Low Credit Score/College Debt! Where to begin?

[Thaddeus Scruggs]

So here is the deal. I was laid off about a year ago and got behind in my college payments and the debt starting pilling up. I am almost caught up on payments but not quite yet. I have been researching real estate investing for some time and I have said its time to make that leap and go for it. The problem is my credit score is really low and i trying to  get some student loans out of collections. so with that being said a loan from the bank isn't looking so hot. So what is my next option?

Thanks, 

Thaddeus