Guidance for new/old player

Hello! My (pen)name is Drake Phoenix. I am a college student, 21 years old. I've been an on-and-off player of chess for over ten years, and am now interested in becoming a professional chess player, or at least semi-professional. Other than joining a local chess club, signing up with this site, and registering with USCF, what else would you all suggest I do to start? Any other places aside from the afore mentioned sites you can recommend? Thank you for your input, and I hope to get to know at least some of you as my career with chess continues!

Study tactics, endgames and play as many long/slow time control games as you can (with as many as you can OTB).

You also need to define what you mean by professional/semi-professional chess player. It is really hard to make a living by playing chess. If you can get good enough you can probably coach and make money that way but part of that depends on how good you are as a player, how good you are as a teacher, and how many students you can attract/keep. It also may not provide enough income to be worth it either.

Thank you! Correct me if I am wrong, but does OTB stand for On The Board?

I'm not entirely sure myself (yet) about what I mean by professional/semi-professional. Right now I envision myself participating (and hopefully winning) global tournaments, and stuff like that. Making a name for myself. My passion is writing, so I wouldn't see chess overtaking that as a life goal. But chess would be the one sport/pastime/whatever you want to call it, that is benificial to me, as well as entertaining and satisfying. I hope that helps.

OTB ( over the board ).

I was close. :) Same idea

Not really. Because you are not actually ON the board, you are OVER it.

Technicalities. XD

The obvious advice is to not let chess get in the way of finishing your college education. Beyond that, hard work will get you far, but I'm of the belief that only people who are blessed with some chess talent will rise to the top of the chess world.

That's the way it goes in a forum full of chess players.

I would not try it unless your rating is over 2200