Today my car wouldn't start and ended up finding that if I disconnected my battery, waited a little bit and hooked it up that it started and ran fine. Now is where it gets weird. When I turn my car off and restart it within 1 minute, it will start just fine. When I turn my car off and restart it after 1 minute, it wont start.

What on earth could be causing that to happen??

I am beyond stumped on this one.

When you are trying to start it up, is the starter cranking over the engine? If your answer is yes check your crank pos sensor behind the crank pulley. There is another one on the bell housing of the trans. Remove them and refer to FSM for how to test them with a digital voltage meter and might as well test the cam pos sensor to located close to the top of the timing cover. Remove it and test it. I'm not saying for sure this is the problem but it is a start. Check the basics for vac leaks, spark, fuel, fuel pressure and check grounds for clean and good connections. Hope this helps you out.

The starter is not cranking at all when it doesn't start.

Now even when I disconnect the negative, wait and reconnect it the car will no longer start.

Unfortunately I have about 2 tools (left and right) and as a college kid living in an apartment, I have little resources to do much over the basics.

I could have it towed to a shop, but I am afraid that I am going to get a crenshaw punch in the nads in costs for diagnostics.

If you have basic hand tools or can barrow them disconnect the bat and remove the starter have it tested autozone for free. If test out ok then put it back in then try the ignition switch it's cheep takes takes 15min to change. Or pay for the tow plus the labor plus the parts $$$. But it's your choice just trying to help good luck.

Have you tried wiggling the key when attempting to start?

When you turn the key, does the dash lights all go on?

And have you tested the battery?

Choke not reseting itself?