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?

[CHOCCOCO]

Some what similar. I am very concerned about costs. I was offered a GA. All my programs are 60k+ $. I know I’ll have to get a loan no matter what. I’m waiting to see how much fin aid I could get. 

From my end, from this point to fall I will work 2 jobs and work as much overtime as possible. Loans are unavailable.

[Warelin]

19 minutes ago, topdog17 said:

the April 15 deadline,

April 15 is not the deadline for unfunded offers. The April 15 Resolution states the following: 

"Acceptance of an offer of financial support* (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by a prospective or enrolled graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties.

Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution.

*Please Note: This Resolution applies to offers of financial support only, not offers of admission."

Current CGS members can be found here.

[lasmith]

I am not in this situation but the two pieces of advice I am given when I am struggling to make a decision (which happens far too often):

1. Make a pros and cons - helps you visually see  good and bad things about both

2. Flip a coin - when it is in mid air or before it lands you tends to hope for one or the other. Whichever one you hoped it would land on is the one you really want. (For example if you're choosing between ice cream and cake and mid air you're like I hope it lands on cake, you should choose cake.)

Edited March 4, 2019 by lasmith
This may not be the best advice.