I was a Running Start alum as well (along with many of my friends). If you're in Pullman, you can take courses at Washington State University. It was incredible for me - for my friends who went to UW or WSU after graduation, they got 2 years of college credit and many graduated early. I went out of state and was able to skip introductory courses, and having already been to college in high school meant I was way more mature than many other students.
Honestly, for the cost of the program, it is extremely impactful. I didn't feel like I missed out on high school much either - I still took half my classes there.
I guess to counter the idea that it hurts on college applications: I can't say anything definite, of course, but I'm fairly certain taking physics at WSU looks much better on an application than taking your high school's physics. You look like a more ambitious and capable student.
You lived in Pullman and didn't attend WSU after high school? I'm quite curious about this. I thought WSU was awesome and if I could have gone without as much debt (living at home) I would have in a heartbeat! Also, the Palouse is such a fantastic place. Pullman in summers was the best. Were you just tired of it by the time you graduated?
The Palouse is really beautiful, but honestly I felt like I'd kind of grown past Pullman by the time I finished high school - you can only go bowling at Zeppoz so many times :)
Honestly, for the cost of the program, it is extremely impactful. I didn't feel like I missed out on high school much either - I still took half my classes there.
I guess to counter the idea that it hurts on college applications: I can't say anything definite, of course, but I'm fairly certain taking physics at WSU looks much better on an application than taking your high school's physics. You look like a more ambitious and capable student.