I'll just put this out there for next year:
http://urc.marssociety.org
As for robots, You can do all kinds of things I would only have dreamed of ten years ago when I was in college. For under $100, you can buy an Arduino and some motor shields/drivers and build a capable robot control system.
I'm sure you can get some support from your school such as professors, machine shop access, and even financials to design and build a worthwhile project. Think about something that needs fixing, even find challenges and grants from the NSF, NASA, DARPA, etc. that you may be able to work on. See if there is a robotics club on campus. If not, get support from a faculty member and advertise to spread the word about your project ideas.
Most importantly, don't give up on your dreams! It is a lot of work (believe me) and you will learn so much in the process. Even if you don't succeed at what you originally set out to do, the skills you gained by trying something will prepare you for the "real world" more than any of your classes.
Best of luck and don't be afraid to ask CD for help!
Some references:
http://www.mpja.com/
www.hackaday.io
www.adafruit.com
www.sparkfun.com