<p>I would second the recommendation to use some of the “lower” UCs as your safety schools, since you’re in-state.</p>
<p>It seems to me like you need to do some visiting before you narrow your list down further. These are all top schools in the STEM fields; now, you need to decide which ones you would enjoy attending. Places such as Harvey Mudd and Swarthmore will fit a very different profile of student than MIT or Berkeley. Since you’re in CA, try visiting some of the campuses near your home, even if they aren’t places you’re particularly interested in. You want to get a feel of whether you want to be at a big research university or a smaller liberal-arts college.</p>
<p>FWIW, my brother attended Harvey Mudd and absolutely loved his experience - it’s a high-calibre college without the cutthroat atmosphere you find some other places.</p>