<p>Visit the schools. They are very different. I believe UCSB’s admitted student day, Spring Insight is in a few weeks (yep, April 12 - register here: <a href=“Open House | Undergraduate Admissions”>https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/visit-ucsb/open-house</a> ) They each have a different feel, and you need to choose what you want. UCSB is rated in the top 50 in the nation for economics (I’m not really sure of the exact number - I saw it earlier today). When I was checking Cal Lu for someone else I noted that they give an automatic scholarship to those who are admitted to UCSB and go to Cal Lu instead. <a href=“http://www.callutheran.edu/financial_aid/scholarships-assistance/”>http://www.callutheran.edu/financial_aid/scholarships-assistance/</a></p>
<p>I thought that spoke pretty well of UCSB (I note they don’t give this scholarship to those admitted to even all of the UCs.) I went to UCSB and wouldn’t pass its opportunities, myself, though. Yes, some lower division classes are VERY large, however, with all the resources of a research university and only a fraction of the graduate students, undergraduates there have excellent opportunities they don’t have at most other large universities, where they are competing with graduate students. Students are very happy there, as a rule, in their own beach community, and its academics are excellent. It is well thought of by law schools (here is the list of schools from which Harvard Law enrolled students last year – although I am sure other schools were in the running and likely are represented other years: <a href=“http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/jd/apply/undergrads.html”>http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/jd/apply/undergrads.html</a> ) </p>
<p>I encourage you to check them out in person and see which appeals most to you.</p>