Very good thread....should be stickied actually.
Firstly, you are on the right path by pursuing a foundation in education. That not only opens up horizons mentally and job-wise, but also gives you confidence when speaking to someone who might potentially be a seed investor in your project in the future and actually gives them that confidence to invest in your business as well. Not saying education is some magic bullet for success, but it is certainly a tool for success and gives you an edge as a black man aiming to operate in a white society.
Where are you transferring schools to? What region/area? I would advise that you look up internships as you pursue your studies. Find out about the local tech scene in your area, and reach out to tech firms that are looking for interns. Even if you are hand delivering mail and running errands, it's fine - you will build up your contact list. Make sure you don't share any ideas you might have without having someone signing an MoU with the presence of a lawyer first.
You should look at the societies and groups that you might have locally as well. You'll be surprised to find a local chapter of one that caters to your demographic. I believe also, as someone mentioned earlier, it's a good idea to also attend conventions in your chosen industry as it's also a good way to build up your contact list.
Read, read, read and know everything there is to know about your chosen field. Even if you don't known it practically, at least have a theoretical knowledge of it. I'd also advise (or maybe this might be too early for you) to register a company or at least have a DBA (doing business as). It's good to have business cards for people you meet for recollection purposes. And as you already know what you want to do with your career, it might be good for you.
Employment first, then think entrepreneurship. While you might think you have the next Facebook idea, those success stories are very few and far between. When you graduate, and thereafter are hopefully able to secure employment, work for a few years, build up your resume (and savings) and start slowly building up your idea and potential business.
If you get a chance to in the future and if you can afford it, try and travel abroad as much as you are opportuned to expand your global horizons and to build contacts abroad. Also see if your major offers a foreign exchange program.
I think vitally to all of the above is having integrity and a good work ethic. There is no magic bean that you are going to take that is going to make you successful. You have to work very hard and very often for it, and remember that failure is part of the process. There is no successful businessman today that didn't have multiple stories of failure before attaining that one story of success, unless they inherited a bunch of money. So that's just some advice from me young breh. Won't sit and claim to be successful, but I know enough successful people to know that success doesn't happen at the snap of a finger, but it's rather a life-long journey.
