I bet that a lot of you think I chose it because it’s Harvard.
You’re only partly right. The name did have an effect on my choice but only tangentially so.
I was intrigued by the idea that a school like Harvard would offer distance education courses for credit and even more suprised that they offered degrees.
But it was much more important for me to find a good fit between what I was trying to achieve and what the school offered. To be successful, I needed to join a school that was targeting students who were like me: working adults with full schedules. For me, Harvard Extension was that school.
I’m often asked why I didn’t choose to attend a local school instead. The best answer that I can give is that they didn’t have a functioning and robust program for distance education combined with a rigorous academic level. Distance education is such a huge factor for me that I’m now biased against any school that hasn’t embraced this method of learning. It saves so much time and solve so many problems for people that I can’t imagine why more schools aren’t taking advantage or expanding their programs.
It isn’t hard to find distance-ed programs. There are plenty of them that are out there. The real challenge is finding a school that doesn’t treat them like an afterthought. That’s why it’s important to focus on the program itself rather than the name on the diploma. In the end, nobody will care where you went to school. They are much more interested in who you turned out to be.
I saw this article in the paper. The choice quote:
When I was 20 an older friend predicted, “Ten years from now, no one will care where you went to school. In fact, no one will ask.” Ridiculous, I thought. She turned out to be right. Where you live between the ages of 18 and 22 won’t define who you are. One day soon, the proud new college decal on your family car’s rear window will start looking a little uncool.
The author is correct. It’s not really that important where you went to school. It’s more important that the school is the right one for you. For me, that happened to be Harvard. Your ideal school match might be different. Don’t get too worked up about it.
Of course, when you’re on campus and looking at all those historic buildings, it’s hard not to allow yourself to believe the fantasy of it all. Just don’t let yourself be fooled. A degree from Harvard won’t change who you are. I have to keep reminding myself of that too.
Now that I’m looking for a graduate program to continue my studies, I’m faced with the same sorts of questions: What place is going to be the best fit for me? Where will I feel most comfortable? Where do I think I’ll be able to learn the most?
I’m torn between continuing on at Harvard Extension and their ALM in IT program and pursuing the Columbia MS in Computer Science option. On paper, the Columbia program is very impressive. I just couldn’t help feeling like the place was just a little bit too cold for me.
I might just be nervous about changing schools at some point. I just felt like I should put it out there so that people don’t think that the choice of where to go to school is always so automatic (i.e. pick the best name). Choosing where you will spend the next several years in intense study isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Spend some time on it and try to choose wisely. Don’t let anyone else’s opinion drive yours. Make your own choice.
After all, it’s your life.
I am seeking to pursue my Under Graduate degree at Harvard University Extension School. After days of researching, I have came across your blog and very glad. It would a life changing support if you can help me with some questions I have. Please feel free and do call me at 214-xxx-xxxx [Ed: number deleted] anytime of the day.
Hello, I also was very grateful for your blog! I feel as though the stress of the GREs, combined with looking for the precise program fit to my needs is overwhelming! I would love to correspond with you if you have the chance, I have left my e-mail
Thanks!
Feel free to ask your questions. I’m happy to give you my help.
I am a Detroiter coming to live in Boston or Cambridge I guess, however, you want to call it. I have basic questions about the life there. The people, the locals and the school dorms or those extremely expensive apts. I really want to go for the connections I know I will make in the long run.
Boston is expensive. Most folks who move there live a bit farther out and take the red line into Cambridge to go to school.
Hi Richard,
Thank you. I agree with you; this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. I am at a crossroad in my life and am forced to making an important decision. It would be great to briefly talk with you, since I have some questions for you. I have left me email if you would kindly respond.
Thank You Very Much! Good Day!
Tj
I have decided to stay at Ashford University and take a few courses in the Harvard Extension program. I think diversity in an education is important, both the courses taken and the Universities attended, as long as a sensible amount of credits are attained. Eventually I would want to take as many on campus courses as I could which leads me to my question: If I were to do really well and graduate in the Extension program would that help in my chances in becoming a future matriculated (or non second degree earning at first) student in Harvard College?
