Strong math skills will help you understand your college math, physics and applied engineering classes. You'll need geometry, trigonometry and two years of algebra in high school as a minimum foundation for your college subjects. Although It's not necessarily required for admission, the Science Buddies website also recommends high school calculus. A typical bachelor's degree curriculum in chemical engineering includes four semesters of calculus and other advanced math.
Science Buddies recommends taking high school laboratory classes in chemistry and physics. High school sciences prepare you for required engineering subjects such as chemistry, physics and thermodynamics. The state of Minnesota career website also recommends taking Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate sections to improve your chances of admission to engineering school. You may even qualify for college credit toward your degree if you take AP chemistry and calculus, for example.
Prospective chemical engineers should take high school English and computer science classes, according to Science Buddies. You'll need English to prepare for required English or writing classes in your bachelor's degree program and to give you the skills you'll need to complete college lab reports. The Minnesota career website also recommends classes in keyboarding and manufacturing systems, if available.
Good high school grades and solid scores on college entrance exams will improve your chances of admission to engineering school. For example, some engineering colleges require scores on the SAT as part of the application process, and some have a minimum score requirement, such as 1200. Extracurricular activities also help you prepare for a bachelor's program in chemical engineering, according to the Minnesota career website. For example, join the chemistry or engineering club, or spend some time shadowing a chemical engineer. Take field trips to factories that employ chemical engineers, or obtain a summer job with a food manufacturer.
Graduates of chemical engineering colleges qualify for high-paying jobs. Chemical engineers earned, on average, $102,270 annually in 2012, and the top-earning 10 percent earned $154,840 or more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of jobs for chemical engineers will increase by only 6 percent between 2010 and 2020, less than most professions, the bureau predicts. Nonetheless, chemical engineers will enjoy favorable job prospects. The retirement of current engineers will open up positions for recent graduates, and the expansion of chemical engineering into new areas will create additional positions.