Can I wait until UCR accept me first and then tell them that I dropped a class? Will this help with my admission chances or hurt it? Thanks guys.
No, you need to contact UCR admissions along with any other UC schools you have applied, upon dropping the class.
From UC Website::::
If you change schools, add or drop a course, or fail to earn a C or better in a course after you submit your application, you must notify the UC Application Center by email or postal mail. Your correspondence must include your name, UC Application ID number and your signature (if you mail a letter), and will be available to all the campuses to which you applied.
If you receive an offer of admission, be sure to confirm with the campus admission office that they are aware of the deficient grade or schedule changes. Although you must notify the campus of these changes, we cannot guarantee that a campus can go back to review an application after correspondence has been received. Make sure to save a copy of your correspondence just in case.
Email: docs@applyUCsupport.net
Postal mail:
UC Application Center
P.O. Box 1432
Bakersfield, CA 93302