How I did it: My problem was that I was supposed to graduate in June 2009, but due to some problems in my personal life, I was unable to finish a required credit on time. It was difficult emotionally, because I was formerly an honor student, and it looked like my only option was a GED. My cousin recommended to me a charter school that normally catered to at-risk students, and took new students up to 21 years of age. I enrolled, and was able to finish that last credit at my own pace, which was less than five months.
I applied to my local community college part way through the program, finding out a few months later that they had actually lost my application and transcript, and had no record of me in the system. I re-applied and re-sent my transcript, was accepted, and scheduled my classes. I did have to take night classes with the nontraditional students, since their snafu caused me to schedule late, but the important thing is that I'm now a college student, and have a plan in place to get a bachelor's degree in nursing, followed a few years later by a master's in nurse-midwifery. I actually started college two days before my high school graduation, so I'm pretty proud of myself for finally taking control of the situation.

Lessons & tips: The most important thing is just to get started. If you're nervous, you can start out by applying to a low-pressure school, such as a community college, which won't require an essay. Applying doesn't mean you're committed. Additionally, it gives you more options.

Resources: collegeboard.com
college websites
school counselors
(A community college can be a great way to save money. I choose that route because I saw how much debt my sister racked up at an out-of-state private school, at $42,000 a year. My bill, on the other hand, is less than $4,000 a year. The down-side is that the social life is lacking, and I have not been able to make a single new friend. Also, there are less work-study openings. Be informed about every aspect of the school to which you're applying. You've got to weigh the pros and cons carefully to make the best decision for you.)

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May 18, 2011, 12:51PM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers