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[Rose]

Background:

Failed highschool, worked in various design related stuff for many years, currently a drafting and 3d guy in a building firm, which I'm doing rather well in, but I want to move further.

So I'm considering applying for universities and aim for a Batchelor of architecture.

My questions are:

What are my chances of getting anywhere with my spotty academic history? are there standardized tests I can take to make up for it?
As I'm quite broke, I'd have to find some sort of financial aid, and/or have a day job at the same time.

Should I even bother? Or should I try to find a life with what I got?

I'm both American and German, so anywhere in either America or Europe is possible, though I have family living in california, colorado, germany, and italy.

[StupidElves]

For America, I recommend first getting a GED and then first going for community college and then moving up. Universities will usually forgo high school grades if your grades in a community college are much better. As for Europe, I'm not too sure about that since I have no idea about the European education system.

[MonkeyHead]

At least in the UK (and maybe other places in the EU), many universities offer a "Year Zero" foundation year before starting a degree "properly" to bring people up to speed if they have gaps in their education, or have been in industry and away from prior learning for a while.

[Rose]

Yeah, GED was what I was thinking of for america, if I went there. My brother did that because he had an even patchier education than me.
I'm just terrified that I'll go there, take the test, and still not be able to get into a college, or find a job, and end up raising my kid in a cardboard box in an alleyway.

[XXSockXX]

In Germany you need Abitur to get into university or Fachabitur to get into a university of applied sciences (which is sort of a topical higher education) or a foreign equivalent, like high school + SAT/ACT or GCE Advanced level. There is no college. AFAIK there is no way to get these degrees by simply passing a test, adults who want a degree usually go to school (or night school after work) for at least two years.
There are some ways of getting financial help as a student here, but I guess most of them require holding German or EU citizenship. Some of these programs are relatively extensive (plus university is free for citzens). If you have a family to feed, you might be eligible for more benefits than as a single person, but that is definitely something you need to look into very throughly, as the requirements can get a bit complicated.

[Meph]

Two things:

1. If you are quite broke, rather study in Europe. Its free and doesnt leave you with 100k depth (or whatever architecture in the US costs)

2. I always thought your old avatar to be a picture of you, which made me think you are Indian. Completely unrelated, but true.

[Orange Wizard]

3. I don't remember Japa's old avatar, but I too always assumed he was Indian.

[Blargityblarg]

Japa lives in India, but his family is German and/or American.

[Rose]

Yeah, my mom is German  my dad American, and I am a citizen of both.

[Orange Wizard]

Now I feel silly.

I wish I could give some advice, but nothing I know is applicable.

[Rose]

I'd pretty much have to get a job wherever I go, but I don't know where that would be easier.
I don't know any German, which is the biggest barrier to going to Germany.

[Skyrunner]

iirc a lot of German universities have English courses. It differs from uni to uni and major to major.

[MonkeyHead]

IIRC, in the Netherlands, a significant number of university courses are taught in English. Students from the UK who can not afford our increasingly expensive uni system are encouraged to enrol in Dutch universities as a result.

[Rose]

So my workplace says they'll probably support me in doing distance learning, as long as I stay there.

[XXSockXX]

If you're a German citizen, that makes things a lot easier. If worst comes to worst, you'd be eligible for welfare, so no living in an alleyway. You'd very likely be eligible for BAföG and probably to some more benefits due to having a family, like Kindergeld for your kid.

Not speaking German shouldn't be much of a problem, at least for an English-speaker. There are many universities offering courses in English, depending on the uni, the entire programs are in English in some fields, like in economics. If you don't move to a rural area, you can probably get along in everyday life with English too for a while.