Choosing the Right College Courses as a Running Start Student

By Ready WA Storyteller Lauren K.

As a Running Start student, deciding what college courses to take can be difficult or even daunting at times. You may feel overwhelmed by the number of courses available or unsure which courses would best benefit you and your education. As a Running Start student myself, I have definitely had my fair share of these feelings. Over time, I managed to work through these feelings and even discovered some important information I wish I knew beforehand. In this article, I will be sharing what I learned through some helpful tips and offering pieces of advice for anyone deciding what college courses to take.

Tip #1: Determine Which Course Modality Works Best

There are many different types of course modalities to choose from including in-person, online asynchronous, and hybrid. Choosing the correct course modality can be just as important as choosing which course to take. These modalities determine whether a course has scheduled meetings, where those meetings take place (e.g., on campus or online), and how much of the overall coursework is completed online or in-person, or a mix of both. Figuring out which course modality works best will allow you to get the most out of your education by accounting for personal preferences and schedules. In my experience, I decided to take only online courses because they offered the best flexibility, and I know I work best at home.

Tip #2: Align Courses with High School Graduation Requirements

If you are in the Running Start program, you should definitely prioritize taking courses that align with high school graduation requirements. To figure out what courses to take, it would be best to identify which credits are still needed to graduate. Since you have likely completed some credits during your freshman or sophomore year, contacting a high school counselor or reviewing graduation requirements would be ideal for figuring out which credits still need to be completed. Afterwards, you can use various resources, such as a high school equivalency guide or your school counselor, to identify which college courses fulfill your remaining credits. For example, a college anthropology course may fulfill a high school science credit.

Tip #3: Align Courses with Program or Future Area of Study

You may also be able to align your college courses with your intended major or program. You may already have an idea of what major or program you want to pursue, so researching and adding these courses to your schedule can essentially “kill two birds with one stone,” especially if the course also completes high school graduation requirements. Before I began the Running Start program, I knew I wanted to achieve my Associate of Arts (AA) degree, so I chose courses that would help me complete it while also meeting my high school graduation requirements. If you’re interested in a science major, for example, you may consider taking courses such as biology, nutrition, or chemistry. Similar to my last tip, college advisors are a great resource for this and can help you identify courses that best relate to your program or area of study.

Tip #4: Research the Professor

When determining what college course to take, I would highly recommend researching professors to see which one best aligns with your preferences. Sometimes, there can be multiple sections of the same course to choose from and researching professors can help narrow down the decision. Personally, I like to use the website Rate My Professors, where students can read reviews, which can give insight into the level of difficulty, overall ratings, and feedback from previous students. This is a tool I use frequently, and it has definitely helped me in my decision-making process.

Tip #5: Register for Courses Early

My final tip is to register for courses early. This helps ensure that you can enroll in your desired courses. From what I have seen, courses tend to fill up very quickly and you may not be able to get into the ones you want if you register too late. Colleges will typically let you know what day you can begin registering for courses, and I recommend registering on that same day if possible. This process can help alleviate any last-minute stress and give you enough time to research courses in advance.

In conclusion, determining which course modality works best, choosing courses that align with high school graduation requirements, selecting courses related to future programs or areas of study, researching professors, and registering early are strategies that can help you decide which courses to take are all factors I consider when I register for my own courses, and they help me feel confident in the choices I make. Additionally, these tips can help you get a better idea of which college you want to attend as a Running Start student. For example, you may choose a college that offers courses with your modality preference or courses related to your intended program or area of study. Finally, if you have any questions or concerns about what courses to take, make sure to contact a high school counselor or college advisor. They can be super helpful!

Thank you for reading!