Final answer:
High school students aiming for an engineering degree should complete at least four years of math and science courses, and submit standardized test scores.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prepare for a college degree in engineering, high school students should focus on completing coursework that fulfills the prerequisites for university engineering programs. These often include a minimum of four years of high school mathematics, covering algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and analytical geometry, and four years of science courses such as chemistry, biology, and physics. Additionally, most accredited engineering programs will require students to submit standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT and exhibit strong proficiency in both math and science subjects.
In order to increase their chances of being accepted into an engineering program and to subsequently perform well, students should also seek to enhance their skills and credentials through applicable work experience, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. Having a diversified portfolio of experiences can demonstrate valuable transferable skills to both educational institutions and future employers. This holistic approach to education and experience may align more closely with what employers are looking for today, as they increasingly seek individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform in a given role, rather than merely a specific degree.