Everybody else has nailed most of it, so I'll just toss in a few of my observations.

Do you want to do this more than anything else in the world???
You need to, really, it takes a helluva lot of comittment to get here. The attrition is really, really high.

(I never wanted to do anything else and it took me a while.)

If you're rich, or willing, the four year aviation schools are fine, but it's too much money, and the degree isn't useful for anything else if you lose your medical, IMHO.

(I recently flew with a new FO, (great kid, he'll go far), who was raised by a single mom and had to take out loans for all of his flight training/degree at ERAU. Want to guess his debt? $173,000-!!!! So, it can be done, but it might financially kill you in the attempt.)

Go to a community college for two years, then transfer to a four-year school. You can get all the basic stuff out of the way and save a lot. 'Cause airplanes are expensive.
Alternately, consider enlisting in the service for a few years. The USAF (or Navy) can put you on airplanes and some of the educational benefits, (GI bill), are great. I could've done a couple of years active duty considering all the time I spent dicking around trying to get things going. As it stands, I retired after 21+ years in the Guard, and they helped pay for some of my schooling. (You should already know if this interests you or not. The military lifestyle is not for everyone.)

As has been mentioned, if there's a small airport nearby, go get a job as lineservice. The pay isn't great, but that's not the reason to do it. It's the best basic all-around aviation education you can get. You'll learn about everything to do with airplanes. I got rides that way, my first multi time, was shown things by airline guys on their days off, sat right seat on charters, you name it...

It's the best job in the world.
And it's the worst job in the world...

(Allow me to mention my Thanksgiving dinner last month. It was: two cans of beer, a bag of Cheetos, some nuts, and a day-old ham and cheese sandwich. From the gas station on the side of the interstate. Everything else fell through. On the flip side, tomorrow I'm buying Christmas dinner at our posh hotel for our crew @ $60- a plate. Four courses, swordfish, prime rib, etc... Should be good.)

It's terrible for people that want a normal, 9 to 5 life. It's often hell on relationships, and the divorce rate is pretty high. (Choose wisely.)
But on the flip side, I get to do and see things that most people can't even imagine. Within limits, I have no boss. The company expects me to show up on time, and bring the airplane back after several days in one piece.
No one is checking on my progress, asking for paperwork, having conference calls or meetings, nada. We are effectively autonomous. Our sense of freedom is immense. The world is literally my office...

Do this: go buy a book that just came out this year. It's called "Skyfaring" by a guy named Mark Vanhoenacker. He's a guy flying long-haul for British Airways I believe. There are some meditations on flight that probably won't be germane or interest you, but it'll give you a good idea about what some of the aspects of our lives are like. Written for a general audience, it's pretty good.

Good luck. Whatever you do, don't do it for the money, that's just gravy, (remember, they don't give you anything for free).
Do it because you want to, more than anything else.