Enroll at a community college for general education classes. Take advantage of their remedial classes for any areas in which you have a weakness.
Meet with a community college counselor or adviser before the term starts and tell him your future plans. Work with him to identify two or three four-year colleges that meet your needs and interests. Research the colleges to ensure they accept transfer students.
Find out if your targeted schools have articulation or transfer agreements with the community college. These agreements ensure that the courses you take at the community college will transfer to the university. Also, find out if your targeted school gives priority or special consideration to transfer students who have met specified requirements.
Work with your counselor to find out any grade requirements you need to transfer. Include grades for specific classes, such as those related to your major, as well as the overall grade point average.
Develop an educational plan with your counselor. The plan will specify the courses you need to transfer as well as any prerequisites you need for your major. The plan will also set out a time line, taking into consideration your abilities and the requirements of the school(s) you wish to attend.
Meet with your counselor once a semester (or more) for progress checks. This will allow you to make any needed changes in your educational plan and ensure transfer requirements for your targeted school(s) have not changed.
Apply to the schools you want to attend. Give yourself plenty of time to meet the application due date. Collect all the application requirements such as recommendations, transcripts, essays and portfolios of your work. Review your application with your counselor to ensure everything is in order.
Schedule an interview with the admissions counselor at your targeted school(s). While this is usually not a requirement, an interview can make a positive impression on the admissions committee, convince them of your sincerity and help them understand the assets you will bring to the school.
If you have not heard from the four-year college(s) three months before the term starts, contact the admissions office.