As the year comes to a close, students in the 10th grade find themselves with the ability to choose between taking IB or Running Start classes to further their education at a higher level. Getting the experience from the point of view of another student who has been through the same can be very beneficial and help get a better idea of what lies ahead.

IB which stands for International Baccalaureate is the higher-level academic program offered at only Renton High in this school district. With the option of taking some Ib classes (certificate) or a full schedule of Ib classes (diploma).

Running Start on the other hand offers the opportunity to take college classes at community colleges around the area and earn credits and potentially even earn an associate’s degree. Many students go to RTC, Bellevue College, or Highline College and can also take asynchronous classes.

I interviewed two running start students, Saniyah Y. & Mai-Huong N., and two Ib students, Kankanis & Adelynn W. to get their perspectives on each program and to understand better how these programs are beneficial for them.

Why did you choose running start over Ib?

I chose running start over IB because I hate the school environment and wanted to be somewhere outside of there while still having the opportunity to learn and get my credits. I also wanna get my AA by the end of high school.

I chose running start instead of IB because it aligns better with my learning style and future aspirations. Specifically, I prefer not to wake up at 6 am every day and be forced to study for 8 hours. Also, since I want to go to a four-year college in the future, running Start would allow me to transfer my college credits.

How has running start helped you towards your goals?

Running Start has helped me towards my goals because I have more free time to do my personal hobbies that are helping me figure out what career I wanna do and also like I said, helping me work towards my AA.

Running Start has helped me toward my goals because it provides various fascinating classes that help me discover which career path I want to pursue. I have found that my sociology and art classes were the most intriguing.

Why would you recommend this to another student/ what type of student would it be a good fit for?

I recommend running start to a student that likes to be more independent as there are not really any circumstances you get help from other students or tbh talk to them unless you take an in-person class. IB is also a really good program and is more harsh I feel like and I almost feel as if you can go further with an IB diploma. It really depends on how much you enjoy school and how much of a workload you want to carry.

I would only recommend running start to independent students. Time management skills and the ability to work alone are necessary for running start students, especially if you choose to do online classes. You are responsible for holding yourself accountable.

Describe your experience…

Running start is pretty tedious and time-consuming but not hard by any means. So far I enjoy running start. And I’m glad I didn’t do IB every day I show up for school. Contradicting myself it is time-consuming but it also gives you so much time like I’m making bank to go to work whereas if I did IB I couldn’t have worked as much.

My experience with running start has been incredible because I know how to balance my time well. I can stay organized with my tasks and still have the flexibility to enjoy my freedom.

Why did you choose Ib over Running Start?

I choose IB over Running Start because I want to experience the high school vibe and make a lot of friends

It can be used internationally which makes it easy if I want to study somewhere else in the world. It also has credits like running start and has the possibility to start me off as a sophomore in college.

How has Ib helped you towards your goals?

It helped me to get closer to my goals because I can get credit for college by it and I don’t have to pay more money for my college.

It has helped me realize that there is more that I love about different subjects such as business. It helps me leave my options open on whether I should major in business.

Why would you recommend this to another student/ what type of student would it be a good fit for?

I would recommend it to other students. The type of student that would be a good fit they have to be responsible and have the motivation to study for it.

It is like regular school, the workload isn’t too much and it doesn’t throw you into hard tasks. This is perfect for students who are looking to do something in the future but still want to be connected to the school community. Or they don’t quite know what they want to do yet.

Describe your experience…

I wouldn’t say it was bad but it was fun I know a lot of people from IB class and I get a lot of good experience from it too.

It can be a lot of work at times but it helps grow your bond with other peers. It is also not much more work than normal so you still have lots of free time to join clubs and spend time with friends. It allows time for school-life balance.

If you’re looking for independence, more free time, waking up later and having good time management skills, and potentially earning an AA running start may be better for you. But if you’re more for the traditional high school atmosphere with rigorous classes and also the ability to earn college credit you might want to look into IB.

While the stress of deciding between one or the other it is best to think about where you would feel the most comfortable and push towards the right path, which environment you feel the best in whether it’s the more independent learning environment of running start of the high school environment in Ib the choice is always up to you.

Sources:
https://rentonhs.rentonschools.us/counseling/running-start
https://www.rentonschools.us/learning-and-teaching/secondary-education/new-page
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Frtc.edu%2FRTClogos&psig=AOvVaw0OqvGEovTZhfCGxxagS8u2&ust=1685606644181000&source=im
ages&cd=vfe&ved=0CAQQjB1qFwoTCKi7haaMn_8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://www.ibo.org/