Background: I’m really worried. I’m a junior taking 5 aps, an online course (which I am failing because I’m paying too much attention to my aps/ecs), track, robotics, deca, and science olympiad. It’s excruciatingly difficult and my grades are suffering from my never ending depression. My SAT score is a 2050, but I’m studying meticulously for the January test. I took the ACT and got a perfect score on it. I know for sure I can pull my grades up to at least a 4.0 or a 4.3 gpa (for the semester) but it depends on how well I do on finals/last minute assignments. I currently have a 3.3 gpa. My AP Bio teacher told me that a lot of schools are neglecting gpa to a certain extent due to grade inflations and whatnot. (<- is this true?)
My goal is UCSD. That is all I really care about at this point. I aimed for Stanford… I know for sure that’s not happening. I know I can explain my low gpa for the past two years (depression, anxiety, loss of a family member/family problems), but how understanding can the admission officers get? This anxiety and worrying has made me lose countless hours of sleep. It made me gain a lot of weight over the summer. It’s making me even more depressed than I have ever been. I used to be a really good student before sh*t came flying at me, but now I feel like all hope is lost. My school is extremely competitive and I know a lot of people will be applying to UCs/Ivys. I feel like I’m going to be stuck in a college I am extremely unhappy with. Can anyone gauge my chances? Be honest. Don’t sugarcoat, please. I really need some advice/opinion/understanding of my chances. Thanks.
I can’t tell you very much because I’m in high school myself (a senior, though). here’s a link to UCSD’s enrollment stats- http://studentresearch.ucsd.edu/stats-data/enrollment/undergrad.html
These are UCSD’s average GPA and SAT scores- http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc_san_diego_admits_record_34652_freshman_and_transfer_students_for_fall_20
It’s good that you got a 36 on the ACT; why are you studying for the SAT?
Also, you probably can’t answer it right now, but will you be in the top 9% of your class? If you will be, and if you’re a CA resident, under the ELC program you’re guaranteed admission to a UC. There’s no telling what UC it is, though, and most likely it is UC Merced, the newest campus. However, I have heard of someone getting in to UCSD through the ELC program. Take this with a grain of salt.
Your goal is UCSD but your peers will apply to UCs/Ivies. Honestly, aside from UCB and probably UCLA, UCs and Ivies aren’t really comparable. However, UCSD isn’t the most selective “tier” of the UCs (as far as I know, it’s a mid-tier UC) so don’t worry about competing with your peers, it seems like you have different goals.
Since you’re a junior right now, I can’t tell you much. A lot can change in one year. Work hard, and good luck.
If you got a perfect score on your ACTs, i wouldn’t even bother retaking the SATs. Almost all schools take both.
I think the most important thing for you right now is to move on and focus on these next two years. Colleges like an upward trend. The fact that you are taking 5 aps right now (as well as so many ECs) proves that you are naturally a very bright student, regardless of your low GPA. Colleges will recognize that. If you pull up your grades these next two years, they will be more likely to overlook your last two years.
I would advise that you tell your guidance counselor about your problems freshman and sophomore year (and junior year if it continues). He/she will be able to explain that into his/her recommendation for you. Also, if your depression continues I’d also advise that you get treatment for it, because it is clearly holding you back from reaching your full potential 
Relax, work on getting better mentally. Address the depression and anxiety before overloading yourself with things it seems like you don’t really want to be doing.
If you have to drop an AP course or extracurricular, so be it.
With a perfect ACT score, I think you will be able to pull it off! Colleges are mostly holistic and if they see an upward trend coupled with rigorous courses and great standardized testing results, they will most likely accept you. As others have indicated, try to focus on your academics instead of the SAT, as you already earned a perfect score- you have the highest score possible.
Good luck! I truly think that with your determination, you have a really good shot at UCSD, if not higher ranked schools!