I'm almost 100% sure I will pick Northwestern since they are giving me a fully funded program for 5 years, with a 34k stipend, but I just wanted to hear thoughts/opinions on emailing UCLA and asking for clarity about their funding.
UCLA's program costs 37k for out-of-state students, and they did not give me the 25k fellowship I applied for, saying that they will send funding information by the end of the month. I would rather not wait until the end of the month, especially if the package includes loans, which I refuse to take on. I don't really know what they mean by "funding information" and they aren't being clear. They did mention during their webinar last year that most of their students don't graduate with loans. LA has a super high cost-of-living, so even if they wave tuition, I am confused about how I would be able to afford the program the first year.
Let me know if you have good advice on how to ask or whether to just take the fully funded offer!