<p>D will be a senior in the fall and has applied to the local U as a Running Start student. The school district and the U have an arrangement which allows certain h/s seniors the opportunity to take a class at the U and receive both h/s and college credit. When a student applies to Running Start their h/s transcript is sent to the U and the GC sends a letter (statement) of approval. </p>
<p>D was approved for Running Start (fall 2007) and is now receiving letters from the U essentially informing her that she has been accepted to the class of 2008. Will this prevent her from applying ED to another U? Depending on her h/s class schedule, she may NOT take a Running Start class.</p>
<p>It’s always best to ask questions like this directly to the university, rather than relying on boards like this. First-hand information directly from the source is always the best bet.</p>
<p>Based solely on what you have said, however, participating in this program doesn’t sound like it will affect her ability to apply elsewhere, including early decision, UNLESS:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>She sends in a deposit and intent to enroll form to this university for Fall 2008 before applying or hearing back from other colleges.</p></li>
<li><p>The university specifically tells her that participating in the running start program is a “binding commitment” to attend in Fall 2008.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’d also want to ask the university about what else she needs to do to complete her acceptance for Fall 2008, and what effect there will be if she doesn’t take the classes - does she then need to “apply” through the regular channels?</p>
<p>So, my advice is: Call the university and get the full details direct from the source.</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter - it sounds like she is a terrific kid!</p>
<p>Thanks Carolyn. D only wants to attend this U as a Running Start h/s student. She thought her transcript and letter of approval would be evaluated only in relation to Running Start not for consideration as a full time U student for 2008. She is wants to apply ED to another school. We hope she hasnt lost he chance because of Running Start.</p>
<p>I will contact the school she wishes to apply ED and make sure she isnt violating their rules.</p>
<p>I think that the programs like running start are “special” and you would NOT break the spirit of the ED rules, esp. as she has no intention of attending that U the next year.</p>
<p>TutuTaxi, my S has taken Running Start at our U for 2 years. He received the same notification as your D. It doesn’t interfere with college application process at all( S never even applied to our U) . There will be a note in your D file, identifying here as a RS student( it also means she will be the last to register for classes, will have to fill the RS forms every semester and so on) . Everybody who took RS classes and wanted to apply to U had to do it again as a senior.</p>
<p>Running Start is non-binding. UW just likes to get their licks in early. A surprisingly large number of Running Start kids never bother applying anywhere else.</p>
<p>RS classes were definitely different and somewhat harder( our HS is not that rigorous) . S was one of the few high schoolers in an ocean of college students, nobody knew or cared that he was younger. He enjoyed the experience. Also RS helped him realize what he wants( or doesn’t want ) to do when he goes to college “for real” .</p>
<p>Running Start enrollment is considered part of the high school curriculum for state graduation purposes. It won’t affect college applications at all, except that students may have courses that are transferable. (They will not be considered “transfer” applicants unless they will have finished an AA degree.)</p>
<p>The RS classes both my d’s have taken are significantly more difficult than the courses at the local h.s., or perhaps a better way to put it is that more is concentrated into a shorter period of time. A one-term credit in RS is given the equivalent of one year of work at the local h.s., and I believe this is true throughout Washington State.</p>
<p>Yes, Mimi The RS semester class is worth a full year h/s credit. The RS kids are the last students to register so scheduling may be the deciding factor. </p>
<p>I do wish the U would not confuse the h/s students by making it appear they have applied and been accepted for the following year’s freshman class in addition to RS.</p>
<p>Here in Minnesota the state university also likes PSEO students. To the best of my knowledge, they make clear to all the PSEO students that they are HIGH SCHOOL students, not already admitted to college. But they have a special on-the-spot admissions day early in October of a student’s senior year for PSEO students (and for students in the UMTYMP accelerated math program). The word on the street is that 97 percent of PSEO students who bring application materials to the on-the-spot admission day geat admitted on the spot. So if your child does well in Running Start, at the very least, if Washington is like Minnesota, then you have your child’s “safety” school firmly in hand.</p>
<p>I agree tokenadult. The RS U would be a good safety for D. </p>
<p>Another question If D is applying ED to one U does she need to wait for a rejection before applying to another U, which has rolling admissions? Obviously if she is accepted there would be no need to apply to her safety U.</p>
<p>Generally speaking, no (unless the school is “Single Choice Early Decision”). You and offspring sign a document saying you will withdraw all applications (and abjure all acceptances) should offspring be accepted ED. Check the language on the application itself.</p>
<p>Most schools allow you to apply ED to them and EA or rolling to others, without waiting for rejection from the ED school. But you need to double-check on the all schools’ websites to make sure you follow their rules. (For example, Georgetown is only EA, but doesn’t allow you to apply ED anywhere else.)</p>
<p>The cases I have checked (mostly single-choice EA or ED colleges) all seem to allow unlimited applications to rolling admission colleges (typically, state universities). But as written above, check the rules of the colleges most interesting to the applicant in your family.</p>
) to do when he goes to college “for real” .</p>