I did read your essay and I did see that some coursework is reuired on campus for degree seekers and that if we are real nice to the professors we may have additional visits, I figured I would take the line of questioning one step further.
I am 29 years old and newly married, but I still have ambitions.
Jacob,
I seem to remember that there were a few students who were able to gain admittance to the College after taking coursework in a degree program at HES. As I recall, they were not able to transfer any of the work they did at HES into the College. They started off at square one. Even so, examples are exceedingly rare.
HES is designed for adults. Working adults. Sometimes with families. The College is for 18-22 year olds. Everyone at the College lives in the dorms. See the difference? Why would you want to, as a 29 year old, live with a bunch of 18 year olds?
It helps to remember that the HES programs aren’t of the prep school variety. It’s not a mechanism to prepare you to go to some other university, even if that’s what a lot of students do. The degree programs at HES are full and complete degree programs in their own right. The school isn’t really a feeder to the College. It’s a part of the University proper. Read up on the school on Wikipedia and you’ll get a better feel for what I mean.
If you live in the Boston area, I’d have a look at what they have to offer. By far, the best part of HES is gaining access to the libraries and faculty. The opportunity to take Harvard courses with Harvard profs (albeit via distance) is a superb benefit.
If you really want to go to Harvard but don’t want to do HES, do well in undergrad and apply to one of the graduate schools.
Richard,
excellent points. That answers my question. Performing well in both collegiate programs could improve my chances of getting into a graduate program in Harvard College, and even if that did not happen, the program would be very rewarding. Yes you are correct, as a married working adult I would not want to be living in the dorm setting.
Bravo Ric…I love your comments.
The reason I am going to start taking classes at Harvard Spring 2009 is because I just wanted to add more of a flavorable education to my repetoire.
I am a behaviorist by nature and so Harvard’s psychology classes appeal to me. – All the best Richard on your choice of grad school.
I ‘m sure you will pick the best one for you.
Sincerely, Michelle
Richard,
Yours is in its own right is the most honest review of HES that I have read. Kudos to you.
I was enticed into a career on Wall Street midway through college and never finished my degree, after a few years of laboring I decided to pursue my passion and worked hard at a career as a classical vocalist. Now I am married with children and slightly under 40, and feel as through my maturation process that “the jig is up.” I lament never finishing my degree and honestly, the thought of maintaining a travel log of being apart from my family is not very attractive any longer. I would like to pursue a course of study in Govt./Law. I have excelled in the two online courses that I have taken at HES with a perfect record, but still am curious about what weight does the Harvard night school carry qualitatively? The quantitative aspects do not lie- but is the core value of the qualitative course of study (using the overall value and quality of course offerings, professors, and program requirements as factors) equivalent to what the expectations are in the kingdom of the upper echelon, or are we to liken it to a “Harvard Community College”?
Thanks for your blog and all the best.
Jerome,
I’m going to try and answer your questions as best I can.
First, let me tell you that you are absolutely not alone. Don’t for a second feel like you made the wrong choice to follow the path you did. Whatever led you to the life you have now, that’s all history. Keep looking forward. HES is my third try to finish my education. I sometimes feel like I missed the boat and I grow wistful remembering my early college years as a 19-year old. It’s hard sometimes not to be jealous of the youngsters in Harvard Yard who are in one of the best places to get a head start on their lives. Then I remember how unfocused and chaotic my life was and how hard it was to get a clear picture of who I was and who I wanted to be.
I’m all past that now.
Second, studying Government and Law aren’t beyond you even at this stage in your life. If for nothing else, you can pursue a degree and focus on those subjects to see if you really do desire further study. Law schools take in plenty of people in their 30-s and 40-s. Politics is filled with people who got into the game late in life. Government institutions need your life experience. Focus on your strengths.
