<p>Since you are a California resident, the UCs should be decent choices from a cost and financial aid standpoint. Consider the less selective UCs like UCSB, UCD, UCI, and UCSC for safety candidates. Remember that your safeties are the most important schools in your application list.</p>
<p>Have you talked to your parents about what they are able and willing to contribute to your college education, and to get some basic information to put in the net price calculators at college web sites? Note that most public schools do not give good need-based financial aid to out-of-state students, though some have relatively low list prices (e.g. Minnesota, Stony Brook) and others have large merit scholarships (e.g. Texas A&M for National Merit Finalists, Alabama for high HS GPA and SAT or ACT scores).</p>
<p>Note also that job and career prospects for science majors vary, with biology and chemistry majors generally doing the worst in the job market.</p>