[PurpleHaze]

Here's some random points of advice (in the order it popped into my head)
Keep close track of everything you buy in one neat and well-organized document.

Make sure you know exactly what you are doing before you cut metal, because its easy to burn through metal (and your budget) with bad measurements and false starts.

Prototype your designs in wood.

Don't start too big and then have to scale down, rather, make a reasonable goal and try to reach it with flying colors.

Don't be scared at the competiton, TALK to other teams, make friends, and then keep contact with them.

If you want a good autonomous mode, do NOT leave it until you have a working robot to test it on. Code the basics beforehand.

Finally, relax, from the looks of it, you guys are in good shape (much better than we were in our rookie year).