The transition from high school to college can be daunting, to say the least. It’s a different environment which requires a lot more responsibility. It can be even more difficult for those who are first-generation college students, or who may not be able to easily afford tuition and expenses. Luckily, Bothell offers many opportunities for students to ‘dip their toes’ into college. They can get an idea of the academic rigor, begin building habits that will help them later on, and even earn college credit for a fraction of the cost. One of these programs is Running Start.
This dual-credit program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take classes at a local community college and earn both high school and college credit, nearly for free (there are usually some fees). You can be a full-time RS student and potentially earn an Associates Degree by the end of high school, or you can be part-time and take some classes at the high school while still earning transferable college credits.
As a Running Start student myself, I’ll be the first to recommend the program to anyone who’s interested, but it’s also important to be aware of some of the challenges and drawbacks. When I was deciding whether or not to sign up, it was most helpful to hear from my friends who were already doing Running Start. So, here are some tips and recommendations about the Running Start program from current students.
Nearly all the students I spoke to agreed that responsibility and self-motivation are vital. “You have a lot of free time in your hands and ultimately it’s your decision on how you spend that time,” Annabelle Eckel (‘23) shared. Kaz Neubauer (‘22) reiterated this point, saying that succeeding “is a matter of realizing ‘I gotta manage my time better, or there will be consequences.’” Other ideal qualities in successful Running Start students include the ability to be independent. Aubrey Beeson (‘22) pointed out that it’s easy to fall behind in the college environment: “If you don’t work well with self-motivating, it can be really easy to fail classes. […] It’s a lot of independence and a lot of advocating for yourself.”
There was unanimous agreement that those who are interested in earning their Associates degree should plan out their classes ahead of time and meet with an academic advisor early on. There are certain requirements for an AA degree, and Cascadia doesn’t offer every class every quarter, so those who need to take specific classes should sign up early.
Students had different motivations for choosing the program, but the most common reasons were some combination of the financial benefit, the independence and free time, and the ability to avoid the stress of AP classes but still challenge yourself academically. Many full-time students prefer the considerably calmer college environment to the social anxiety-inducing environment of high school. Zoë (‘22), a full-time RS student, enjoys the flexibility and “being able to plan your classes to meet your needs based on time, teacher, and a course you are interested in.” There are some really interesting classes available at Cascadia— where most Bothell Students pursue Running Start. Recommendations included Sociology, Statistics, Public Speaking, and Political Science. Eckel highly recommends the program to those who plan on attending a WA state college. “You can get a lot of credits (and college experience) and graduate from college early.” Neubauer also recommended Running Start for its efficiency. “You can do the same class three times over in the same amount of time you take one class at High School,” he explained.
Although many of the students I spoke to were quick to recommend Running Start, they also acknowledged some downsides to the program. Zoë explained that in their STEM classes, “I am often one of the only women in the classes and I have always been the youngest. This has caused me to often not be taken seriously by my peers.” Personally, I’ve found it difficult to find classes that work with my schedule. As a result, I’ve had to take more asynchronous classes than I would prefer. Other students expressed feeling somewhat disconnected from BHS and missing some of the social aspects of high school.
Ultimately, it’s about what is best for you. Maybe you’re ready for that extra independence and you’ve gotten enough of the “high school experience”. Maybe you’re planning for your future and want to save money on college. Maybe you want some extra rigor but don’t like AP curriculums or tests. Whatever your reason, Running Start is a great opportunity that’s worth considering.
