more expensive to live in, but it might be easier to find a roommate/ live outside the city. Are you open to either? Penn State is expensive since it is one of the biggest state colleges. A lot of apartments tend to not have washer/dryers in units and you might have to drive to a laundromat if there isn't one on site. Are you okay with that? How important is it for everyone to live near by? How important is being able to live without a car? How important is it for you to have opportunities outside of academia? What other opportunities to both colleges provide for earning additional income?

Note: @TakeruK beat me on asking whether you'd be able to combine UW's funding offer with your Government's offer.

A couple of things to consider:
1. It sounds like Penn State is not promising you admission to their PhD program (you said "if I'm allowed to proceed..."). Is UW offering you a direct-entry PhD (since it's a 5 year funding offer).
2. Can you stack/combine both the UW offer and your government's funding? $20k in Seattle is not a lot, and when I was applying to PhD programs, UW's offer was the only one I rejected primarily because of their low funding offer (mine was slightly less at $18k/year and no fellowship: TAing the entire degree). I personally would not want to live in Seattle for less than $25k per year. Penn State is in a lower cost of living place, so that offer might go a lot further. (But you should get some number for the PhD funding too).
3. If you end up preferring UW, can you ask to defer the start date by 1 year (especially if this will allow your government funding to supplement your UW funding). This way, you can still take your time.

Hey @bigfluffybearcat! Nothing like making a major life decision right at the wire, eh? 
From what I can tell from your post, Penn still seems like the best option for you. The biggest indicator to me has less to do with timing and money then it does with your feelings about the program. It sounds like UW doesn't offer the classes, support, and environment you need. And those are the most crucial deciding factors. Like, hands down. Plus, Penn allows you to keep the prestigious government-aided funding and take the year to transition. 
It seems like all UW has to offer is the same amount(ish) of funding and its Seattle location. Personally, I am leaving the Pacific Northwest and also moving to Pennsylvania for my program. The change of landscapes will be so, so hard. But I assume I'll hardly notice with how busy I am.
Those are just my thoughts. You do you, and best of luck deciding!

I feel you  Hang in there! This will all be over soon (I hope!)

Just got an offer for an unfunded MA from Maryland! And with that, all my application decisions have been made. Glad it's over with at least one positive result.

This is a pretty late reply (I haven’t been active in the forums, sorry), but I got accepted to UW’s MA program. Unfortunately I don’t know if they’re done notifying or not, but I’m in the process of deferring my offer, so perhaps that will free up a space for someone this year (?). Good luck!

That is awesome!! All good luck to you!

Got the official acceptance from Arizona's RCTE program! But do you think they're gonna rescind my offer for being so awkward during the phone call? God I wanna die.

Yesssss congratulations!!!

Hahaha thanks for the reassurances! I'm not sure how these acceptance phone calls usually go, so I just nodded and said yes and thank you all the time. Perhaps I should've asked questions and tried to chat more? 
Alright now I'm gonna waste precious hours dissecting every word from that phone call and reading too much into it. Don't mind me.

Congratulations! Don't worry--I think we're all awkward on our calls, and they know that we're facing big life decisions so I think anything awkward generally gets a pass. Revel in your acceptance! That's an awesome program.

Congratulations!!! I'm sure it was fine--they're the ones trying to convince you now, not the other way around!

My cell service cut out twice on one call and I had to do the awkward call-back while they're calling back bullshit ... and I'm still in. Phone calls are just ... there's no good way.

Got the official acceptance from Arizona's RCTE program! But do you think they're gonna rescind my offer for being so awkward during the phone call? God I wanna die.

I know two ppl got calls from Arizona today with acceptances so I would take it as a good sign!

I think they normally reject via e-mail and try to accept via phone when possible. Maybe you've won a special fellowship?

Hi all, I'm a lurker but was accepted off of the waitlist at UMN for Comparative Studies in Discourse and Society today!!! I switched from Cultural Studies to History and Philosophy of Science (doing an HPS MA right now), but applied to UMN because the vibe of the program and people who work there have always been really attractive to me, so I figured I'd apply to one Cultural Studies program this time around. I truly didn't think I'd be accepted -- congrats to the other admits as well! 

Thank you And you too have a list of awesome schools. Good luck!
Oh my god I'm sorry, I didn't notice you were waitlisted instead of accepted. Well then, may the waitlist turn into an actual acceptance soon!

Congrats!!

That’s awesome!! Congratulations!! 

HUZZAH! Got the email tonight -- accepted to Saint Louis University (MA English).

No problem - hopefully it helps! My $.02 - if the dept says on the website that they fully fund all students and all you have right now is a congratulatory "you're in!," I'd guess that they're going to give you more info soon(ish) - if that next contact doesn't explain things fully, you can definitely ask more Qs.

Nope!
CMU was like "it's in the letter which is forthcoming." Temple's dept has yet to email me directly (I was accepted by the grad school) but a friend who is there now said it took them about a week to email him with funding/other info (and judging by the GC boards that seems par for the course.) Buffalo's grad school emailed me at like 5:00 pm yesterday, so I figure it may be a day or two until I hear from the dept specifically with visiting/funding info. 
I'm fascinated to say the least
 

I got a call on 1/24 - I received an email two days (1/29) ago saying they're hoping to send the official letter out by the end of this week.
I totally feel you on the WAIT WAS THIS A MISTAKE angst but I think it just takes time (probably more time than we'd assume and definitely time that feels endless)