If you participated in Running Start
during high school...

Congratulations on your hard work and academic accomplishments while in Running Start! As a WWU freshman with Running Start experience, your transition may feel similar to that of a new freshman and a transfer student. Here is some information to help you to capitalize on your hard work and continue developing your academic goals and interests at WWU.

Academic Goals and Advising

• Think back to your academic experiences and goals during Running Start and use them to establish academic goals as a WWU student.
• Ask questions and seek advising. While you are accustomed to navigating the college experience independently, bringing a lot of credit is an asset and may be complicated. You may want to meet with advisors a couple times per quarter in your first year at WWU.
• Where to go for academic advising:
• Academic Advising Center—for general academic advising & choosing a major
• Academic Departments—advising for majors & minors
• Career Services Center—choosing a major & career exploration guidance

Know How Your Credits Count

• Make sure WWU has your final transcript from your community college (including final quarter grades and degree awarded, if applicable).
• Avoid duplication or unnecessary course work.
• Check out your Transfer Equivalency Report (TER) to find out how your community college classes count at WWU. This is important to see if you have completed prerequisites and GURs.
• If you complete an A.A. or direct transfer agreement (DTA) your GURs are finished
• With an A.S. your GURs are not complete
• Your community college classes and grades may count toward your chosen major or minor
• Degree Evaluation in Web4U allows you to complete a What If Analysis to see how your coursework applies to different majors and/or minors.

Key Policies to Know

• Your GPA does not transfer to WWU. You establish your WWU GPA based on your academic performance in your 1st quarter at WWU.
• WWU expects students to choose a major when they have completed 90 credits and requires students to declare a major when they have completed 105 credits. Read the policy about declaring a major in the Catalog.

Explore Majors at WWU

• Many students have ideas of possible majors and careers while they are involved in Running Start. Now is the time to start connecting those ideas to possible majors at WWU.
• Keep in mind some majors have prerequisite classes, a GPA requirement, and an application process/deadline.
• Explore the Major Guides
• See what majors WWU offers.
• Learn how to declare a major—each Major Guide explains the specific requirements to declare that major and includes contact information for department advisors.
• Explore Academic Departments
• Check out the department websites to learn about the professors and the opportunities each department offers its students.
• Meet with faculty and staff advisors to discuss the opportunities and steps to declare the major.
• Not sure what you want to study? Have questions?
• Schedule a Choosing a Major appointment with an Academic Advising Center or Career Services Center advisor.
• Review the Academic Advising Center's comprehensive Choosing a Major website.
• Check out What Can I do with a Major in…?
• See what types of first jobs WWU grads get with different majors.
• Complete an assessment of your personality and/or interests as they relate to careers and majors.

Next Steps to Maximize your WWU Experience

• Get involved on campus through the Associated Students (AS) clubs and programs.

• Build your resume experience through internships, research projects, and volunteer experience—the Career Services Center can help.

• Connect with your professors during office hours.

• Take advantage of resources like the Tutoring Center, Math Center and, Writing Center.