Bad H.S. gpa and want to go to University

My first two years of high school I slacked off lot and that killed my gpa. I’d like to go to a university but the ones I’ve looked into wouldn’t except me with my high school gpa. Could I take ONE class at a local community college to restart my gpa then transfer to the university?

When are you graduating? Are you talking about a dual enrollment or a post-grad class?

What is your gpa and test scores and what uni’s are you thinking of? Also if you drop freshman year, does that improve the gpa significantly? What state are you in?

I graduated high school this year and I’m starting in the spring or next summer. Post grad. My gpa was a 2.3 and I got a 20 on my act. I’m in Michigan.

I graduated high school this year and I’m starting in the spring or next summer. Post grad. My gpa was a 2.3 and I got a 20 on my act. I’m in Michigan.

Community college is a good idea; however, it’ll take one to two YEARS of full-time, sustained solid grades to make you a competitive transfer candidate, not just ONE class.

Concur with GMT: since you correctly surmise that your HS 2.3 GPA and 20ACT won’t get you into many 4 year colleges, the next thing that colleges will want to see is sustained academic success. That’s most evidenced by 2 years of solid grades (Bs or better) in non-remedial classes at the community college level. This is a challenge b/c you may be surrounded by others who are not very motivated. That can drain your motivation too. You’ve got to rise above this with the goal that an eventual transfer into a 4 year college is your goal. Don’t be afraid to befriend your instructors – they really want to see you succeed. You’ll quickly notice many of your classmates dropping out, doing the bare minimum, etc. You stand out by your seriousness and engagement with the teachers. Good luck.

You’d need to take more than one course at a community college - you need to submit your HS record until you have completed the equivalent of about 15 courses.
You could always take a couple courses (not just one though) at your community college, then try to transfer at a 4-year university such as Oakland, Lake Superior State, or Ferris State.
There’s no shortcut to make up for what you didn’t do and didn’t learn in high school, but you can have a second chance through sustained effort at a community college. Don’t settle for “I know it okay” - work with a tutor in every subject you can, right away; go to office hours in every class every week (get your professors to now you and get to know them, make use of their knowledge and expertise); use a planner, take planning seriously (including taking the Freshman Seminar class seriously and budgeting 2 hours of homework/preparation for each hour of class - if after a couple months you find you need less, good for you, but schedule 6 hours in the library, in the lab, or in study group each day); always prioritize classes no matter what you feel like doing; if dorming, choose a substance-free or a “quiet” floor to make sure you won’t be distracted right away. In short, do everything you ensure you’ll have the right setting for success and the right frame of mind for toughing it out.

Take a full year of community college, all the while continually retaking the ACT. Then, evaluate where you are and apply to the 4 year universities you’re interested in and are good matches for you during your second year of community college.