@NCalRent: True, but 6 UC’s do participate in TAG, so the OP just needs to meet the TAG criteria:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/tag-matrix.pdf
@DadTwoGirls: "Also, going to university as a transfer out of CC seems to lower one’s chances of getting financial aid. "
2 years of CC + 2 years at an in-state CA public even with zero fin aid will be cheaper than going to an OOS public for 4 years.
Some of the people I met freshman year are still friends 30 years later.
A HUGE part of the experience for me was social. I struggle with the idea of ditching friends - really good friends with whom I have a shared experience - to chase swankier ink.
(That’s a vote for one of the affordable 4 year options)
Frankly, we loved University of Oregon and it was a really strong contender till D got into her #1 choice. Like UCLA minus all the Type-A stress. Great housing, super nice kids, accepting of everyone, lots of spirit. For big public school, it seems very easy to navigate between majors and get into what you want to do even if that changes. I would go get that 4 year experience at one of the great schools you mentioned. Services are easily accessible there with what seems to be a super helpful attitude by the administration across campus.
I am totally confused by your financial picture, but fwiw we (and lots of Californians) would have paid OOS for UO - did have the OOS scholarship and Clark Honors, so that helped. There are some really bright students at UO and Nike folks keep them well funded and many employed after graduation.
The OP wanted to transfer to a top UC - the top 3 don’t participate in TAG
While 6 of the 9 UC campuses participate in TAG, it is more complicated than that. Popular majors are sometimes excluded at the campus level. UCI, for example, excludes Business among others. The list of excluded majors seems to grow at each campus each year.
Also, the GPA threshold drifts up over time. Look what Davis did this year. They told people the GPA threshold for CS would be 3.0 but, changed it to 3.4. The same thing happened with other majors too.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer/transfer-admission-guarantee/majors
https://www.ucdavis.edu/sites/default/files/upload/files/f17tip_criteriachanges.pdf
In most college curriculum, 3.0 is pretty doable if you are focused and motivated. A 3.4 is a lot tougher to manage - especially for someone who didn’t qualify for the UC out of high school. Not impossible, but it is a significantly higher hurdle and just 1 C will probably ruin your shot.
My point is not that TAG is a bad program - it is an excellent tool guiding tens of thousands of applicants from CCCs to UCs every year - which is great. But, you have to read the fine print and they can (and do) change the required course list and GPA threshold while you are working towards transfer.
The school has to manage its population - there are only so many seats in each class. Transferring into a competitive UC - or CSU should not be assumed as an easy step. That simply isn’t how it works.
I completely understand your situation, I am about to graduate from a high school in a healthcare track that was a lot more than I bargained for back in the eighth grade when I decided to come here (lower GPA + lower class rank + I don’t even want to go into healthcare anymore). Do you still want to go into politics? Do you know what you want to do? If you do, that could be helpful for figuring out which schools are worth the money. Through my school, I spent this year (my senior year) taking all of my classes at our CC and I definitely think that a high GPA is doable if you play your cards right (if you’re worried you’re going to get a C, WITHDRAW. It will save your GPA even if it sets you back on requirements) and know that a lot of people stay more than 2 years because they couldn’t fill all of their gen eds and major requirements in time. It definitely varies based on college though, so I would recommend talking to a current student about those kinds of things.
I think a lot of people here gave very good advice and you should stop dwelling on rankings, and focus more on where you’ll fit and the strength of your major’s department. Finally, don’t dwell on where you could/should have applied to or gone to and just think about your options. If you really hate those, then just take a gap year and reapply in the fall. Maybe it’s not the most traditional route, but it could be the best option for you and you could make money to cushion the cost of your college education or do some cool things that can add a slight boost to your resume 
I agree Oregon is a great university but is it affordable oos for op?
Ranking Shmanking.
You applied to the colleges you did for a reason. What was it?
What can your family afford?
What do you want to major in? What colleges that you were accepted are the best in that major?
If politics, which have good internships?