but I'd hate to see kids who just did their homework all the time go to a better college than me because I chose to devote time to what I hope will eventually become a profession.
I completely agree with that. Schools don't have enough around to spot young talent in things that they don't teach. I'm sure there are a lot of kids around who could easily do a job in electronics without any of the formal qualifications you gain at school.
Mowcius