Could taking community college courses improve graduate admission chances after previous mishaps?

[Michael Richardson]

I am in the process of preparing to apply to grad school in literature in 2022. I will be applying to Masters programs; my plan is to prove myself with good work before applying to a good PhD program. My biggest concerns regarding admission are a substellar undergrad GPA (3.2), a few Ws, and a severely misguided MFA experience in spring 2019 (went in on whim immediately after undergrad, utterly hated it, poor grades, bad experience, left mid-semester before finishing, was recorded as an academic dismissal?) on my record. This experience was chastening and disappointing, but I think that I emerged more mature and focused for it. In light of these past mistakes, despite good GRE scores, a record of involvement in the field (organizing theory reading groups, co-editing and indie publishing a volume of interviews, publishing stray criticism in non-academic journals), and having held a good, relevant job for several years, I still feel as though I really need to prove to admissions that I am ready to commit to serious graduate study.

Of course a good SoP and recommendations go without saying, but I am also considering community college work before I apply. Do you think that acing a few relevant courses (for example, foreign languages) at a community college before I apply would be helpful to improve my chances of admission? I have already audited relevant classes at various universities, but I am wondering whether something that leads toward credit, even outside of a degree, could show that I am truly committed. Or, would this be a waste of time/money? Are there other strategies to optimize my chances at a Masters program, in light of these past mistakes?

Edited February 10, 2021 by Michael Richardson
typo.