Figure out how you will prepare for your General Educational Development (GED) exam and where you will take it. The GED exam is administered by the American Council on Education. It was originally designed in 1942 for students whose education had been interrupted by military service in the Second World War. It is considered to be almost equal to a traditional high school diploma. You can find a company that helps you prepare for your GED at Getmygedonline.org, My-ged.com or Educationportal.com. At gedforfree.com, you can enroll and take GED classes for free. These free courses offer all-around preparation for your GED exam. You can check with community colleges in your area to see if they administer the GED exam.
Take a mock GED test offered by any of the websites mentioned in Step 1. This will help you find out the areas you might lack knowledge in so that you can understand where you need to direct your studies.
Study for the GED test leading up to the date when you will be taking it.
Take the GED exam with the provider you have chosen. Once you pass, you will be sent documentation that you've passed. This can be used to enroll in college or the military, and to apply for jobs.
Research online to find colleges you are interested in. For each, first check whether they accept students with GEDs. More competitive colleges will probably not be an option for you, but most community colleges and less competitive colleges do.
Find out what SAT or ACT scores the schools you're interested in want from applicants.
Study for the SAT or ACT and take the test by registering for it at a high school, alternative school or community college that offers the test in your area.
Put together a resume, if you do not already have one. List work and volunteer experience, as well as activities and clubs that you have been involved in, including the dates. Make sure it's organized and easy to read.
Go through the college application process by filling out a Common Application or any other application necessary; this will vary per college. On the website of each college you want to apply to, there will be information about how to apply.
Pay any fees needed to submit your applications.