Hi, guys. I'm new to this forum. I'm trying to figure out what university to attend. I have been accepted into four universities: U Minnesota, UW-Madison, UC-Irvine, and CU-Boulder. I rejected the Minnesota offer because it was similar to UW-Madison. So, the thing is at UW-Madison there are various professors working on my field of interest, but they offered me the lowest stipend offer and I have to teach the 5 years (21000 for 9 months).
UC-Irvine and CU-Boulder offered me a fellowship for the first year (and the last year in Boulder). I don't have to teach these years. The stipend in UC-Irvine for the second year is 31000 approx. and in Boulder is 27000 approx. In these universities, there is just one professor working in my field of study though.
I am afraid of rejecting UW-Madison because I think is the best academically speaking. On the other side, Irvine and Boulder offered me a better package. What should I do? Do you think it's most important the economic or the academic side? I'm an international student and, even though I'm happy to have been accepted, right now I'm very stressed about trying to make a final decision.
Thank you very much!
