If I may be a voice of dissent for a second, perhaps also consider this information I've heard from past Columbia students and others in the writing world (and, I'm sorry in advance if it makes you feel less happy about your MFA choices):
Columbia accepts a lot of MFA students, faaar more than most programs. Their acceptance rate is NOT prestigious. Each cohort tends to have its couple of "stars", the Karen Russells or Alexandra Kleemans, who get the funding, the faculty attention, and the spotlight in the publishing industry. Those are the people who are succeeding, whose manuscripts get sent directly to publishers by their professors, who get their first stories in The Paris Review. That is NOT the success story of the majority of the cohort. Columbia faculty isn't sending all 50-100 students' manuscripts to publishers. They only push forward those couple "stars" and everyone else has to figure it out on their own, while some $150,000 in debt (their $$ essentially funding the ride for those select cohort stars).
That amount of debt all but necessitates that the vast majority of Columbia grads (who aren't independently rich) have to put writing dreams on indefinite hold after graduation and instead get a full-time job somewhere just to keep up with student loan payments.
And, to be frank, Columbia MFA's reputation isn't all that great in the literary world. The numbers they admit + the amount that they charge for the degree is basically a racket, and most people in the literary circles know it.
You are clearly good enough to have been admitted to these schools, and a third choice aside from attending either the New School or Columbia would be to apply again next year, to more fully-funded programs. There are so many across the country with stellar reputations, faculty attention, connections, and ones that will pay you to go to school there. If you want to stay in the NYC area, Rutgers-Newark is close enough and just started funding all its students with some sizable stipends + full tuition coverage. NYU has some full scholarships, and at least funds all its admitted students 50% (and their tuition is much less than Columbia's). Brooklyn College has a solid reputation for its MFA, and though it has less funding, it also has lower tuition.
New York being New York, all of those major league teachers often pop over to teach a lecture or a class in other schools, too. And just because a professor is major league doesn't mean they are good at teaching, or are willing (and able) to use their connections to further your writing career.
Anyway, sorry if this is harsh, but I had to be the devil's advocate here. Going that much into Columbia-level debt for an MFA isn't worth it. Even if you get published out the gate, advances + sales for most writers won't come close to covering that debt, never mind additional living expenses, etc. Just, consider maybe another application round. I've heard so many success stories of people getting incredible offers their second go-around.
Whatever you decide, good luck!
