As enthusiastic young high school students begin their quest for the optimal college education, what advice would you give young prospective engineering students? My advice is to tinker, tinker, tinker. Sure, computer aided design is fascinating and important, but so is hands on circuit experience. Become a ham radio operator. Build something. Learn digital design, but don't neglect analog. Any other ideas?

My advice would be to build things. Real, tangible stuff that does physical things. Branch out from your own specialty and learn complementary skills; for example, find a way to spend time in a machine shop and learn to use a lathe and a milling machine. (As an undergraduate, my college had a Hobby Shop full of both metal and woodworking machinery, and I spent many spare hours in there tinkering.) The more practical skills you master, the better an all-around engineer you will end up being, which will make you more valuable to any prospective employer.