What classes and programs to take for Mechanical Engineering in HS?

[berstell]

What classes or programs would good to take or participate in while in high school for an introduction and background in Mechanical Engineering before college?

Also, what colleges are the best for Engineering?

Thanks so much.

 

[fss]

If your high school offers some sort of shop class or CAD class that'd be helpful. Physics and calculus will likely be required in college as well. Lots of colleges are "good" for engineering. The "best" schools are the usual suspects- the Caltechs and MITs... but based on your recent questions it doesn't seem like you'd be a candidate for admission there.

 

[Arbite]

My HS subjects consisted of high level physics, chemistry, geography and standard level maths, german and english (IB). So far they have prepared me reasonably well for first year engineering. That said, Australian National University does bridging courses and most of first year maths and physics are similar to high school, just with some calculus thrown in for your basic mechanics. There are also different streams of the subjects, with those not having covered as much being able to go into less demanding maths, but being able to move up provided they obtain the grades.

I would definitely take a class that covers calculus and mechanics, design/technology courses would also be fantastic, most of the CAD tutorials are terrible.

I however have gone through the Australian school system and study at an Australian university, so I can't say wether this will help you or not.

 

[berstell]

I think it'll be similar here. Thanks.

 

[jehake12]

If you want to enjoy your undergrad as a mechanical engineer, I recommend shop & CAD classes (as fss mentioned.) Developing a certain comfort level/familiarity for putting things together will go a long ways towards helping you complete projects in your mechanical engineering coursework. Projects can eat up a lot of your time.