Finally, as far as HES goes, keep in mind that the program that they offer is largely based on a liberal arts curriculum. As such, it’s going to focus on some mix of the humanities, writing, and critical thinking rather than some of the pre-something programs offered by other schools to prepare students for professional programs like medicine and law. That said, they also (for reasons which should be clear based on their intended audience) offer a range of courses that are primarily focused on teaching a specific career-related skill like programming with a certain tool or performing financial analysis. If you examine the course offerings of the College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, you’ll note that their offerings are much more theory-based. They teach principles and leave the ultimate acquisition of any specific skill up to the student during their career. The typical HES student is already well-entrenched in a career and is trying to either adapt to the changing requirements of their profession or prepare themselves for a new one. A significant fraction of students are simply trying to complete a degree for which they will see no immediate impact on their career. They simply wanted to complete their degree in a way that didn’t force them to give up their career or impact their family life too greatly.
Some folks will point to this distinction as evidence that the College is superior to HES. They see a school that doesn’t proactively perform admit/deny actions on specific students as somehow lesser, as if something everyone can do (or some school everyone can attend) isn’t worthwhile.
Those people are wrong. If HES degrees were easy to get, then half of Boston would have them by now. Cost certainly isn’t a barrier. Neither is access. The only probable answer is that the program is difficult and uncertain enough that only those who are truly committed can ever complete it. That’s not to say that it’s impossible; nothing could be further from the truth. But a successful student at HES is going to be a unique kind of character: someone who cared enough about their education to do it mostly on their own along a path that isn’t easy to complete by any reasonable standard.
Try not to think of the College as providing access to the upper echelon. Many of the students there were well entrenched in the higher reaches of society before they ever set foot in Cambridge.
I found Harvard to be welcoming but presenting a certain expectation that I would understand what standard was required of me when it came to coursework. That didn’t change while I was taking classes. Instead, I changed to meet the standard.
At HES, if you choose wisely, you can take classes that are offered simultaneously to the College students. You’ll be graded by the same standards and you’ll be competing with the College students for grades. Take that as a challenge. Few people are aware of this important detail. Same class. Same Professor. Same work. Same tests.
Whether or not some potential friend, colleague, mate, or employer will see the value of your experience is almost completely up to them. The best way to ensure that they have a high opinion of Harvard Extension is for them to have a high opinion of you.
Richard-
The profundity of your answer proves to me that indeed Harvard produces qualitative graduates. My biggest challenge that I face is putting together a package that allows me to travel from NYC to Cambridge and back in one day/night, for I am responsible for bringing my children to their respective schools in the am. I am tentative and it is my own prodigious sepulcher that grows with my procrastination. The ” special student status” is indeed attractive as I am keen on taking Moral Reasoning with Sandel. Keep your eyes on the prize and thank you.
Quote– “A degree from Harvard won’t change who you are. ”
Ha– yea right— a degree from Harvard will make a poor man, a rich man– a middle class to an upperclass etc etc etc
Its a fact— 99% of all Harvard grads are working within 3 months of graduation— top jobs at that— when I graduated with my Bachelors, I was unemployed for 8 months until I finally landed a job.
Kevin,
The last time I was at Harvard I met a new Ph.D from MIT who was having a hard time getting a job. He wanted to know if I could help.
If you’re worried about getting a job, then maybe you’re right. Harvard grads are heavily recruited mainly because they confer bragging rights. Another reason is because there are networks of folks in top positions at top firms who extend their personal network by hiring grads from their alma mater.
But the essence of my statement is correct. If you were an immoral, selfish person then Harvard won’t cure you of that. If you were shy and unconfident, a degree from Harvard might help convince you otherwise, but then again, it might provide opportunities to avoid people by concentrating on the minutia of some obscure subject.
I can tell you this: completing a degree…any degree…will convince an employer that you are capable of doing sustained work and seeing a project through to completion. Absent anything else, that’s usually all they have to go on when making a hiring decision.
And I doubt your facts. Quite a few students leave Harvard and go on to graduate school. And not every student who goes to Harvard College gets into Harvard Medical School. One of my colleagues is married to one. Not every graduate of Harvard College gets into Harvard Business School. I know plenty of those. And there are tons that apply and never get into Harvard Law.
Don’t read more into the degree than is there.
Jerome,
Travel between Cambridge and NYC is easily achieved with a combination of Amtrak and the MBTA Red Line. They interconnect at Boston South Station.
