Other answers are good, so I will add something else to the mix. Bear in mind that if you go with the startup, you will have an awkward decision of whether to

Other answers are good, so I will add something else to the mix. Bear in mind that if you go with the startup, you will have an awkward decision of whether to leave after 1 year (giving up any further vesting in shares) or stay and perhaps give up on school or delay it further. If they don't give you shares then don't bother. And if they do they will probably try to screw you on the terms so you walk away with nothing (or needing serious $$$ in savings that you can exercise your option or lose it) - search HN for all the gory examples of that. And even if you get all that right they'll probably fail anyway and you will end up with nothing. Not being negative just very realistic. I agree with the statements about learning something. This can either be technically interesting or about the startup life and strategies so you can learn from their mistakes when you start your own.