Dude....you're young.

Find a Cougar.

Then, once she kicks the bucket, you can do whatever you want.

AHAhahahaHAHAhahaHHAhahAhahahHahahahAhaha

Ok, seriously now. Trades are great. I used to do construction. Stay away from framing and manual labor. Get into finish carpentry. Rich folks always need work, no matter how the economy is. Electritians and plumbers will always have work because no one wants to poop in a bucket in a dark room.

Metal workers are, for the most part, insane. But well paid. Are you insane now? If not, can you be soon?

Also, and a lot of people your age don't know this, but even if it takes you 5 or 6 or more years to get into that school, you're so young that when you graduate, you've still got most of your life ahead of you. Don't sweat it if you don't get in next semester. Really.

The Cougar thing though, I would look into it. Doesn't your mom have any single rich friends?

LOL