Update: UCs were brutal, since without SAT or the subject SAT test scores it was too GPA focused and a 4.11 UC GPA (3.8 unweighted) did not cut it. In son’s case he had taken harder curriculum on the Math side with a strict teacher who taught really well (great scores on outside tests - 5 on AP Calc BC and 800 in Math 2 Subject SAT) but deflated school grades for 4 semesters (3 B’s and a pass for Covid semester). But still we are glad he had the strict teacher as he will be better prepared for college and he learned a lot and developed great love for Math.
Among the UCs he only got UC Merced (CS) and was waitlisted at UCSD, UCSC and even UCR. But luckily he applied broadly - and got most places which were not named UC. Admits were from University of Wisconsin - Madison (where he will go to study CS), University of Florida - Gainesville, Purdue, Case Western, SJSU, SDSU, Cal Poly Pomona, Ohio State, Penn State, ASU and of course UCM. He also got waitlisted at Carnegie Mellon and Cal Poly. So not bad all in all - other than the fact that it is going to cost extra $20k per year compared to a UC. However we are fine with it.