Applying to "real college"

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I dropped out of highschool and never intended to go back to school. But I am now attending a local community college, and it is about time I started learning how to apply to "real college". I want to go to Yale, Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Santa Barbara, Caltech, or something along those lines. Looking for schools with very strong physics, math, and/or biology departments.

But I don't know anything about the application process. Any advice would be appreciated!

I'm sure they have websites with numbers to contact their admissions departments.

Community College IS real college.

Your credits count just like they do in your conception of "real college."

The only difference, really: You get an Associate's rather than a Bachelor's.

I second that statement. I graduated from my community college and then transferred over to a four year university. Almost all of my credits transferred over with me and I started University with 58 credits done and completed. I try explaining to people that community college is not a 'high school extension'. The classes, curriculum, and workload are at the same level as a four year school.

I would start researching schools not only for what programs they have but the costs, living arraignments, meal plans, and student life are like. A good thing to do would be to go to a college fair, where a bunch of different schools from all over set up booths to advertise themselves. Those are great opportunities to learn about the programs as well as get lots of other information about them and even sign up for newsletters which will send you application notices. That's how I found out about the schools I applied to and the one I am attending right now.

What I know is likely very out of date, but OK:
-They'll expect you to at least tour the campus before deciding on them
-Depending on the institution, they'll expect to see some ACT or SAT scores or both
-They'll want a copy of your transcripts
-They'll have some sort of essay they'll expect you to write. The usual subjects include: why I want to study X, A is my hero, or some sort of thing where you have to argue for or against. The important thing they're looking for here is how well you express yourself. The side you fall on doesn't matter as much as how well you frame your argument, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, use of resources, and proper formatting.
-They'll expect a well composed resume
-They may offer a chance to submit other materials related to your application which may help persuade them or even give them reason to award you scholarship money.
-They will expect you to pay them for processing all this stuff. This is why most people tend to narrow their list of schools.
-There will likely be an interview. This will probably be the hardest part. Get coaching. And possibly a wardrobe consultant. They can be your parents or whoever. How you present yourself matters here.
-It will help your case a lot to have alumni write your recommendations. These alumni should ideally know you well and have glowing opinions of you. They can be family friends, family of friends, favorite professors, favorite clergy members, favorite bosses, or whatever.

School reputation should certainly be considered, but also look at what they can offer you, not just in terms of professional connections or classes within your desired major, but also in terms of class sizes and quiet spaces to retreat to and other things that are important to you.

Don't rule out lesser known schools with great programs if they can offer you a full ride.

Final point: the entire time you're considering a school and applying, consider how you'd justify your choice to friends, family, and future employers. They will ask why you went to University L, and this may also help if you come to a choice between two perfectly nice universities.