You may want to contemplate hitting the official BM site and checking into applying for a low income ticket. They make a bunch of tickets available at $145 or something to those who are in need. I'm not sure if poor struggling student constitutes need, but if they approve it that makes it considerably less expensive.
You've got all sorts of fun party clothes & costumery already, so from a wardrobe standpoint you'd be ahead of most first-timers. If you own or have use of camping gear, that's another thing. Hopefully if you do decide to try and go this year, you'll be able to overcome all the hurdles...
