[genbattle]

I definitely agree with the sentiments of everyone else on getting into a better College/University/Whatever. Also, the way things are going, and with your talent and drive, I would really recommend you consider doing a full Engineering degree. It may be another year of your life you spend in University, but even the smallest amount of extra investment counts when you're competing with millions of other graduates with diplomas/bachelor's degrees, and as qualifications they are recognized all over the world.

Of course it sounds like you're definitely struggling financially, so you may not have much choice in institution or program. Here in New Zealand we all get interest-free government loans to cover the costs of tertiary education, so in one way I've been lucky just because of where I was born. It is very hard to suggest what you should do, because the systems in place here are so very different to in the US.

If in the end you can't do much about your situation, make the best of it. Ace every assignment, tweak them with your own extensions which add extra functionality or go beyond the criteria of the assignment. If you are not being challenged by your study program, challenge yourself. Class is a very small overall part of your education; go out to user groups or other social group meetings (after all, who you know matters just as much/more than what you know), build things that teach you something new. You will learn more from these people and by yourself than you will from any test or assignment. Never in the rest of your life will you have the time, energy or resources to push yourself as far as you can while studying.

If you show passion and intelligence, people will believe in you.