HELP! Great PhD program vs Chicago MAPSS

[Stefans12]

Hi all, 

 

I am a 24 y/o graduate of SUNY Binghamton, with an MA in Political Science from York University (Toronto). There were major hiccups over two consecutive application cycles. I previously accepted an unfunded offer (as is common in UK social science departments) at Sussex IR for January '26 but deferred to this fall to reapply elsewhere and for a studentship, both of which were unsuccessful. I did receive a second-choice offer to Chicago MAPSS which expires tomorrow. 

 

I have been tortured by this decision for weeks but always leaned towards Sussex given the desire to escape PhD limbo and the fact that MAPSS also carries a major financial risk (my award is only for $16,000), but curious about thoughts.