A: FROM MENTOR BARB KONTOGIANNIS IN CO
It's not unusual as a Junior in high school to be undecided about what you want to do, and what field you would like to go into. Don't worry, you have plenty of time to make up your mind. The fact that you are interested in engineering is great! In high school, I took AP Calculus, AP Chemistry and AP Physics. Those courses prepared me very well for college, and enabled me to even test out of some of the college courses and get credit. That was very helpful in the long run, because then I could take more in-depth courses in my specialty during my senior year of college when I really did know what I wanted to do. So, being prepared academically by taking challenging course work is important. I also took a drafting class and a computer programming class too (I'm sure there are much more in-depth courses about computers now than when I was in high school). And I worked hard at all the "softer" non-technical courses too - like English and social sciences. They are important for a well-rounded person, and believe it or not, engineers DO need to know how to read, write, and speak articulately! Not all engineers are like Dilbert, really! More on this "well-roundedness"... Colleges tend to admit a diverse population of students. Each person should show an interest in something outside of academics, in a way demonstrating a love for life and learning. That doesn't mean you have to go out and join every club, or run yourself ragged in sports or volunteer work, but it really helps to have one or two extracurricular activities. You get exposed to issues in your community, or team dynamics, something other than classroom work. I was involved in music in high school - jazz band, marching band, and pit-orchestras for musicals. I was also a one-sport letterman in diving (it seemed most students involved in sports participated in something each season, but you don't have to do that). And I participated in one club focused on community outreach. Not a huge resume of activities, but enough to have a larger focus than just the classroom, and to be a "well-rounded" person. Looking back, I don't think there is much I would change about my high school preparation for college and becoming an engineer.

Now, about choosing a field. Usually the first year, if not first two years, of college engineering is not specialized. You will take the typical calculus, physics, statics, dynamics, and maybe chemistry and intro to circuits, etc. By the middle of your second year, most likely, you will probably start to get a feel for what you like and dislike, as far as fields of study. It was very clear to me after intro to circuits that I was not going to be an electrical engineer. By middle of my sophomore year, I had decided on mechanical engineering, after also seriously thinking about civil or aerospace engineering. I later went on to get a Master's degree in aerospace engineering, but liked the flexibility of a first degree in mechanical engineering - that's a whole separate discussion!

So, don't hurry to make up your mind about your field of study - that'll come as you are exposed to various engineering related topics. Take challenging math and science courses in high school, and get involved in activities that really interest you, don't just fill your resume. I hope that helps you. Good luck!