OrpheusGaze

So, I'm a Master's student in the UK and I'm a bit in a rut on how best (i.e., politely but honestly) to tell my current professor/supervisor that I will be turning down a PhD funding offer from my home university in favour of another offer somewhere else in the UK. I have been working with two professors from my department on my research project since October. They have gone over and beyond with the help they have given me over these past few months - proposal tweaks, funding applications, and so on. They also know I have applied to another university apart from the one where I am currently based, especially since they wrote letters of recommendation for me, so this is not really a surprise. About a month ago I received a funding offer from the other university and I decided to accept it provisionally, though I also chose to keep it for myself until I found out the outcome from two funding applications related to my home uni. Last week the result of the first funding application came through, and I was amongst the awardees. My professors emailed me very enthusiastically and told me that the outcome from the other application was due next week, but that no matter what the latter is going to be, I have already secured funding and should not worry anymore. Right now I am waiting to hear back from my last funding application at my home uni. I have been poring over my choices over the past week, and I have decided (for a variety of reasons, both personal and academic) that I would like to move to the other university. I still haven't notified my professors, and I am not sure as to the best way of doing so. Should I wait until this Monday, find out what the outcome of the last application at my home uni is, and then tell my professors that, with all options on the table, I'm going to take a few days to think about it? Or should I just rip the band-aid on Monday? I realise this probably sounds like a non-problem, but I have a really good relationship with my professor and they are (or at least seem to me?) very invested in this project. Besides, I'm a bit clumsy when it comes to social interaction to begin with. I'm beginning to think that maybe it might have been a better idea to inform them about my offer from the other university as soon as I found out last month, instead of waiting it out. I'll be sending a thank you card and a present as a token of gratitude, but I'd be curious to know what you think is the best way to tell them in the first place...

Ended up emailing the department regarding the status of my application, received a dry copy-and-paste email from the DGS citing some vague information about 'competitive applications' and 'limited funding'. For £105 you'd think they would care to elaborate a bit more at least. Would have loved to work with Cynthia Chase on de Manian deconstruction, but I suppose it was not meant to be - will try again with other schools next year. Anyway, congratulations to all of you admitted, I am sure you will do great!

@correr Huge congrats! May I ask your research interests and your POI?

Any news from Cornell Comp Lit?

Hello, been lurking for a few weeks and finally decided to join. Has any of you heard back from Cornell Comp Lit yet? There is only one acceptance on the board, posted about a month ago, but I am starting to wonder whether it's a valid one, since it came in not even two weeks after the closing date for applications... Last year Cornell notified applicants on the 22nd, so I was hoping I'd hear something yesterday, but nothing on that front yet. The wait is becoming quite excruciating, especially because the end of February is drawing near and I'd like to start planning for other things if Cornell does fall through. Any idea on what could be delaying them this year?