I recommend that after school, you seek out a job in a decent looking shop as a pipe fitters tacker/helper, and learn how to both fit and weld.
This will help you understand how the piping systems actually work and will help you break out into the welding field. It's better than college because you're getting paid to learn.
My definition of a combination welder is a hand that can fit and weld his own fits. This is the kind of hand that can be sent on a job by himself, and get it done. This is the kind of hand that never has trouble finding work, makes top pay and always gets the sweet jobs. That's becasue he's a valuable asset to any employer.
Check out the web site:

http://www.pipefitter.com/pfind.html

There you can get both the books that you will need after school, Such as the ones by W.V. Graves,
and the tools you'll require. I would start with collecting Curv-O-Mark tools. I still have the ones that I originally bought in 1992 and use them often, even though I'm no longer working with much pipe.

Good Luck,
Tim

Needle scalers are nice, but You shouldn't need one for TIG welding. You should have some basic measuring and layout tools. Angle grinders come in handy, 4 1/2" are easy to handle, and the 7-9" units really get some work done. Apprenticeship in a shipyard sounds like a good idea to Me, I would expect You to learn layout and fitting as part of the training. There is "Book Learning" involved with a formal apprenticeship, the theory behind what You are actually doing, this is important too. There is a lot going on in a shipyard besides welding, You will be exposed to many trades, perhaps one You like even more, and that is a good place to learn any of them.

Once you become proficient in welding, you will probably want to move on to other areas which may includ inspection.  It would be a good investment to have some of these gages:

http://www.galgage.com/measuring_gauges.html

In many contemporary companies, the "welder welds, and inspector inspects" model is being replaced with "you welded it....you inspect it."  Having the tools to do those inspections would be invaluable to your career...as would a CWI class :)

HTH

well for starters you need a good pair of wire cutters(kliens) 9" preferably, a couple of adjustable wrenches, rod bag, ball pein hammer, a tungsten holder, a couple files, hex key set, a couple screwdrivers (slotted and philliphs), inspection mirrors, and a tape measure. That should get ya right on your way.

One thing I find most welders overlook purchasing is a set welding gauges (fillet gauges, hi-lo, undercut, etc).  I think, in most cases, welders should know how their welds measure up before they move on to the next weld.

(sorry Phil, I read ahead and didn't notice you said the same thing)

Thanks for the info guys my teacher wont ever give me any advice like this. He just says GET BACK IN YOUR BOOTH!!! =)

You should get a good tape measure, square, level, 2 lb hammer, wire cutters and extra lenses for your mask.

I'd feel kind of naked without my swiss army knife.
Bill

Just a thought. Be careful in your career choice because of the monotony.  You may get bored in the shipyard if you are hood down day after day.  I burned out on draglines because it was the exact same scenario day in and day out. I have been a little of everything in the past 8 years, ironworker:connector, structural welder, rigger, milwright (not precision setting, just preliminary setting of pumps and equipment), pipewelder, and beginning pipefittter.  Problem is, I was just called by the boilermakers and since none of my previous exp was with a union, I don't think I can transfer any of it over. Anyhow, welding is a great career because if you are good and know what you are doing, work is almost always there. Just keep your options open.