Taking a Gamble on Cambridge

[Lorel]

Hi all, this is my first post, it's great to be here.

I'm in something of a pickle: I've been accepted into two PhD programs (I didn't apply to very many this time around as I'm just out of the undergrad).

I've been accepted by:

Cambridge, for a PhD in Clinical Neurosciences
George Mason University for a PhD in Neuroscience.

Cambridge is far and away my top choice: I've been in contact with the PI and he seems great, their research is exactly what I want to be doing, it's clearly the place to be.
Unfortunately, I still don't know about the possibility of funding and might not get it - acceptance doesn't automatically come with a stipend or tuition remission. When asked, the PI said that he thought I'd be a great fit and recommended me for funding, but of course, it's not a sure thing.

George Mason was kind of a 'safety school' (although I know that doesn't really apply to PhD programs) - I'm interested in the work that's happening at the Krasnow institute and they gave me a very good package. It doesn't feel like as good a fit for me though -- the work isn't quite as relevant to my interests as the work I'd be doing at Cambridge, the University itself is less appealing, and I know GMU just generally has a reputation as something of a second-tier institution.

So my quandary is this:

I realistically won't know about Cambridge funding until after the deadline for GMU. So:

Do I gamble on Cambridge and decline GMU's offer in the hope of getting enough money for Cambridge to make it worth it and potentially wind up with nothing OR do I go with the safer, less exciting option that I know will be stable?

Advice from my olders and betters would be much appreciated. I'm leaning towards 'gamble on Cambridge,' right now, but I'm so uncertain.

Lorel

Edited March 20, 2017 by Lorel
A word