<p>I am out of state and applied in early Jan. do they email you or only send their decisons through the mail? I am waiting as this is one Ca. school I would very seriously consider going to, if I don't get into UC SAN DIEGO or SANTA BARBARA. How do they compare? When and how did you hear?</p>
<p>According to USDs website, students applying regular decision will find out between the middle of March and late April. See the link below.</p>
<p>UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara are considerably larger than USD. UC San Diegos enrollment is 26,000 and UC Santa Santas is nearly 20,000, whereas USDs is 7,500. </p>
<p>UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara are public universities. Therefore, some of the classes are very large and taught by TAs. In addition, its not uncommon for students to take five years to graduate because they experience difficulty getting into classes. In comparison, USD is a private school where classes are typically small and are led by professors. Its rare for a student there to take more than four years to earn his/her degree.</p>
<p>UC San Diego is an outstanding university one of the best in California and in the nation - and is extremely strong in the sciences. See the link below and take note of the Academic Rankings and Research Impact sections.</p>
<p><a href="http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/about/index.asp%5B/url%5D">http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/about/index.asp</a></p>
<p>UC Santa Barbara is a good school and has a very distinguished faculty. See the link below and check out the Renowned Faculty section. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.ucsb.edu/campus/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.ucsb.edu/campus/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>However, unfortunately for the school, its solid academics are overshadowed by its party-school reputation. UC Santa Barbara is known for major partying, and was ranked one of the top ten party schools in the country last year. See link below.</p>
<p>USD doesnt have name recognition like UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara, but has a very good reputation among those who are familiar with it. Heres what is found under the What University of San Diego Students Say About Academics section on the Princeton Review website:</p>
<p>Approximately one in three undergraduates major in business, management, or marketing at the University of San Diego, a small, prestigious, Catholic school perched on the Pacific Ocean's edge. But there's a whole lot more to a USD education than prepping for a successful corporate career. All undergraduates here must complete the demanding general education requirements that ensure a "values-based education for everyone. You not only learn about Plato's Republic, but also how its themes are relevant to our socio-political situation today in this country and around the world. There is exploration beyond the here and now and spiritual adventure here." Adding to that sort of experience is USD's community service-learning, which "provides opportunities for community relations and student 'hands on experience' in different fields (sociology, psychology, political science)." USD also offers solid, popular programs in communications, psychology, nursing, and education. Smaller departments like engineering and the sciences earn praise, too, the latter which benefits from "a great facility with brand-new labs." Undergrads in all departments embrace the small school environment in which "professors know you by name and expect you to be in class and doing your work." USD professors "are enthusiastic and you can tell they love teaching at a small school rather than a huge state university." And just so you know, they expect a lot from their students. Cautions one student: "This school is very academically challenging and you have to work hard for your grades. The results, though, are more satisfying because you actually did work hard and put in the effort and you learned something."</p>
<p>I have seen all three schools, and I think UC Santa Barbara has the prettiest setting, but USD has the most beautiful buildings. Heres what USD looks like, if you havent visited it.</p>
<p>In sum, if youd like a big school, then either UC San Diego or UC Santa Barbara would be a excellent choice. However, if youd prefer personal attention and a small-school atmosphere, then USD would be a good option. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>