How do I decide between schools without knowing their prices?

[topdog17]

I have recently been admitted to a couple of my top choice SLP programs, but unfortunately they are both unaffordable for me without some sort of funding.  I have reached out to both schools asking when these decisions about funding will be made.  Both of them replied by saying that offers of funding, GA positions, and TA jobs will be granted AFTER the April 15 deadline, possibly even as late as the first semester of grad school.  I'm just feeling very frustrated because the price of a school is a very important factor in my decision, and I don't know how I could possibly commit without knowing what the financial situation will be.  

Has anyone else encountered this?  How are you all dealing with this kind of situation?

[literalturtle]

Do you have an advisor or POI already picked out/that you have communicated with? Often when communicating with the department itself, they will only give official answers, whereas you would have a better guage when talking to a specific point person in the department. I would use this time and uncertainty to talk with professors/advisors/POI to see what funding history has been in the past, what - if any - opportunities they may specifically have, and really find out in previous years what has occured with funding.

If you're worried about that, ask for some current graduate students in the program and ask them. I'm sure they'll be happy to answer, and if they're not, there may be something shady about your programs. Taking time to ask and seeing what the responses are will also give you a better idea of the faculty and environment at the universities you are considering, which could be argued to trump financial awards. If they're rude or not interested in helping you, that may be a sign that spending the next 2+ years there would not be worth your time or money, even if it is at a low cost.

Just an idea