So I’m a Junior in Running Start and I’m trying to figure out what classes I need to take. The question is: what am I supposed to be using as a guideline for college classes? I’m not sure if I should be looking at AA requirements or the credit requirements for the major at the college I want to attend (UW). Should I be trying to fill out the classes here http://catalog.edcc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=49&poid=9947 ? or here http://cdn.doem.washington.edu/misc/admissions/2017/PDFs/CSCI.pdf ? I was also a little confused on how I’m supposed to reach 90 credits over the 6 total quarters at running start when some of the classes I need for the AA are only 3 credits instead of 5. Any help or guidance is appreciated.
Never mind that last part about the 90 credits. I got that figured out
Are you trying to earn your AS-T through Running Start? If so, you will need to follow Edmonds Community College’s guidelines. Many/most/all of those courses will also take care of some of the requirements for UW anyway.
If you are not seeking your AS-T, then you can tailor your courses towards UW’s guidelines.
Seeking your AS-T or not, your schedules will be very similar if not identical.
You should see an adivsor at the community college. Hopefully one can help walk you through it.
adding… My son received his AS-T through Running Start. It was very easy to tailor his schedule because he did not care about receiving a high school diploma from the public high school. Instead, he used the option to obtain a high school diploma from the community college by getting his associate’s degree. That way, he did not have to follow any of his high school’s graduation requirements.
The most important thing is to graduate high school, so take the classss your school district requires first. (In other words, if you aren’t doing a graduation requirement like American History at your high school, don’t put off taking it in Running Start.)
The most common associates earned in Running start is this one:
http://catalog.edcc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=49&poid=9637&returnto=14224
This one gives the most flexibility in classes you can take. If you do that one, work in the comp sci transfer recommended classes where you can. When you get to an in-state four year school, you should have all your general education requirements done.
The one you linked to will meet a bunch of technical prerequisites, but you will still have general education courses to take. Even though the science track lets you take a bunch of STEM classes, you still need to make sure you have all your CADRs.
Running Start students are evaluated as high school graduates, not as transfers , and you will not be rejected from UW for not having completed the transfer recommendation sheet courses.
In our area it was a very well kept secret by the high schools that you DO NOT need to take ANY courses that the district requires for graduation. That only applies if you want to receive your high school diploma from the district. All community colleges in Washington are required to grant you a high school diploma upon obtaining an associates degree, if you so desire. There is a box to check on the associate graduation form asking if you would like to receive a high school diploma. That’s what my son did. It was very freeing to not have to bend his college schedule to the high school requirements.
Sorry, that is my soap box. I was so frustrated by how the local school districts purposefully concealed this information from running start students. I learned about the option from the homeschool community.
But, yes, even going that route, you do need to keep in mind that UW or other university will require certain classes from you as an incoming freshman - such as 4 years of English. So still follow the CADRs.
Most Running Start kids do not finish an associates, which requires full time enrollment for both junior and senior years as well as for course scheduling to work out. My poor kiddo got through 5 of 6 quarters and now needs a 7:30 am class spring quarter to finish!
In the beginning, it’s probably wise to keep your option to graduate from your high school open. You never know if you’re going to fail to get into a class or possibly catch the flu and have to drop something one term.
Associates is probably only useful if you drop out of college or if you transfer out of state. So if you don’t do either, it’s best to use the UW’s degree requirements to figure out which classes to take.
@stockfish101 That makes no sense. The DTA and DTS associates programs are Direct transfer programs designed to slot students into four-year schools in the Washington higher education system, not for transferring out of state. Also, a career-focused associates would be better than a direct transfer associates if not going on to a four year school.
Let me explain. The reason is that if you go to a state school in Washington, your running start credits are going to transfer, no associates needed. If you go out of state, that won’t happen (so you need associates or else in the worst case nothing transfers). Also, if you get a 4 year degree, then whether you have 2 year degree or not makes no difference.
@stockfish101 Not every course transfers automatically - that’s why there are transfer equivalency tables.
I don’t think a transfer associates agreement among Washington colleges would be automatically accepted in another random state. However, I’m willing to be corrected on that if you can document it.
I am finishing my Associates, along with my High School diploma, and really tried to make sure my course choices would transfer to UW will full credit. I checked the UW Equivalency Guide to make sure.
Some courses don’t transfer at all, some will transfer “generally”, and some will transfer for a specific UW course. I tried to knock out as many pre-reqs for my major (Clinical Psych) as I could.
The CC Advisor wanted me to take a “Pre-Chem” class, then a Chem, but the Pre-Chem doesn’t transfer at all, so 5credits and time totally wasted. I am taking a different Chem that is equivalent to Chem 120.
I was accepted at UW (direct admit CS), after having taken about 80 Running Start credits. I focused on the pre-reqs for my UW major (and high school graduation courses). I’ll now be entering as a freshman, but easily have 1 to 1-1/2 years in transferable credits done already! Having focused on the pre-reqs now allows me to take higher-level courses at UW, graduate early, do internships, or get a double major. I never wanted an Associates degree; I just wanted to attend UW.
@CSforever I’m currently a running start student (junior in high school), trying to get direct admission to CS when I apply to UW next year. I’d like your input on what classes I should take for the best chance at CS direct admit:
(Classes taken so far)
APs (10th grade)
Calculus AB
Computer Science A
Fall 2017
English 101
Microeconomics
Spanish I
Winter 2018
Calculus III
Macroeconomics
Spanish II
Spring 2018 (planned)
Calculus IV
Gen. Engr. Physics I
Fundamentals of Computer Science II
Thanks in advance. Best of luck at UW.
@stockfish101 It looks like you have great courses, with everything covered. I had about the same classes (including Engr. Physics I and 2 years of AP CS). But, I only took math through Calc II, as I was taking english and music courses instead. On the CS website, I believe they recommend english, math, and science courses, but not necessarily CS. I completed everything early, so have no classes for Spring Qtr. of senior year, mostly since taking RS courses makes it too hard with the conflicting high school schedules, esp for graduation stuff. You may want to consider taking a 3rd year of Spanish before you graduate; I think 3 years of a foreign language for getting admitted to UW (in general) might be better than a 4th year of Calculus. I had 3 years of Japanese done in my junior year (thanks to RS). For your classes, overall, they look good to me for a CS DA! Aside from courses, you’ll want to have a high GPA (esp at the CC), be active in the community, and also have a high SAT or ACT. You may want to contact a UW CS-specific advisor to get their input on your classes to best help you get admitted.
Take Spanish III. If you end up with a major in the school of Arts & Sciences, the foreign language requirement is two to get in, three to get out. Two credits foreign language meets the admissions requirements to get in, but three credits gets you out of the requirement to take additional foreign language at UW.
I’m planning to take Spanish III in Fall… Actually, I’d really like to take it this Spring instead of CS 211 because I’m stuck in an inconvenient time class with poor teacher for CS. It’d work better to take CS in fall. But when I apply, UW will only see grades for my junior year. I think that it’d give me a better chance at DA if UW sees I got an A in CS211 rather than grade of “in progress” … What do you think?
Btw, how to get hold of a UW advisor? I’ve heard that students (even if admitted) have to wait till they start taking classes to talk to advisor. Thanks!
My DD was applying to a noncompetitive major, so we just asked for an appointment and showed up. If the advisor won’t meet with you (probably too much demand for CS), you can talk to an admissions officer at least for advice.