What should I learn as prerequisites for advanced physics?

[SPACEBOY]

I'm not old enough to go to university yet, but when I do, I hope to study physics. I do enjoy physics at school but most of the time I find the way we learn it quite dull so I do a lot more reading/studying in my free time at home... I want to learn about all the major "big" theories; quantum mechanics, relativity, string theory... my question is, what physics (and mathematics, even) should I learn before I dive into these? What are the "essential" physical and mathematical things to know before you can properly study subjects like those?

 

[Michael G]

Might want to learn or brush up on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, classical mechanics/physics, and probabilities, and The Standard Model.

Richard Feynman is good at explaining things. Sucks that he died, but he has a lot of recorded lectures and interviews online.

Read Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Newton if you can. Its all geometrically based so it can be understood earlier on.

 

[Integrated Soul]

What physics course are you currently enrolled in, at your school?
I'm interested in those big theories too. We're actually doing Quantum Mechanics in my AP Physics C class right now (yes, in my senior year of high school).
Okay, to start off, to understand concepts like quantum mechanics, you need a very solid understanding of functions and calculus. Actually, pretty much all advanced physics requires a good background in calculus. You can obviously read through the theories and get a good grasp of it without going too deep into the mathematical derivation of how they come about, that should work well.

Relativity (especially special relativity and simultaneity) is tons of fun, when you deal with all kinds of paradoxes and all.
The basis of all physics is a strong mathematical background. Trust me, it'll help you in the long run. Physics and math go hand-in-hand. If you don't understand functions visually, you'll never understand physical (mostly abstract) wave functions when you learn quantum mechanics.
Particle physics is very very essential too (behavior of protons/electrons/neutrons and other forms of particles).

I can see why you're interested in such theories, lot of people are. Just do some self-research / studying on your own, it'll help you out later. All in all, good luck!

 

[Integrated Soul]

What physics course are you currently enrolled in, at your school?
I'm interested in those big theories too. We're actually doing Quantum Mechanics in my AP Physics C class right now (yes, in my senior year of high school).
Okay, to start off, to understand concepts like quantum mechanics, you need a very solid understanding of functions and calculus. Actually, pretty much all advanced physics requires a good background in calculus. You can obviously read through the theories and get a good grasp of it without going too deep into the mathematical derivation of how they come about, that should work well.

Relativity (especially special relativity and simultaneity) is tons of fun, when you deal with all kinds of paradoxes and all.
The basis of all physics is a strong mathematical background. Trust me, it'll help you in the long run. Physics and math go hand-in-hand. If you don't understand functions visually, you'll never understand physical (mostly abstract) wave functions when you learn quantum mechanics.
Particle physics is very very essential too (behavior of protons/electrons/neutrons and other forms of particles).

I can see why you're interested in such theories, lot of people are. Just do some self-research / studying on your own, it'll help you out later. All in all, good luck!