<p>If you can get into a school like Amherst, you'd be crazy not to go there over a community college. (Assuming that's what you want.)</p>
<p>The California community colleges traditionally have been a very good back door to the top-rated UCs (eg, Foothill to Cal), however this has changed recently due to budget cutbacks.</p>
<p>If you go to the best place you can (get into and afford) and do the best you can, then graduate school options will be appropriate.</p>
<p>If you try to game the system, you are doomed to misery....! (Maybe.)</p>