What are my chances of getting in college?

What are the chances of getting into a good school now, if college performance 7 years ago was just average?

• I'm looking for options, not answers like "impossible" or "you're screwed." Please be constructive. Back-story: (sorry, long winded) I was unsuccessful in my first career choice, and I am now in the process of changing careers to computers. I have no clear career path yet, but leaning toward fields in IT, programming, or web design. I currently have 2 (non-technical) BA degrees that I obtained in 2005. I graduated with a 3.1 GPA, and my general performance in many classes was nothing to write home about. Actually, I phoned-in most of my time in college because what I wanted to do for a living required little more than just a degree (a good GPA was just a plus). I went to school with the "Cs get Degrees" attitude. Some teachers didn't even know who I was at the end of the semester, but I was smart enough to get by with very minimum effort. That's not the work ethic I took to the workforce, so I wasn't counting on failing in my chosen line of work. It was a huge shock when I did (many were). Suffice to say, there's no going back. I am now at a decent community college getting the remedials I missed for this new field (math mostly). Now, unlike my first time through school, I'm learning an intensive skill that I am committed to mastering. I have earned a 3.9 GPA (damn math Bs, As in all my computer classes) so far, and am involved in extracurricular studies and projects. I am looking toward a Masters in Computer Science rather than another BA on the advice of my counselors and computer science professors. I figure it will take another year or so to be ready to transfer, and by then I will likely have decided what my career goals are. Now, to my real question. What is the chance of getting into a good school (UCLA, USC, Cal, etc)for my Masters studies? If it doesn't look good, what should I do to fix my lazy past? Should I go straight for that MS, or try to fix my record by getting another BA with a better record than my first time through school? Help me formulate a plan.

• Answer:

  Honestly, when I opened this I expected to read something like "I failed out of my first attempt and got a 2.0 for my second..." You surprised me, in a good way. A 3.1 GPA is not as bad as you think it is. Most employers are looking for a 3.0 minimum and you actually surpassed that, even if only slightly. Many schools do not pay too much attention to the work that was done seven or more years ago; only that the degree was completed and the GPA meets the minimum standards. A 3.1 probably does not meet the minimum for UCLA, USC and Cal State, but if you are doing a new degree, even if it is just an Associate Degree and you get a 3.9, combined with the fact that you do already possess two Bachelor Degrees, you should be granted admission into the Master Program. Your Advisors and Career Counselors should have a better idea of what exactly you will need to accomplish; speak with them soon.