<pre><code> This issue is just as important as your career choice. Your Undergraduate college will set a foundation for your graduate school irrespective of what each school offers, Certainly BC does not offer the same environment as UCSB (academically, access, prestige, etc). That is why it is a PRIVATE- LIBERAL-ARTS-COLLEGE compared to a LARGE-PUBLIC-STATE-UNIVERSITY. Other factors such as:Teachers to students ratio, opportunities for research and internship, TA’s vs actual professors, hundreds in a lecture hall vs smaller class size with less than 30 students…yes it ALL MATTERS but so does the COST.
That being said, the most important decision lies within your FIT & BALANCE. Which one do you feel will serve your educational interest better? Think about your high-school process and the outcome as you applied to college. How much did the type of high school you attended helped or negated your college entrance? Yes college is what you make out of it, but just like in real life, NOT ALL ARE EQUAL.
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<p>If BC is what you would rather attend and be happy, then it makes sense to reach out to the financial aid office, explain your situation to them, ask for any scholarship opportunities that you can apply to now, or after your first year. Remember you can also cut your cost of attendance after your first year by applying to departmental scholarships, becoming an RA which in most schools is an instant free room/board.
In other words, ANYTHING is possible, but you have to make the calls, do the researcher and find WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY. </p>