Should I just give on getting into a UC?

[badgolfer]

I got below an 1800 on my SAT in one sitting and had 3 D’s on my transcript… yet I still got accepted to UCLA and UCB. No sports ties, no family ties, or any catch.

Actually you did have a hook. According to your post at http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/1757119-academic-advancement-program.html you were offered a space in the EOP program at Cal and were interested in the AAP program at UCLA.

The Academic Advancement Program (AAP) provides an array of academic services that encourage and promote academic achievement and excellence by offering support to students from groups historically underserved in higher education.
http://aapucla.com/about-aap/becoming-an-aap-member/

While technically affirmative action is no longer used by UC after Prop 209, holistic admissions is a way to sidestep the rule.

Among applicants with a holistic score of 2.75, for example, 33 percent of black applicants were admitted, while 30 percent of Latino applicants were, about 17 percent of Asian applicants were and 11 percent of white applicants were, according to Mr. Sander. Among black applicants who had a 2.75 score and attended one of the college’s outreach sessions, the acceptance rate was 43 percent. Among black applicants with the same score who did not attend a session, the acceptance rate was 23 percent. My guess is that this happened because some admissions officers only knew about the race of applicants by virtue of their participation in outreach sessions,” says Mr. Sander
Race, 'Holistic Admissions' and U.C.L.A. - The New York Times