Trying to choose

[xxflyingsoulxx]

Hey all

Comments

[narfenugen]

Do what makes sense economically first, and also consider your relationship.

I personally think there are only a couple circumstances where it makes sense to pay grad school tuition, and yours is not one of them. In the long run you'll do better at a funded program or by forgoing grad school and gaining work experience, even if that's just in seasonal or part-time positions. I don't think the UTAS option is a good financial move.

So that leaves you with UW and other schools, or not going. I'd encourage you to weigh your other options and find a path forward that works for your pocketbook and your relationship.

[foxxywith2xs]

a lot can change between two years in grad school -- relationships, career goals, research interests, etc. it's great to have an end goal of getting a phd and having x as your research interest, but 100 different internships, research papers, faculty members and people will come in your life and you'll have experiences you never could have imagined. you should never say no to these opportunities when they present themselves

[tisiphone]

You need to seriously consider what your long-term future plans are at this point. Are you staying in Australia, or do you think you might come back to the US? If you think you might come back to the US, it's best to go for a US-based program, because a lot of places are iffy about international masters programs, especially those that are perceived as being "too short" to be useful. You also really need to find out what goes on in the UTAS degree before making this decision. There should be a department graduate admissions coordinator you can call and ask. Another problem is that it can be difficult to switch visa categories, which is something you'll need to look at. And above all else, don't pay for a masters if you don't have to.