Here is what I wish someone would have told me when I was young:
If you are going for a CS degree - well skip it - and get a degree in Mathematics instead and complete a BS or MS in it. CS degrees are a dime a dozen - but someone who has advanced Mathematical skills stands out as someone who is highly logical and can tackle anything. It will also be beneficial if you do any 3D or Finance work. For that matter, also double major in Finance/Economics.
If you are going to be doing any programming start with Unix shell and Perl. Especially with Shell these things aren't going to change very often and it will be time not wasted.
Once you've done those get involved in some open source projects especially with C++ and threading work.
There are a ton of unfulfilled positions in the Chicagoland area doing C++/Economics/Finance work pulling $100k-$140k which beats the hell out of being yet another .Net monkey.
I don't know what the OP's situation is - just spewing my own self hate on a path not taken
