I've done Autocad and CATIA which is used in automotive/aerospace engineering circles.
Have you tried looking on ebay for old autocad textbooks? I'd start there, get some used textbook from a college class from someone like me that has a bunch lying around - i don't have any of my CAD books though i hated those classes!

older versions are worthless but they're outdated quickly in college so shouldn't be hard to get a relatively new one.
college students can often get cheap deals on software, student versions. they will be limited in scope and not the full on product, but will be more than enough to learn...but still not free.
ebay?
focus on the big picture as much as you can.rather than just draw with it. try working with someone, with others, interfacing the files with other programs, extracting data from the files to be used by other programs...if possible, etc.
here's what most college students don't do and will set you apart: you are most marketable not when you can use the software (or learn something) but when you can implement it in the real world environment, with products, people, teams, financial considerations, timing, etc. most people aren't good at the latter (though they think they are), so if you can do that you'll find getting jobs very easy.
find a local company that uses it and take a guy to lunch and ask him what it's like, what he does, etc.
the drafting idea is a good one, though i wouldn't call it necessary it could be very helpful depending on you. i never did but i went to an engineering school so i had plenty of other experience. sometimes companies will hire interns to get a few simple tasks done, maybe not even paid, but you get to learn while yo'ure doing it.
once you're proficient with Autocad start thinking about what you want to do, what industry, find out what they use and maybe dabble in other products like CATIA, or others. it's nice to be really proficient in one thing but still be able to put something like "comfortable in a UNIX, CATIA, etc environment" on your resume. at least show that you are familiar with it and can work/learn in that environment. this part is a long way off, but at least you can create some metrics to shoot for as you're working.
do what you need to do to stay fresh, confident and energetic about it - that will pay off as you connect with people and continue heading in this directions.
good luck!
Edited by grossgary, 16 April 2011 - 08:43 AM.