Here’s your close-to-final score:

6.5/7 (+C, +H, /++O, +P, +Y)

The / indicates a wait-listing from one of the one-year programs at Oxford, which technically isn’t even a full wait-listing so much as deferring consideration of the application into a second round of sorting. But Em got word yesterday at the same time that she’s in to the two-year IR program that is the true equivalent of the stateside programs she’s applied to. Equivalent, though probably not peer.

Given that decision, the lack of funding from the one-year African Studies program at Oxford, and same from Columbia, I think we have our Final Four: Harvard & Oxford’s two-year program (pending funding information) and Princeton & Yale (with full rides).

Harvard is going to have to pony up to stay in the running, which we won’t know about for at least a week (probably). Oxford will probably be in contention regardless, since it’s cheaper to begin with (though the pound is making a bit of a comeback) and it’s Oxford. And obviously Princeton & Yale have a slight edge with that whole low-low price of free thing.

Emily’s running a triple-crown of getting sick, working on key legislation at work, and worrying about this decision. So now that we know most of the info, don’t hold your breath for a decision. This one will probably come down to the wire (which, incidentally, is Tax Day).

I really couldn’t be much prouder of my wife.