<p>A little background so that I can get informed oppinions on the path I should take. I am 29 years old, and because of health reasons have not been able to go to school for the last ten years. When I was in school I was in honors classes with straight A’s and found school to be quite easy up until 8th grade. At that point I stopped caring about school completely, and never applied myself at all. Only positives really from high school were I had two years of electronics technology which equated to the first semester of a two year program at a Idaho State. I also was the first person in my high school to take a computer aided machining class, which was just a new class for people who had completed the two years of drafting. My high school gpa is probably around 2.5 </p>
<p>I am now starting to get my health back, and am planning on applying myself as much as I can, and seeing how far I can go. I live in rural nevada, and was planning on attending UNR for bachelors, and then finding a better school for a masters. Brother in law has P.H.D. has told me that it matters little where you start out, and more where your’ education ends. I understand my history makes this extra difficult, but I really want the best education as possible. Am I basically looking at community college, trying to get straight A’s, and then transfering to a a larger university? I’m thinking about the possible majors: applied math, CS, computer engineering, or economics. I would also like to get at least a masters. Thanks</p>
<p>Basically, what is the process of ending up in the best school possible as early as possible? How much of a longshot is it, does it depend on impressing professors, would I have to blow all classes completely out of the water to have a shot? Just trying to get an idea.</p>
<p>Yes, students starting from poor high school records often start at community colleges, then transfer as juniors to state universities to complete their bachelor’s degrees. This route is also often taken by those who do not have the money for all four years at a university, or who need to attend the first two years part time.</p>
<p>Some such students do eventually go on to well regarded PhD programs in their majors.</p>
<p>Most of your possible majors will require at least two years of college math, which you should take in community college before transfer:</p>
<p>freshman calculus (year long sequence) including integration, differentiation, and related topics
linear algebra
differential equations
multivariable calculus (computer science sometimes does not require this course)
discrete math (for computer science or engineering, sometimes math)</p>
<p>Economics is the exception (usually only freshman calculus and introductory statistics required), but if you plan on going to graduate school in economics, you should take the above math courses anyway, since PhD programs in economics want to see that much and more math (and more advanced level statistics courses that require more math).</p>