funded PhD vs. LSE MSc

[mallow]

I was accepted to a funded PhD in Communications at Columbia. I also got into (very recently) an MSc in the History of International Relations (unfunded - $25k) at LSE. Two people whose opinions I trust have told me to turn down the Columbia offer in favor of furthering my professional experience as a writer and educator (I teach at the college level now and have many journalistic publications). One of these people completed his doctorate at Columbia (in another department) and is a very well known journalist and knows the place and field well. He advises me to stick with international relations and continue my journalism. I am freaking out a bit right now. I know I don't have to listen to this advice, but it's coming from very good sources.

Any thoughts/advice welcome.

[saintsfan86]

I was accepted to a funded PhD in Communications at Columbia. I also got into (very recently) an MSc in the History of International Relations (unfunded - $25k) at LSE. Two people whose opinions I trust have told me to turn down the Columbia offer in favor of furthering my professional experience as a writer and educator (I teach at the college level now and have many journalistic publications). One of these people completed his doctorate at Columbia (in another department) and is a very well known journalist and knows the place and field well. He advises me to stick with international relations and continue my journalism. I am freaking out a bit right now. I know I don't have to listen to this advice, but it's coming from very good sources.

Any thoughts/advice welcome.

I just think its a compromise between time and money. A PhD in Communication at Columbia would take atleast 2 or maybe 3 (if you don't have a Master's), while an MSc from LSE would take a year. Since you don't have funding for LSE its going to cost you not 25k but atleast twice that if you include living expenses, while on the other hand your PhD is fully funded.

And then there is the question of your career aspirations. If you want to continue with your journalism career, a PhD from Columbia J School will in my opinion be looked at quite favorably. An MSc in History of IR from LSE won't hurt but I'm not sure how it'll help in furthering your career in journalism plus it'll cost you 50k, but then maybe you're interested in international reporting or something like that, so you could make that work too. It's like I said a compromise between time and money. Good luck with your decision, I hope I was able to help out.