English MA at Calstate LA vs. LMU

[1Q84]

I already kind of created a thread about this in the English forum, so apologies for making another one but I figured this place might be a bit better for specific questions on deciding pros and cons.

Things seem a little more complicated for me because I'm really unsure about the MA timeline/scheduling/system in comparison to the Ph.D timeline. I know that Ph.D folk have until April 15 to make their decisions but I haven't been given any such guidelines for the MA. Is there generally a date when MA students need to make their decisions?

LMU has offered a Teaching Fellowship and possibly a scholarship but has sent me a "committment form" that I should fill out "as soon as possible". The Graduate Director also emailed me and said that she needs to know whether or not I will accept the TF "as soon as possible". See what I mean by being a bit vague? I hate to keep them waiting, but I don't have all the information from Calstate LA yet. However, and I know this should have no real bearing on my decision yet it does, the director has been extremely warm and attentive to me throughout this entire process. I feel like that says a lot about the attention and resources they might be able to give me if I attend.

Calstate LA has only offered admission so far. I applied for the full tuition waiver and will apply for the TAship as well. On the whole, if I receive both of those, the funding package will far outweigh what I receive from LMU. The problem is that the tuition waiver disbursement happens in late May. Not to mention, from the research I've been able to do, it seems like Calstate LA's English Department has a little more of a reputation.

So am I "allowed" to keep LMU waiting for that long? Can they rescind the offers if I keep them waiting too long?

And do MA students generally have the leverage to "counter offer" for more funding? I've read that some Ph.D students are able to do this but I gather that's not generally done in MAs.

I'm an international student, so pretty much all of this is new to me. Any guidance would be appreciated! I'm meeting both grad directors of both schools this week so I'll hopefully be able to get some more direct answers from them but it'd be nice to go into the meeting knowing what I can or cannot ask/say/do.

Thanks!

Edited April 9, 2013 by 1Q84

[1Q84]

In a surprising turn of events, LMU counter-offered and offered a substantially higher financial package, which has me rethinking. I'd feel like a shill if I madea decision purely based on finances, but everything I've heard from this forum and beyond is to never pay a single cent for a humanities MA and LMU's offer will allow that. Any opinions/advice? Is it reprehensible to choose a school based only on money?

[ZacharyObama]

No.

[rising_star]

Go to LMU.