I would choose Michigan if I were you. GSAPP has a fantastic program, but I've heard excellent things about the program at Taubman as well. I don't think most people realize the precarious financial position they'll be in after school if they take on considerable debt to fund their architecture degrees. These days, it can take months after graduating to find a job (even with a degree from one of the Ivy League schools) and few architecture jobs pay enough to enable one to pay back the amount of loans one would need to take on to attend GSAPP. 

UMichigan

Must Visit both of their open houses before you choose.

the question is that I am not living in the USA and couldn't be able to get to their open house in time. So I am really relying in the information of yours to make this decision....please please let me know ur opinion, this will really be a great help!

That's a good deal at Michigan - in year two (if you don't blow it) you might have the remainder covered with an assistantship.

The way I see it, Michigan if you want to practice, GSAPP if you want to teach or do further schooling. If money is an issue I think you have to pick Michigan. They have many more opportunities for continuing scholarship ($5,000 - full tuition waivers) and a large percentage of students qualify for these scholarships. Also, like Janosh said you can get your tuition paid by doing assistanships as well and if you come from a different background and there's no TA positions available in architecture they allow you to try to get a position in other fields as well. GSAPP has an excellent program and if you talk yourself in to being $250,000 in debt, by all means go for it becuase it will be a great experience and you'll learn a lot.

MIchigan. Hands down. 

I can vouch for Michigan, past the first summer, UMich gives you a great amount of flexibility when it comes to picking your path, but a degree from Columbia will basically mean you'll be atop of the resume pile in most NYC firms.

If you chose Michigan, be aware that the first teachers you'll have the first summer of the M.Arch 3G program are not generally representative of the quality of the school. Pull through the summer of crap, and you'll be at a place where you can pretty much chose the kind of architect you want to become.

jibbo,

I'm in your situation as well. Have been offered a place in UMich with 10000/yr scolarship and been accepted to GSAPP as well.

I believe that both the scenario would give us a great experience as architecture students and future architects..

But apart from the academic values to me the difference is:

in Ann Arbor you will be living in a campus for two years, in a sort of "closed environment" where the only stimulus are knowing the other students the professors and your own passion for the discipline.

while..

in NYC you would be living the academic life in a very different way. You have an entire metropolis that gives you the best of the american culture as well as a european culture attitude, uncommon to find in other us cities, and that for me is fundamental.
The stimulus of this city, to me, are incomparable..
To sum up, the life experience is an aspect that we must not underestimate.

For this reasons I'm going to accept the MArch offer from GSAPP

@casafelice- what you say is true, but the city can also be a huge distraction. it can be as much of a asset as it is a problem. personally i'd rather study in an environment that promotes focus rather than one that makes me feel dispersed.

you can always move to ny later on, and have a job, money and weekend to actually enjoy the city.