Thanks for the advice. I taught myself python this summer and am currently learning GUI programming with pyqt. I am also learning django and javascript/coffeescript. I recently contacted the developers of IPython to see if I could help out anywhere and I have been reading to source of the qt-console app they just shipped with the new IPython. My goal is to have some meaningful contributions by the time I graduate.

So although I sounded pessimistic in my post above, I am trying to turn myself into someone desirable to startups. But I still have the feeling it is too little too late. Here's to hoping I am wrong though.