College student looking to get started (seeking advice)

[Amy Frisella]

I'm a student at Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri, completing my last year in the Architecture and interior design program. I'm currently employed at Central States Construction doing interior design, and architecture as well as renovation spatial design. Over the course of my last few years in school, flipping is something I greatly considered so I began educating myself and listening and reading what I could about real estate. Currently I'm looking to make that first next step in my real estate career somewhere in my area either at school in Columbia or in my home town of Washington, Missouri.

I've read up on several different approaches to making a first deal as a college student with little financing and experience but some of them seem unreasonable as market prices keep rising. 

1) house hacking- after my last year at school I will most likely continue working fulltime with the company I'm with now in Columbia MO so I'm considering house hacking rather than continuing to pay rent of $500 a month. If i went this route I'd have two or three roommates pay me rent to cover payments but in this scenario the house couldn't be in too bad of shape as I'd I have to convince my friends to live in the house. obviously a house that doesn't need substantial work will cost much more than one that does so financing becomes the next issue.

2) find an investor and flip and/or wholesale. If I'm to go this route i need help with first steps. this year I'll be attending reia meetings in my area, visiting open houses, taking some real-estate courses though school, networking and reading to learn as much as I can. My question to qualified investors is what should i be focusing on first, finding a deal? finding an investor? finding a mentor? I don't want to get stuck in the learning rut, i want to take first steps, learn hands on. My goal is to do my first deal before I'm 22 and I know I'm capable i just have to make that first move on the funds of a college student.

Any advice is helpful! If you're familiar with either Washington, Missouri or Columbia, Missouri reach out!