What high school courses do I need to be prepared for Dartmouth's engineering program?

To be well prepared for Dartmouth engineering, you should take the most rigorous math and science courses your high school offers, especially calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology. Because Dartmouth’s Thayer School is part of a liberal arts college, strong writing and communication skills also matter more than many students expect.

For math, aim for calculus by senior year if your school offers it. If you can go beyond precalculus into AP Calculus AB or BC, that is ideal. Physics is especially important for engineering preparation, and chemistry is also very useful.

Advanced versions such as AP, IB, or dual enrollment are helpful if they fit your schedule and you can do well in them. Computer science can also be a smart addition, especially if your school offers programming, but it is not usually as essential as calculus and physics.