I’m a high school junior doing my first year of full-time running start. I hope/plan to get my AA degree in integrated studies since I’m not quite sure what career/major i want to go into yet (i was thinking somewhere in computer science or healthcare?) and I just had a few questions…
1.) does UW like to accept running start students?
2.) what other colleges in Washington and out of Washington accept running start credits? (what colleges have you been accepted into for those of you who have done running start?)
3.) what would my chances of getting in be? (i know it’s kinda hard since I’m only a junior but i’m just curious 
)
- i plan on taking both the act and sat (so far on practice SAT tests I’ve been getting about 1200 or 1300 out of the new 1600 test) but I hope hope hope to get around 1500?? although i’m not sure if that’s very likely and hopefully at least 30 on the act)
- my high school gpa from freshman and sophomore year is 3.97 and my current college gpa is a 4.0 but i’ve only completed one quarter so i’m not sure what it will be by the time i apply hopefully above 3.7
- i dont do any sports cause i suck at sports but i’m in a few clubs, i’ve been in: congress (asb), TSA (Technology Student Association), HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), Key Club, and National Honor Society. I’ve gained quite a few hours through both honor society and key club so i think that’s good?
4.) how do i get teacher recommendations? I know UW doesn’t require any but for other colleges i’m afraid I’ll need some but doing running start i don’t really interact with many of my high school teachers and i don’t think my freshman/sophomore year teachers remember me too well and i’m not sure if my college professors know me (can you even ask college professors for recommendations? I’m not sure 
)
5.) if you don’t mind sharing, i’m curious to see those who got accepted to UW who did running start what your gpa, extra curricular, and sat/act scores look like? sorry if it’s a lot to ask i just want to know what kind of grades or scores i’m aiming for cause i really want to go to UW
defiantly don’t have to answer all my questions, i’ve just always questioned my decision to do running start and i really hope it’s worth it! i know it’s a lot but i appreciate any answers to any question!
Thank you so much!
Hi! I cannot answer your questions but I have a question for you (I hope you can advice me). Is running start hard for you? Why did you plan to do it? How is the environment (rigor, professors, students)?
Thanks! TBH, you asked great answers and I wish to know their answers too. Good luck!
I am a senior doing running start in Bellevue College.
If you get your associates degree you get something called a DTA. A DTA (direct transfer agreement) means that if you complete your associates degree at Bellevue College or some other CC (not sure if other CC’s have it), UW will not require you to take any general education classes regardless of whether your credits transfer there. So, if you are admit, under any circumstances, the minimum you will have to do is 2 years there (but most if not all credits do transfer anyway). DTA applies to all state 4 year colleges in WA.
I’m a CS major and I can tell you running start is fantastic. All my credits from Bellevue College transfer to Umass Amherst for me, which has a very good CS program. So far I have not gotten denied to the school I have applied (1 waitlisted) (7 decisions received). Umass was the only school that told me if my credits would transfer before enrolling. Most of the schools I applied have an acceptance rate between 30-55.
I haven’t received my decision back yet, but here are my stats anyway:
28 ACT
3.92 CC GPA
3.86 HS GPA
Hope this helped!
My daughter did use Running Start profs for recommendations. Take time to get to know your teachers, and maybe try to take more than one class from the same teacher if possible.
Most colleges will give at least some credits, but generally only in the state system will you be able to look at an equivalency guide and match course numbers and see exactly what transfers as what in advance.
Here is UW’s: http://admit.washington.edu/EquivalencyGuide
When picking classes, try to do prereqs for your major. Running Start students apply as freshmen, not as transfers, so don’t worry if you can’t fit in all the classes on the pretransfer worksheets. They understand that there are classes required by your high school, too, for example. You can still get in, but you might not be on track to graduate early. The pretransfer worksheets are here:
http://admit.washington.edu/apply/transfer/academic-planning-worksheets
I’ve received my decision back, accepted, and did running start through Bellevue College. 1) A UW advisor told me they look very highly upon RS applicants. 3) I think you have a pretty good shot at getting in. I would try to keep your BC GPA at a 4.0 though if you can. 4) I got recommendations from HS teachers and bosses!
potterhead78 - Here are the answers I have. My daughter is about to start her last quarter in Running start.
- UW loves Running start students.
- D got accept direct admission to the engineering program at UW, PLU, Whitman. Out of state she got accepted to Montana State, Colorado School of Mines, Santa Clara, Lafayette. The ivy league decisions come out in a week.
- I don’t know why some get into UW and some don’t. Practice, practice, practice for the SAT. Keep you 4.0 going at Running Start. Take as hard of classes as you can. Hit the math and science hard, even if you are not going into it, and use the tutoring center often at the college for help to keep you 4.0 going. Don’t worry about the AA degree as much as taking classes that are needed at UW, while taking as challenging classes as you can. MyD did not get an AA degree and has gotten into every place she has applied, so far.
- My D developed relationships with her professors at Running Start, by sitting in the front and by visiting during office hours for help on homework. They wrote her recommendations.
D’s GPA UW 4.0 (including HS and RS), SAT 1420 - extracurricular - she is a snow ski instructor, tutors at a math resource center, lots of volunteers hours, and competes at the national level in her sport.
Just wanted to update- I got Direct Admission into the UW Foster School of Business. I think UW looks highly upon running start students IF you do well in your classes- I had a 4.0 for both years at BC.
Tulipheart - I decided to do running start because my mom really wanted me to get 2 free years of college haha and also because I didn’t really like high school, it wasn’t really for me. So far I’ve only finished 2 quarters and it hasn’t been too hard, however I just started my spring quarter (and am taking some more challenging classes) and let’s just say it’s day 3 and i’m already stressed but it would be the same as if I were in high school and is nothing I can’t handle! The environment is pretty good! Not as chaotic as high school for sure, most professors are pretty nice but everything is a lot more independent. Overall I haven’t regretted doing running start! Hope this helps (: