<p>I can’t comment on the girlfriend issue - only you know what being apart for a year would mean to you. The difference between $31k and $18k is, in the scheme of things, a pretty trivial amount if one program is a significantly better fit for you, and only people in your field will be able to comment on the difference between a degree from Cornell vs. Stanford. In any case, you can always ask Stanford if they can improve their aid - at worst they say no.</p>