I'm from a high achieving family. My sister and my cousin are both doctors, my cousin has an masters in aerospace engineering, another cousin will get her Ph/d in biomechanical something or other. My other cousins all have a BA/Bsc if not more. I have 2 three year diplomas (equivalent to an associate's degrees in the States I think) and often feel like the failure of the family. I started taking courses to get my BTech but have since dropped it. It just wasn't for me.

I am smart enough. . . but my personality type means that college programs are better suited to me. More hands on, more practical, more concrete.

I have a feeling you're in the same boat. I doubt you would look like an idiot. I have read university papers . . . my grammar and writing skills are as good or better than theirs. My program at college (what you would call community college I think) was more rigorous and time consuming than most of my friends at uni.

There are upgrading courses available at most unis if you feel this is what you need to do.

Check your reasons for wanting a BA. Is it because your family has them. I thought for the long time that I wanted mine, but it turns out that the reason I was doing it was because everyone else had it.

It's taken me a long time to come to terms with that. . . I'm still working on it. I am good enough without a BA. I have a great job that I love and I'm really good at. Of my university friends most of them have the paper but are working in totally unrelated fields.

If getting your BA is important to you for reasons that are yours and not what family/society think then go for it. Yes it's scary going back to school as a 'mature' student. Learning and retention are more difficult than it was at 17. There are many supports available at schools. I think all schools have a "centre for students with disabilities" where you might find supports to help.

Consider taking a course as a part-time student, or through distance ed. It might give you a taste of what the whole program is like.

Good luck with your decision. Make sure you're doing it for you or you will struggle and get frustrated.