How College Is Different From High School

Your Student will find that college is very different from high school. Running Start is a good fit for high school students who:

Are ready for the challenge of college-level coursework and increased personal freedom.
Are motivated to participate in the college environment and have the maturity to do so.
Seek academic challenges not offered at their high school.

You can help prepare your child for Running Start by helping set the following expectations:

Students should check their student email on a regular basis for important announcements.
Students are responsible for arranging their college class schedule, registering, and/or withdrawing from classes.
Students are required to turn in an Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) each quarter, signed by their high school counselor and a parent. This is important because this is the form that pays the tuition.
Students are expected to participate fully in all course activities, including labs and field trips. Clark’s spring quarter usually starts during the high school’s spring break, and students need to attend Clark classes.
Running Start is not 100% free. Students pay for books, transportation, and some class fees.
Students are responsible for meeting all high school graduation requirements, and should meet with their high school counselor each quarter to discuss this.
Students should complete their high school requirements either fall or winter quarter of their senior year (in other words, before spring quarter!).
Grades earned in Running Start should be taken seriously, as they will be recorded on the high school transcript and factored into the high school GPA, in addition to creating a permanent college record.