Okay so basically im a junior and im freaking out because I hadn’t given college much thought and did terrible freshmen year and got like C’s and B’s sophomore year, but this year I’ve barely began to understand the importance of it all and my overall UC/CSU will be like 3.4 ish maybe 3.3/2 and I have like no EC’s at allll for previous years, but I’ve just joined the tennis team and im joining track and im volunteering at a children’s hospital and I am in a club only one at the moment, but it’s a no place for hate club basicalky an anti bullying club and im positive I can keep a 4.0 this semester last semester I was going through some stuff and I was in IB which made it worse because I missed like months of school and missing even a day of an IB class is torture so I dropped out and it was too late for AP classes and Im not even in honors classes at the moment and so basically I don’t know I plan on taking the SAT three times my goal is atleast 1800+ and ACT as well my goal would be 27 ish, but basically will any of this get me anywhere if not a UC Atleast a CSU that isn’t CSUN or CSULA lol or would I maybd possibly Atleast get into UCR or UCI or UCSC with a kickass personal statement and really good recommendations??? (( I am in state and a minority if that helps anything not a Latino minority though so would that like decrease chances of getting in partly BC of minority )) Im also thinking of doing a summer writing program at Sarah Lawrence I know they look into summer too
I can’t answer about the CSUs. I just want to say, don’t panic :-). Lots and lots of kids in CA go to CC for 2 years and then transfer into top UCs. It’s a backup plan, at least, and you would come out with a diploma from a great university if you go that route. Good luck in any case.
3 points:
CC --> UC is MUCH more likely than CSU --> UC; so if you want to go to a CSU, go to a CSU. If you want to go to a UC, go to a UC or to a CC.
UC does not read recommendations, so really good recommendations would not help you.
UC and CSU do not consider race or ethnicity in their admissions, so race or ethnicity is immaterial.
@washugrad its just so hard not to panic!!! I want to go into college first year and I just want to know if these two sports with like practices on the same day and all this volunteering and studying my butt off for the SAT will get me anywhere of my choice, but I mean I do realize I should take what I get as its my fault for messing up to begin with, but the thought of going somewhere I don’t want to really doesn’t resonate with me :// I mean I could definitely try some place in the Midwest, but leaving LA also doesn’t really sound so nice, but thank you so much for your response! 
@ItsJustSchool The reccomendations thing really blows aren’t they a requirement though for the application?
UC applications have no recommendations. Only 2 very short personal statements. Only grade 10-11 grades to get in (then don’t bomb senior year).
The Community College route actually has some benefits (Often excellent professors, small class size, engaging courses with only a core few serious/dedicated students) compared to UC for the lower division/ general education requirements. I would not at all overlook it. And going to El Camino or Santa Monica College, depending on where you live, could be really beneficial.
If you make your ‘target’ test scores, there are lots of avenues open to you. CC to a CSU worked for me and works for Millions of Californians.
With compelling essays, UC Merced and perhaps UCR are possible particularly if you can explain a temporary drop in GPA.- better test scores would help with the latter. (this is true for most majors, something like CS would take better stats) . I’ll never say ‘never’ but, UCI and UCSC are not likely unless you really tear up the SAT.
Cal Poly SLO is probably out of reach so, i confuse things by talking about what they values.
Other CSUs use a simple formula to rank applicants - CSU GPA*800 + M&R SAT. (some campuses use a modified formula for competitive STEM majors) So, just guessing yours will wind up in the 3800 range. That should get you into all but the most majors @ Cal Poly Pomona, Chico, Sonoma and perhaps CSULB. SDSU and SLO are really the only ones that would be unlikely. Note that Pomona is the only one that considers your second choice major.
Without actual test scores, we are all simply guessing. Sign up for the next SAT so you know exactly where you stand.
Do your best and be sure you complete the a-g requirements with a C or better. There are lots of great paths open to you - even if that 4.0 doesn’t happen this semester.
Please don’t panic; it’s going to work out now that you are on track. Focus on your GPA and test scores first as they do carry the most weight in admissions. However there are a number of other areas that the UCs consider in their holistic review. I suggest thinking about what you would like to study and try to align your activities to your area of interest. This summer take CCC courses related to your area of interest. If your high school allows them on your transcript it could boost your final UC calculated GPA. (only 10, 11th, and summer following 11th)
CCC transfer to UC is a very solid and proven track and you graduate on time with your classmates as if you’d been there all along. Good luck, less worry, more work! You can do it!