Hi there

I'm seeking a bit of advice on doing a PhD in the US. I'm in a bit of a catch-22 with making the decision between accepting a place at a university over here and in the US. I get on very well with both supervising professors, I love the US and know it very well, and the US system, though longer, appeals to me more than the British one. I have lots of friends in the vicinity of the US university (in New York), and have a much better funding opportunity over there. That said, the British system takes less time, my friends and family are over here, and the program is more focused from the outset. However, funding here is smaller and I have lived in London for longer than I would wish to, feeling ready to move on.

Apologies if this has been covered in many other posts and many thanks in advance for any thoughts, however abstract! - Anybody doing a PhD in the US who could tell me realistically how hard it might be over there?:-)