For high school students planning to pursue Mechanical Engineering, gaining practical experience through internships at local engineering firms or HVAC companies is highly recommended. This hands-on experience can provide valuable insights into the field. To prepare academically, students should focus on strengthening their math skills by working through problems in calculus or precalculus textbooks. Additionally, acquiring a low-cost material science textbook and solving simpler problems can offer a solid foundation in key concepts.Regarding drafting and sketching, the choice of materials depends on the specific area of Mechanical Engineering one intends to specialize in. While professional CAD software can be expensive, many offer student versions or discounts, and trial versions are available for testing. TurboCAD is suggested as a budget-friendly option, while AutoCAD is widely used in the industry and also has student pricing. Students are advised to wait for recommendations from their schools regarding software before making a purchase.