I'd try to do it as a side project if at all possible. I've never gotten more side-projects done than when I was in college (and I went to a fairly work-intens

I'd try to do it as a side project if at all possible. I've never gotten more side-projects done than when I was in college (and I went to a fairly work-intensive engineering school). If it helps, see if you can get credit by getting a faculty advisor and writing up some reports or papers about it.