A bird in hand or two in the bush

[goforit]

Hello!

I'm a PhD applicant in Europe where PhD is actually offered as a job and no April 15 deadline applies.

I got offered a position in Germany a couple of days back and I need to respond to it by the end of the week. Just now I received a mail from another Prof. in Denmark saying that he is seriously considering my application but he cannot give a definite answer for another two weeks. I am very excited about the Denmark offer as it is on research topic I love most although it pays less than the position in Germany. My problem is that if I decline the offer from Germany and if I don't get the offer from Denmark, I will have no other way to do a PhD but I'm not very excited about the research topic in Germany. Please comment on how to handle this situation.

Edited April 22, 2011 by goforit

[Tooma]

I was in the same situation yesterday. I chose the bird in hand although the one in the bush was of more preferable research topic. I couldn't risk it.

[lyonessrampant]

Ask Germany for an extension. Tell Denmark that Germany is pressuring you with a deadline for a response, especially if Germany won't extend your deadline to respond. That may get things moving faster in Denmark. Good luck!

[oldfogey]

Ask Germany for an extension. Tell Denmark that Germany is pressuring you with a deadline for a response, especially if Germany won't extend your deadline to respond. That may get things moving faster in Denmark. Good luck!

This.

[goforit]

Ask Germany for an extension. Tell Denmark that Germany is pressuring you with a deadline for a response, especially if Germany won't extend your deadline to respond. That may get things moving faster in Denmark. Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestion mate. But the German Prof. asked me to reply by the end of the week (that was three days ago, so he gave me a week to respond). Do you think asking two more weeks will make him reconsider his offer. Denmark Prof is a big shot and I don't think I can pressure him to respond any quicker. Anyway, I'll try and ask the German Prof for some more time and see how he responds. Hope it goes well. Any other suggestions are welcome.

Edited April 22, 2011 by goforit