Once again, thanks to everyone for their comments. I will say that if there's one thing I don't need to be sold on, it's the city Edinburgh -- I've been there twice and absolutely adore the place -- as I do the Scottish countryside, the Scots people, Scotch whisky, Scotch beer...(and did I say whisky?). There's no doubt in my mind that a year in Edinburgh would be an incredible experience, compared to a year in Queens, New York (I'm originally from the New York area, so I know the ups and downs of living there). It's more a matter of whether the school and life experience is worth being that much farther away from hearth and home (I currently live in Seattle). As I explained to my wife and daughter, if it were a choice between U of Edinburgh and, say, Columbia or NYU, I think the decision would be easier to make. But U of Ed and a public university...
Thanks again.

Got my acceptance letter from CUNY today -- decision time...

Hi Smilodon -- my sentiments exactly (what's that about great minds thinking alike...).

All excellent advice -- especially regarding US colleges preferring US degrees. Thanks!

To answer a question or two -- I'm already accepted to Edinburgh -- have an e-mail address and everything -- plus I've met with my supervisor, who is an extremely well respected composer (and a great chap as well). and I'll admit, there's the powerful lure of Edinburgh (city) itself. As for CUNY -- all my decision-making torture could be entirely moot, as I haven't heard back yet. But I think I have a good chance at acceptance -- and again, logistically it would be a lot easier. They seem to have a great faculty, but I really haven't "bonded" with anyone. So I guess we'll wait and see.

Thanks again, all

I am a US student who will be entering a master's program in music composition this fall at the University of Edinburgh, but a back-up choice is a highly regarded specialist school within a larger university (The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, part of the City University of New York). I am 52 -- hence the title of this thread! -- and my plan is to go on to a PhD, so...I like to think that a degree from an internationally renowned Uni such as Edinburgh would likely enhance my chances of getting into a prestigious PhD programme (Oxbridge, Yale, Harvard, etc) -- something I feel is important especially given my late start (ie I need all the help I can get). But is this true? New York would certainly be more practical -- and I've heard that it's not where you've been so much as what you've done that the prospective PhD institution will look at. If anyone has any insight, opinion, advice as to which might be better preparation and perhaps "look" better when I woo the likes of Oxbridge, Princeton, Yale, etc., I'm all ears (on the latter point, I realize it's not so much where you go but what you do, but still...).

I currently have a Bachelor's in music as well as a law degree (Berklee College of Music and Seattle University School of Law respectively).
Thanks!