Affiliate Marketing Secrets

I just changed majors and I’m at the beginning of my 4th of 5 years as an undergraduate. Last year I only was able to take 15 credits of an into to programming sequence. This year and next year I am basically completing my entire B.S. in Computer Science. My school is small and only has two faculty members in their CS department which is more of an appendage to the engineering department. Still, like many students just starting in a new direction, I am hopeful that somehow I could overcome and gain the knowledge and experience needed in these two short years to escape the destiny of writing outdated business apps in visual basic for all eternity. When I look at the really cool research areas that major universities get to explore, I am inspired to search out a niche for myself.
Is this reasonably possible? What might I want to do to help get to the point where I am equal to a recent graduate from a top CS university undergraduate program?
Thank you.