High School Tips to Prepare for Agriculture Engineering Program
Agricultural engineering is a booming field. This area of study requires strong foundation for a flourishing career. Agricultural engineers seek to improve farm quality and production using their knowledge of science and the agricultural industry. They may generalize in one of the five major areas of mechanical power, farm structures, soil and water conservation, electrification or food engineering.
Pre-engineering aspirants should have high-school preparation of elementary and advanced mathematics and science thus developing their competencies to the highest possible levels. The pre-requisite for pursuing an agricultural engineering major is to advance high school classes in English, mathematics and science.
Following are the general preparation ways and means to get in an undergrad course:
Advanced KnowledgeThe aspirant should increase his/her knowledge base.
He/she should have a thorough understanding of mathematics and science. The basics and fundamentals should be clear because the next level of study would require advanced knowledge which can only be gained if base is strong. Acceptance to undergraduate degree programs in agricultural engineering requires a substantial background in mathematics such as calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Aspirants should also receive strong background in the sciences of biology, chemistry and physics. Aspirants should maintain a rigorous high school curriculum and demonstrate an outstanding record of academic achievement.
Effective written and oral communication skillsThe aspirant should have strong written and oral Expression, to ensure clear and confident articulation of ideas. Agricultural engineers require effective written and oral communication skills. The more effective you are at communicating your concepts and ideas, the more success you'll experience as an agricultural engineer. As your career progresses, the importance of communication skill increases; the ability to communicate and write with clarity and conciseness are necessary for most managers and leaders.
Work Experience or Volunteer Community ServiceWork experience either paid or volunteer can teach students discipline, amenability, responsibility, reliability, and other skills. A summer job/internship during high school is a good way to gain practical experience and earn money for college as well.
Community ServiceActivities like tutoring elementary school children or volunteering in local community work like plantation or farming help students to acquire workplace skills and apply classroom learning to real-world problem solving. It’s a valuable contribution to society and one’s career goal. Some high-schools offer academic credit for volunteer work through service-learning.
Pile on the extra-curricular activitiesExtracurricular activities are great fun, but when it comes to applying for college admissions, they should provide a glimpse of your attitude, personality and lifestyle. The list of sports and activities you do or play serves as a track record for the admission. It is an indication of your commitment to a goal, your participation and depth of your interest. Also, extracurricular activities should not overwhelm you to the point that they affect your grades. Get yourself involved in extra-curricular activities and strike a balance between studies and activities. Extracurricular activities may also help foster your interests in agricultural engineering.
Critical SkillsOne should have clarity of thought and should possess a long-term career vision. The applicant should be adaptable to the environment, and should possess critical thinking skills, strong communication skills, self-motivation, imagination and excitement at work. Likewise, one must possess working knowledge of computers i.e. computer literate. High school agricultural engineering aspirants can take classes like introduction to computer science or advanced computer aided design classes.
Standardized TestStandardized tests are pre-requisite for all the colleges and universities to enter undergrad and graduate courses in the USA so start preparing for these tests from junior year of your high school. Standardized test scores of ACT or SAT are also vital for assessing an applicant to Agricultural Engineering. IELTS TOEFL is required for international students and all other aspirants whose native language is not English. The test scores are important in order to get into the best schools. This is a competitive major so have incredibly high average test scores.
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): The SAT measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. There are two versions of the SAT test. The SAT I is the Reasoning Test and the SAT II is designed to evaluate your mathematical and verbal skills. It consists mostly of multiple-choice questions.
- ACT (American College Testing): The ACT Assessment measures English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning abilities. It is a subject-based test.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language): The TOEFL is a computer-based test. The test consists of mostly multiple-choice questions with an essay question that is mandatory to attempt.
With all these preparations if commenced from high school, you can surely find yourself a lavish job with good pay in large corporate and agricultural firms or government services. So all the best in achieving your dream career.