Hello, I was hoping you guys might be able to help me make a decision . . . I've received two very nice offers, I have yet to hear back from all my schools but at this point I'm thinking these two offers are probably all I'll be getting, which is obviously more than satisfactory to me! So I'm having an impossible time deciding though. I still have yet to visit these schools but maybe when I do it will become an easier decision for me. But I was hoping if I posted about this someone might already be able to help me figure out where to lean . . . I'll try to explain the situation as best I can while still maintaining some anonymity so . . .
1) Offer one is from a good, solid program with a good financial package. The location of the school isn't ideal for me but the town it's in is supposed to be nice enough. I've had interactions with faculty who all seem very nice and attentive, and I've only heard good things about this school. The school itself is a big state university and although the department as a whole isn't top ranked (although not ranked poorly either) it's considered to be a very good place to study my particular subfield. My particular interest however is trans-regional and while this school is strong in one region it's not necessarily that strong in the other, although it appears likely that they will be hiring someone soon that will make them an even better match for me. I don't have exact details on placement history but by all accounts their placement record is very good.
2) Offer two is from another good program in a place I'd really like to live. This program however is in an interdisciplinary field that's related to my primary field of interest (the degree I would receive from school one.) They're not necessarily top in my "main" interest but they are top in this interdisciplinary field and have extremely good placement. They have offered me significantly more money than school one, but the school is not as responsive to me and I have barely received any communication from them at all. Another problem is the fact that this interdisciplinary field I'm interested in (and would be receiving my degree in) is a politically very controversial subject and I worry that the atmosphere of this school and maybe the professors as well might have different political views than me and I especially worry that this will carry over into conflicts between me and my potential advisor. But then again I seem to have the assurance of getting a job if I should take my degree at this place.
So . . my basic problem is trying to compare apples and oranges. Anyone have any idea where I should be leaning? or was this post too vague for anybody to make any valuable suggestions?