My suggestion is that if you need to take courses on campus, try to pick two classes that are on the same evening so you can cut the amount of time you spend in Cambridge down to one night a week. I did that, and I was flying up every week from Washington, DC.
Another suggestion is to see if you can bring the kids along. I don’t know if you have a car, but an entire semester is only 16 weeks. You might find that there are more options than you think for bringing your children along to Cambridge. Ask the HES office for suggestions. Your problem is not unique. Lots of students at HES have children too.
hi…i need to do this course E-100 from harvard extension school.and i have no clue how to go about it..are there any pre-requisites for this course? do let me know if u cld help.thanx
Hello Richard, I am a single mom and completed my undergrad with NU and wanted to start the graduate process and a friend of mines forwarded me the info regarding the HES program. I thought wow a program that doesn’t require you taking the GMAT. What does this mean? Needless to say I was a little skeptical and really wanted to make sure this is the right decision for me and my family. I just want to make sure a graduate degree through HES is as good as me taking a standardized test and getting a decent score and trying to apply/get into a MBA program.
Dawnesha,
The choice of school really depends on your goals. The GMAT isn’t too terrible a test to take and I encourage you to take it.
That said, HES is really designed for students that have a problem giving up a family or career to attend school. The closest analogue is the idea of “night-school.”
Since the students at HES tend to be older and more accomplished in their careers, traditional admissions practices (like undergrad GPAs and test scores) aren’t really useful as a barometer of a student’s probability of success.
Instead, HES used the GPA you receive AFTER you take three of their classes. What this means is that you might try the three classes and find that you can’t get good enough grades to qualify for admission to the program. The courses for graduate programs are about $2K each so you are taking a risk there if you aren’t sure you can do the work.
One more thing: the programs at HES aren’t strictly pre-professional or even professional in nature. There is a heavy emphasis on liberal arts type coursework that highlights and strengthens the critical thinking skills that sometimes get list in other programs.
One more thing: you will probably need to complete a thesis in order to graduate. It’s a big hurdle and probably the biggest reason that people don’t finish the degree. Some have compared it to a Ph.D dissertation requirement in other programs. Don’t forget to consider that in your deliberations.
I can’t make the decision for you. Plenty of people try and fail to complete a graduate degree at HES. Ultimately, how you feel about getting the degree from HES indicates a particular desire you have and whether HES is the right way to satisfy it. Just keep in mind that at this stage of your life, a degree from Harvard probably won’t hurt you and might even help. Just don’t get too caught up with the name when thinking about how the school might fit into your plans.
I wish you good luck.
Jerome,
I am married with two kids and a full time job, but I still found the time to graduate from HES — ALM in Management.
There are many alternatives, but if you must be home each morning to ferry your kids to school then you only have one — drive to Cambridge.
I drove to Cambridge, from Northern New Jersey, once or twice a week for the last two years. The drive each way was over 3 1/2 hrs. It was not easy. It was not fun, but on June 5th I received my Harvard diploma.
HES classes start after 5 pm with the last class ending at 9:30 pm. To graduate in two years, I took an average of 3 classes per semester. Actually, I had 4 classes during my last semester. You can take a lesser class load, but your time-commuting will expand.
Plan your courses carefully, as you will want to take two courses in a day to avoid driving x-number of hours to school. I found it difficult to align 5:30 with 7:30 classes. There is a plethora of classes at HES, and this was the major reason for going to Harvard in the evening.
Good luck!
Erwin
The Harvard Extension website states that the transcript does not distinguish between on campus and e-learning.
Do the degrees say Harvard or do they specify extension school?
The diploma indicates “Harvard University” and the degree is from the Extension School indicated by the wording on the diploma.
The diploma isn’t markedly different from the others received at Harvard but does state the school.
Is that a problem?
Hello Richard,
Thank you for your blog and the abundance of information concerning HES!
My dilemma for the most part has to start my degree from ground zero, all over again with no transferability from pervious colleges.
Moreover, I am an international Flight Attendant with little or no time to come to Massachusetts or a proctor sight not knowing where I will be for final exams.
Yes, the Harvard name is an intriguing one however; nevertheless as you stated three prerequisite courses that will determine if ones capable of attending HES are quite pricey – especially in today economy.
