Running Start Students

Running Start offers qualified students in 11th and 12th grade the opportunity to take college courses while completing their high school degree. Students earn both high school and college credit for these courses, which they can then apply to a four-year degree. 

Many UW Bothell applicants participate in Running Start at some level.

Benefits of Running Start

  • Accelerate your path to a bachelor’s degree. 
  • Save money with tuition-free college courses.  
  • Explore areas of interest before you start college. 
  • Get a head start on college prerequisites for your intended major.

Admission to UW Bothell

Running Start students pursuing admission to the University of Washington Bothell in the autumn quarter of the year after they graduate from high school must apply as first-year students. Once you enroll as a student, your college credit may qualify you for sophomore or junior standing.  

If you start or continue college after leaving high school (excluding the summer term immediately following completion of high school), apply as a transfer applicant. 

Application Tips

  1. Apply to the UW Bothell using the Common Application. Be mindful of our application dates & deadlines.
  1. Running Start classes should be entered in the high school coursework grid, including anticipated coursework credit for 12th grade. Select the box “Dual enrollment with high school” to let us know the course is part of Running Start. For detailed instructions, refer to the step-by-step guide on how to complete the course grid.
  1. We do not require official transcripts at the time of application submission. However, it can be helpful to have an unofficial transcript copy to complete the coursework grid. Once admitted, UW Bothell requires that you submit an official transcript from each school/institution where you have attempted credits. For Running Start students, this includes both your high school and college transcripts. Running Start credits are transferred once we receive official and final transcripts. 

Academic Planning

Applicants should begin their academic planning as early as possible by working in partnership with high school and college advisers to make the most of their college credit. UW Bothell’s competitive majors have prerequisite courses that we encourage students to work on, and each major has a transfer planning worksheet. Following are some additional suggestions to help with academic planning: 

  • While focusing on prerequisites is encouraged, students can also work on general education requirements, otherwise known as Areas of Inquiry (AOI). Students are required to complete at least 15 credits in each AOI, which include Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Arts & Humanities. Learn more about bachelor’s degree requirements.  
  • If you plan on taking a significant number of Running Start courses, a Direct Transfer Agreement is a useful aid. These agreements ensure that most of your transfer credits fulfill the general education requirements expected for an undergraduate degree. For details visit the DTA page.  

For any questions, please reach out to our Welcome Desk or admissions counselors via the Contact Us page.