Because you didn’t have good grades, I would start out by taking classes at a community college or junior college. Most if not all of those credits will transfer to a 4 year university later. If you think you want to do psychology, you will want to take biology, sociology, and obviously psychology. Also take general courses, like general english and math and history courses. That way when you go to a 4 year institution, you don’t have to take them there. Normally you would transfer when you had 60 credit hours (normally 2 years) although this may change depending on what university you want to go to.

Best of luck! Congratulations on getting your diploma, that in itself is something to be REALLY proud of!

I got horrible grades in high school. in fact, I only have a GED. but I am in college now (I’m 40) working on becoming a nurse, and over the years I have accumulated a little over 100 college units, and I have about a 3.5 gpa. I just didn’t care when I was in high school, and I just didn’t have alot of guidance unfortunately to make me care. You sound like you have the potential to do really well, you just have to make studying a priority and do the work and organize all the other things in your life to make sure your grades are taken care of ; ) good luck!

Once you get your high school diploma, register at a two-year community college in the field you want to work in. Study as hard as you can to get the best grades you can. You’ll have to study for and take the ACT or SAT before or after you go to community college. If you are in the top of your graduating class, you’ll be on a great course to what you want. Once you graduate from the community college with a two-year degree (with great grades) and have scored well on the ACT or SAT, you’ll then have to register for a four-year college to get your bachelor’s degree. Once you study and get the best grades you can for your four-year degree, you can then register for medical school to get your MD or for your PhD.

It’s going to be very difficult! It’s going to take a long time!!

You’re going to need your spouse’s support because you’re going to be away from your spouse to study and/or in class. If you could go to class full time and not work at all, it’ll take you two years for your associates degree, four years for your bachelors degree and 2-3 years for your MD/PhD. Consider that all you’ll be doing for the next decade is studying and going to class. Of course though, you’ll either be 10 years older with OR without a PhD/MD. Good luck.

Lindsay is spot-on. Community college will be your ticket. You can do anything from there. Good luck and congratulations!