Your state has phenomenal schools that are also public schools that are supported by your parents.
I don’t know if you know this but, the UCs and CSUs are large schools supported by the public taxpayers of California.
That means that if you live in, and graduate from high school in California, you get the in-state rates.
If you live out of state, it means your parents haven’t been paying to the State of California, so you have to pay the full price.
It doesn’t matter if you’re low income because the State cannot afford to fund people that are not paying residents of California. You probably qualify for federal funds but that’s only $6000 a year.
You would have to find $69,000 a year to go to UC school (or $36,000 a year to a CSU).
If you were thinking of living with your relatives and becoming a resident, that won’t work. You would have a Texas transcript from your high school.
The California schools know that trick. You would still pay full fees even if you live with your relatives. You couldn’t live on your own in California Because our cost of living is so high. Rents are about $3000 for a one bedroom, per month. And you would have to work for at least a year and live in California without any financial support from anyone.
Your GPA is a 3.16. Out-of-state residents must have a minimum of a 3.4. That means your GPA would automatically disqualify you from admission.
The State of California has thousands of underrepresented students. California has a law that says they cannot look at race during admissions. So even as a URM they can’t use that information to admit you.
I’m sorry that’s not what you wanted to hear, but before you spend money on a UC or CSU application you need to know that it’s just too expensive for you to attend a UC or a CSU in California.
Your guidance counselor should have mentioned that to you.