If you want to enroll in a competitive online college program but you didn't graduate from high school, your first step may be to earn a high school diploma or GED. While most publicly funded online high schools limit their enrollment to teenagers and continuing students in their early twenties, a growing number of for-profit institutions are offering online high school programs for adult learners.

My About.com article, Adult Online High Schools, offers step-by-step instructions for finding a reputable school and earning your diploma online. Here's a blurb:

"Many adults realize that finishing a high school diploma can improve their employment prospects and make them eligible for workplace promotions. However, most grown-ups don't have the leisure of spending seven hours a day on a school campus. Online high schools offer the solution. Online high school diploma programs offer adults the chance to schedule school work at their convenience and complete courses at their own pace. It may not be easy to earn an online high school diploma, but the hard work can pay off for years to come."