TexasAMU and UTexas Aerospace Engineering. How competitive?

I am 26 and have decided to go back to college. I know I can’t get into either college currently as
my high school grades were not very good. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up and I worked pretty much the entire time I was in high school. So I missed a lot of school and my grades suffered as a result. I did always get academic recognition on all my state testing. I am attending community college this fall semester to get some of the pre-reqs out of the way and show I am capable of doing the required course work. I know these twords schools are competitive. What else could I do to up my chances to be accepted into one? If I can’t get into one I will try to get into mechanical engineering at a smaller state school in Texas.

Try posting your question in the UT-Austin and TAMU forums, both are fairly active (especially UT-Austin).

Good Luck!