There one thing for sure learn the basics first and then try to keep up with the rest by reading. This stuff changes so fast you could waste 4 years learning about stuff you'll never see agin. I remember when I made a tube radio and radio shack sold the tubes. Point to point wiring those was the days. But it was like a year later that I started reading about transistors and then by the time i got up to speed what happen? Well what you think dang here come's IC with lots of parts in them
one chip and a handful of caps and resistors bang you got a amp and a receiver.
So lot's of reading to stay on top. I took a 3 day test to get a job in a plant working
with PLC for temp and motor and valve controls and if it was not for trying so stay up to date I wouldn't have passed it.
Looks like JoeN is off on a good start and with a lot of good reading he could get where he want's to be. College is great I went back to finish my EE but my Wife died and I now have Two kids to take care of it was to much at one time to deal with. Good luck JoeN which way you go.