<p>I agree with most of everything said, especially what ClassicRockerDad said. It’s definitely worthwhile to know how to learn on your own. I try to use every break I get to learn more. It certainly helps.</p>
<p>Get a job and learn what it is to show up every single day whether the project you are working on is fasinating or redundant. Learn how to do your own laundry. Time management. Trig. Money management.</p>
<p>If you are not already proficient on Excel, do some self study. Spreadsheets expertise can be helpful for things such as collecting/organizing lab data. Plus it’s a good skill for the resume, to help get the first summer job.</p>
<p>Lots of good advice here.</p>
<p>regular high school physics will be fine. that was all my HS offered. thats why they teach intro physics classes. </p>
<p>I also recommend getting as good at math as you can, calc, algebra, some trig, you will need all of it to get through classes. And if you can be fast (while still accurate) you will have more time on tests, which can only help. Tests are hard enough already, struggling with the math will make it worse. </p>
<p>If you can get to Calc AB/BC (or even further), do it. Calc 1 and 2 are notoriously hard (3 not quite as much) at my school, and I am glad I didn’t have to take them. I don’t feel worse off taking an easier calc AB and BC in high school, getting my 5, and skipping those classes. I am better than the average engineer at math though, so take that with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Also, getting ahead is wonderful. Being behind is much harder. You will have to learn on your own too. Don’t stress too much though, it is summer break after all, you don’t have too many of them left.</p>
<p>Summer jobs are good, for the money and (if you hate them) motivation to find something better.</p>
<p>Hi ROYGBV,</p>
<p>I am also currently a high school senior and has been preparing myself for engineering. Definitely solve some calculus problems, get to know C++ and MATLAB and start reading about physics of fluids because it is really interesting stuff. Berkeley will offer this spring an online course in quantum mechanics and quantum computation for free through edx.org so you may want to try that.</p>