Thanks for the insight. I'm completing my Master's elsewhere, which I am really enjoying, so I'm very hesitant about returning to York. One of my major worries is about not being exposed to the same level of intellectual stimulation among my peers that I have been so fortunate to have experienced this year both in and out of the classroom. (and elsewhere as a visiting student at other institutions in previous years) In the end though, it makes the most sense for me to return to York out of all the schools to which I was accepted, due to specific faculty members there with whom I will be working. (despite the "academic inbreeding," although I don't think that necessarily "lowers the average IQ of a room"...) If I were to go elsewhere, I would need to change my field. Anyway, thanks for your personal insight into the graduate experience at York. And out of curiousity, why are there 3rd and 4th year phd students still doing course work?