Not everyone was told these things when they did Running Start, but you may relate to a few. Also, maybe having an adviser would have helped answer some of these questions but they didn't give me one, so there's that.
1. No stable adviser
Maybe you did, maybe you didn't, but I wasn't given a named adviser while I was in Running Start. I had a counselor for my last name group while in high school and heard how everyone was given an adviser at college, there were even days off called "advising days" to meet these advisers but Running Start kids didn't get one where I went.
2. How Financial Aid works
Although financial aid usually isn't something you need to figure out while you're in Running Start, it's important for any college student to know. If you want to take more credits than the ones they allot you, you will want to figure out the financial aid at the college you're attending. Equally, if you continue going to this college past your Running Start time or transfer to a 4-year college you will want to know as well.
3. Community college does not equal university
This by no means is always true for every community college and every university but it is very true for mine. Attending community college for me was easier than high school but the jump to a 4-year university was a big one. As a senior, I do not feel like a University of Washington senior, by no means do I feel on par with the actual seniors in my major because two of my years in college were spent at community college.
4. Applying to a university may be tricky
Do I apply as a freshman because I'm graduating high school, or a junior because of my credits from Running Start? I was transferring credits, my two years at community college, and my associate degree, but do I apply as a transfer? For the most part, this answer was no. I had to just apply as a freshman, go to orientation as a freshman, be treated like a freshman, and then start right away as a junior by credits.
5. You have to figure out your major
If you are planning to go for your bachelor's degree after Running Start and you completed an entire two years in Running Start, you'll be starting as a junior which is generally when you already need to have your major decided. Figuring out classes as a teenager can be intimidating especially when you're trying to finish high school.
6. You better get your pre-requisites
This includes pre-requisites for your major as well as pre-requisites for classes you are interested in taking. This goes along with picking your major because if you transfer to a university and suddenly have you pick your major, you better have the pre-requisites accounted for.
7. Time in college will fly by
Those two years of Running Start while you were in high school really just felt like high school. Now, going to a university and finishing a bachelor's degree (if your credits all transferred) in two years will be a breeze. Time will fly by and if you want to finish your degree as fast as possible, it's a plus, but if you want to savor and enjoy your time at school, not so much.
8. Your professors may hate you
No joke, I had professors at community college that hated Running Start students. And if they didn't hate you, they generally did not care in the slightest that you were a Running Start student or about your high school schedule. I mean I guess they don't really have a reason to but it came to a surprise to me.
9. There will be a serious lack of communication between you and your high school
This is especially true if you aren't taking any classes at your high school in addition to your community college courses. The school (or maybe just my school) will change the schedule quite frequently and schedule mandatory standardized tests without a lot of communication to Running Start students. And having teachers that don't care that you're in Running Start? Yeah, that becomes a problem when your high school schedules your SAT during your chem lab.
10. You may be treated like some sort of genius or just a baby, usually a baby
As a 19-year old college senior, I can attest to this. No, I didn't skip any grades. No. I didn't take 25 credits a quarter. No, I'm not a genius. And yes, I am 19 years old. People will think you are really smart and ahead of the game or possibly just treat you like a baby because you're the youngest one in your class, but the reason for me graduating college just two weeks after my 20th birthday will be completely due to Running Start.
But in the end it was so worth it to hit the ground running with Running Start. I just wish I had known a few more things.
