Preparation for college starts while your child is in high school. Encourage your child to take challenging courses and maintain good grades — after all, the student's transcript is a vital part of the college application. Colleges with high admissions requirements want to admit students who have taken courses in specific subject areas. Your high school guidance counselor can determine the high school courses preferred by different types of colleges. Consider having your child take Advanced Placement courses that help students prepare for college-level work while still in high school. Many college preparatory courses are also essential preparation for college entrance examinations. If your child is interested in engineering technology, he or she should take as many math courses as the school offers. Most engineering institutions expect students to have good grades in algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, science, English and social studies. Courses in graphics, drafting or design would be helpful as well. Students leaning toward a technical program may also want to supplement or substitute some of their academic courses with some vocational or technical courses in their field of interest. Visit an administrator or instructor from a community, junior or technical college to find out about the best high school courses to take in order to prepare for a specific technical program offered at that college. Educational programs often have formal connections between the high school and a local college. These career-focused programs are offered by a network of high schools, local colleges and even local employers, which help prepare the student for college-level work and set your child on the path to college. Click on to find an ETE school near you.