Need Realistic Advice!!! Someone who knows about admissions for UC schools please!

<p>So i'm entering my senior year with a 3.4 gpa (3.7 weighted), 2000 SAT Score, decent ECs, captain of varsity soccer. My target school is UCSB, but i'm not sure if I will get in, considering my gpa isn't up to the standards of the school. Other notable test scores of mine include a 5 on the AP English Language and a 640 on my World History SAT II. I passed all my other AP exams, but only got threes on them.
I've decided that if i don't get into UCSB, then city college for a couple years will be a sensible option (with intentions of transferring to a prestigious school, of course). My aim would be to get good marks at city then transfer to UCLA or Berkeley.
I'm wondering how practical UCSB is for me to apply to, i'd love some information on that. Also, i'm taking the SAT again in October and i've started tutoring for it. I'm aiming for a 2100. So, if i attain that score, would it be worth it to apply to USC, UCLA, and Berkeley (banking on my test scores to get in)?
Bottom Line: I want to go to a school that is of UCSB's caliber or better. So if city college is my best option for now, i'd appreciate your honesty in letting me know :). Thanks!</p>

<p>If you don’t apply, you have a 100% chance of not getting in. That being said, even with a 2100, Cal and UCLA are big reaches (since the UCs don’t place that much emphasis on test scores). OTOH, 'SC loves high test scores so they might just offer you a Spring admit with great essays and recs.</p>

<p>UCSB is prolly a reach, but again, if you don’t apply…give it a shot.</p>

<p>btw: SB City College has a high transfer rate to UCSB - duh. And, Santa Monica City College has a high transfer rate to UCLA.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>With a 2100 I’d call UCSB a match if your UC GPA is about the same as the weighted GPA you give here. Your GPA would be a bit below their average (UC 4.0) but your SAT would be enough above their average (about 1850) to make you competitive. The better you do on the SATs, I and II, the better your chance will be. Berkeley and UCLA would remain major reaches with a 2100 as their SAT average is about 2050, so your scores probably wouldn’t compensate for the GPA at those.</p>

<p>Have you calculated your UC GPA yet? Depending on your grade distribution, it will vary up or down from your standard GPA. Go to the UC admissions site to figure out how to calculate it.</p>