So, apparently my buddy got into UCLA with a 3.0 GPA.
Though I’m too late to do the internship which would take me 2 years to get into UCLA (plus the 4 years of finishing classes) which is worse than going to a CC and then transferring to UCLA

I opted for UCR route which is far more harder and also, having a few friends in the admissions department won’t hurt either.

Other than that, talk to a counselor at UCLA in the department you want to major in to see what you should do to get in.