I got admitted to both Columbia (for the MA Journalism, Science track) and USC Annenberg (for the MA in Specialised Journalism). Both programs are interesting, and fairly similar -- I've been a journalist for almost 4 years now and don't really need technical training, but I wanted to concentrate on subject specialties, hence the applications.
Columbia is possibly the best-regarded journalism school in the world and they're offering me $37,000 is financial aid, which still leaves me with some $30,000 (for the remainder of tuition and academic fees, +living) to cover in loans. I'm an international student, btw, so that amount in my currency is scary - sort of - but not so crazy that its something I can't think about. USC, on the other hand, has offered me an Annenberg fellowship, which covers tuition, all academic fees and a $20,000 stiped for living expenses. It looks like a no-brainer right now -- why go into debt when you don't have to -- but could Columbia's reputation - it is an Ivy after all - be worth more than USC's offer?
Please help! I'm so torn, I want to go to both places!