So yeah going to be straight up here I f**ked up my junior year and barely made it out alive with a 2.0 (my 9th and 10th grade GPAs were both 3.8s). I am currently taking multiple AP classes (same as last year) and maintaining the crucial 4.0 so far. With application time just around the corner I need to know what is the best way to get into college with a junior year of bad grades. P.s. is there any way in hell of being accepted to a UC or am I doomed to only CSUs
Consider Community College and if you really do have a lot of AP courses, you may only need one year of CC to meet transfer requirements depending on your intended major. Read and post here http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/
@Lotus6 You’re fine. What are your SATs/ACTs? Try to get that to at least a 1450 SAT/30 ACT to make up for your overall GPA, being around a 3.2. Also, this is where the essay will serve you them most: explain why you failed. Good luck!
Doomed to a CSU and a life of mediocrity at best…
Get a grip
At this point, you GPA is what it is as far as UCs and CSUs are concerned. Use this tool to calculate your UC GPA
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
They look at academic courses in grades 10 and 11. 3.8 and 2.0 averages to a 2.9 - which won’t qualify you to apply to a UC.
Assuming you passed all your classes, you’ll still qualify for many CSUs but, without test scores and a UC GPA, it is hard to know where you slot.
I’d say you schedule last year was probably too hard. Taking a similar load this year won’t do you any favors (or open any incremental doors) I’d talk to your school about stepping back on your Sr year rigor. Stay sane and enjoy the end of high school.
A CC or a CSU are both viable paths to a good education.
I know of a few people who got into Berkeley with more than 1 year of bad grades. I had perfect grades throughout my 4 years of college and I got into every UC except for Berkeley and LA. I think you’ll have just as good of a chance as anyone else as long as you improve. You may get a message from the UC’s asking for your current grades and they may ask for more information through the supplemental application. I got a supplemental APP from UCLA. I took multiple AP’s and honors courses and I was within the top 10 of my class. Yet students merely in the top 20% of my class got into UC Berkeley. So your chances are fine. Don’t worry. The college you go to isn’t that important. I chose UCD over UCSD…
As others have said, you can get a decent education at a CSU – the campuses differ in terms of feel, location, etc. and they have many good programs. But if you have a negative attitude about CSUs and want a degree from a UC, then community college is a good path. I think two years at a cc followed by a UC is one of the best deals in higher education in terms of cost – and you can use the time at cc to explore different subjects. Most transfers to the UC system come fro comm colleges. I would not rely on anecdotal information for gauging your chances at UCs. After calculating your GPA, look at common data sets and see where you stand. If you see that only 2 percent of people got in with your GPA, then it’s a long shot and you need to look at more realistic possibilities.
@NCalRent thanks for your help but I didn’t screw up junior year because it was too hard. It was due to bad choices I made during the year that took up most of my time, losing my focus on school, which is why I’m so desperate to get into a good school because I have the determination, the IQ, the stamina, I just literally screwed up for one year which is really going to hurt in the long run 
It is good to hear you have learned from your mistake - of course, the hard part is putting those lessons into action every day. I am not commenting on your intelligence, stamina, or anything like that … rather where you’ve found yourself.
If your UC GPA is a 2.99 or below, you aren’t eligible for a UC as a freshman. That’s a bright line with very few exceptions.If your UCGPA is in the low 3s, Your chances of admission to any UC are slim at best( 3% at Davis). If eligible, you should apply but, understand you’ll be getting in on the strength of your essays. Spend some quality time on them and have a viable back up plan,
This tool will allow you to see the applicant and admit GPA for each UC
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary
So - here you are… In the likely event you aren’t admitted to a UC, there are some great options to continue your education. CC the transfer to a UC (which is not a slam dunk) or a CSU. Or, you can hear to one of the less selective CSUs directly. There are private options too - UoP for example - that will probably admit you but, want full tuition, which is tough to rationalize.
Notice though, the rigor of your Sr year plays no role in CSU admission and won’t put you over the line at a UC. Earning less than a C in any class can cause an admission you receive to be rescinded. So - in your case, a really challenging schedule Sr year is all down-side.
Attending a CSU or going through a CC is only a badge of shame if you make it so. There are MILLIONS of successful Californians who have done both. (me included) and live happy, and rewarding lives. It is not the school you attend but, what you make of the opportunities there.
Cc-> uc is a great route for you.
If you’re willing to leave California and have money (35k+) you can aim for oos schools, in wue (Montana state ?) or outside (North Carolina and Virginia have quite a few good schools amenable to your profile… But cc-> UC would likely be a better value .)