Accepting an offer before all results are in?

[victoriaaa]

I received an offer of admission from McGill University, which was my top choice due to several POIs with matching research interests, the location, etc., but I'm still waiting on a result from the University of Alberta. UofA's courses more closely match the field I'd like to go into eventually (working with immigrants and refugees in an ESL context), but I'm not super keen on the location and it doesn't have a thesis option while McGill does, and I'm quite interested in completing a thesis. After talking with a contact at McGill, I learned that the top 10 applicants receive a $5000 entrance scholarship, though the results won't be out until the end of the month or maybe early March. I'm just wondering if I'm potentially hurting my chances by not accepting McGill's offer immediately, like concerned that I may not be demonstrating my drive to study at McGill. I don't know what criteria they use to decide who their "top 10" are, and if Alberta offers me better funding (though I'm doubtful that they have any, as the program is course based), I may accept their offer instead as both schools have really strong programs.

To be honest, I'm already 95% decided on McGill, as I'm in love with the idea of living in Montreal and closer to home (I've been in Japan for the last 5 years, so really, anywhere is closer, but Montreal is only about 2 hours train ride from where my parents live), but I'm worried about kicking myself if I'm passed over for funding because I didn't accept quickly enough. Do admission committees take the time to acceptance into account for these sorts of things?

[TakeruK]

From a third party's perspective, your post sounds like you definitely want to be at McGill more than at Alberta. I think if you are 100% sure you want to go to McGill over Alberta, then make the decision now. You say you are 95% sure so it's just a matter of determining what will make you go that last 5%. 

I don't think accepting early makes a difference in whether you get the extra money, however, I wouldn't necessarily believe there is extra money unless the school says so. A contact might have wrong information or that it might have happened in previous years but not this year. So, unless McGill has mentioned this scholarship somewhere, I would not use it as part of the decision making process.

It sounds like the only appeal of Alberta is the courses but you also say you really want to complete a thesis. So, what will help you achieve your post-degree goals more? In most cases, by definition, thesis programs have fewer courses so it seems like if courses is what will help you get to the career you want, you should consider Alberta more strongly (i.e. now you need to weigh your personal preferences against better career fit), but if thesis work is what you need, then McGill is definitely the better choice because it would be the right fit academically and personally. I'm not sure how your field works so I'm not sure if there are PhD programs that you're interested in. But generally, PhD programs want you to have thesis-based Masters, so that's something to keep in mind too.

[victoriaaa]

I definitely want McGill more than Alberta just in my gut, but like you said, my hesitation is coming from trying to weigh personal preferences vs career fit. I know that the money at McGill exists, it's the money at Alberta that I'm not sure about, as the program is course-based and course-based don't tend to be funded. I've been thinking that I could potentially make up for the lack of course work by volunteering in Montreal with refugee and immigrant groups, as there are many moving into that area.

Also, this is off topic, but I noticed from your signature that you and I must have been at UBC (Vancouver) at the same time! I graduated in 2011 (Asian Area Studies and International Relations.) Small world.

[TakeruK]

Yeah, it sounds like you do have a tough decision to make. For what it's worth, I think personal fit is just as important as career fit when choosing grad schools. Although I don't know what your program is like, I know that for me, if I'm not happy with where I'm living etc. then I am not as productive. If I'm worrying about money and making ends meet, I'm not as productive. I guess one question for you is whether or not having courses listed on your transcript will help you get the job you want later on? Many jobs don't even ask for transcripts, so if you can get the same experience/knowledge some other way, there might not be any advantage to Alberta. Also, make sure those courses are actually regularly taught---I saw many departments where courses that are only taught every 4-5 years are still listed!

Good luck making your decision! And it's always nice to meet another UBC alum