I've applied to 25 so far and have only heard back from 1.

I just went through the process of applying to software companies too. I get a strong impression that it's a numbers game and low response rates are to be expected. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

If there's a company that you really want to work for, then something like this seems like it'd be really hard to ignore.

What are good reliable ways that I can convert time to money before I get a full-time job?

Well there are a ton of low-skill jobs out there. And then there are higher skill jobs like tutoring that you may be able to pursue in the short term.

But why? I sense that right now, your time would be better spent on higher level actions like learning and thinking about what you want in life. This obviously depends on a lot of other things though. Like your goal and your financial situation.