As poster Jacob Mack pointed out, “Staying at Ashford University” while taking HES courses might be best. Even the University of Phoenix seems to be a choice (considering the COO and board members of Ashford University are graduates of UoP). So much money and so little time…!
I sincerely want to take this opportunity to attend HES, but so many variables’ are at play here.
Again, thank you for the blog; regrettably, I cannot take the gamble with my hard-earned money at this time.
-Gary
As all other graduate schools in Harvard, the diploma is in Latin. There will be two differences between HES and , say, Graduate School of Arts and Science diplomas– HES is a Liberal Arts Master and GSAS is an Arts Master (in Latin). The other difference is the school — HES — appears at the bottom under the HES Dean’s signature.
HES is one of the fourteen degree granting schools in Harvard. After graduation you enjoy all the privileges as any other Harvard Alumni.
As with any school choice, you must decide if HES is right for you.
Hello,
I am a 20-year-old pursuing my bachelors degree. I have already completed two years of my undergraduate degree at a traditional 4-year liberal arts college, but can no longer attend due to the cost of tuition. Long term I am planning on going to law school. I am wondering:
1) How a bachelors degree obtained from HES compares to that obtained at another 4-year college or university?
2) Whether or not graduates of the bachelors program at HES typically go on to graduate or professional school?
and
3) How a bachelors degree from HES compares with that of a bachelors from Harvard College? Is a degree from HES seen by graduate schools and employers as akin to a degree from Harvard?
Thanks!
1. It depends on what you mean by compares. A degree from HES is a 4-year degree the same as any received from any other 4-year school.
2. Many, many graduates of HES go on to graduate school. HES graduates have attended some very prestigious graduate programs, including those at Harvard.
3. This is a much more difficult question. The education is certainly comparable but the prestige from the degree is probably not. It’s important to think about what you are really after: a degree or a pedigree. They aren’t the same thing. You’ll get a very good education at HES but not a lot of socialization or hand-holding. You also won’t live in a dorm room with the progeny of blue-bloods. Decide what is important to you and make your choice.
A pre-law society exists at HES do at least a few others are working hard to do exactly what you are looking to do.
Hi!
My name is Jessika!
The HES Master’s in Technology and I can do this from my Rocky Mountain home ? I can ski Vail and attend Harvard in the same day- are you kidding ? I have searched and searched and this is by far the best option for me to get my grad degree from a top shelf school. I am thankful to Harvard for providing the option! I am reading some of the other comments on this board and I just want to say many of you seem to be hung on the concept that the ES is somehow ‘less’ prestigious – not at all in my opinion. Go on the internet and surf for online degrees, wow, a lot of real junk out there in virtual schools and strip-mall colleges. That’s what you need to stay away from. I think that if one of the top rated educational institutions on the planet extends their hand to those of us who are ‘geographically dis-advantaged’ (ha) we should embrace it as a huge opportunity. I will. Cheers.
Hi, my question is regarding the graduate degree in management from Harvard extension School, do employers look at you as a harvard graduate after the degree or are you considered less?What sort of jobs do graduates of harvard extension school hope to get?
That depends entirely on the employer. As far as Harvard is concerned, you are a an alumni.
Hi Richard,
I’m wondering if I want to enroll in ALM of Management, I have to take the risk of studying 3 prerequisite courses right? Can you list which of these 3 courses should I take?
Is the diploma written HES or just harvard university? Personally, do you think the quality is really that of Harvard?
I’m still a traditional student by age because I’m still a senior in MSU and thinking about going somewhere for my master. So, if I successfully pass those 3 courses, is there anything else that I should do to get into the program? IS it guaranteed that I can get in with those 3 courses?
Can you take all the course on campus instead? How about living in Cambridge? Are rent that expensive? How much will be for a typical 1 bedroom or 2 beds per month?
Thanks in Advance
Francis,
You have way too many questions there for me to answer.
My best advice is to pay the school a visit or talk to the program you are looking at directly. That’s what I did. You’ll find that there are lots of people there who can answer your questions.
Don’t worry about the diploma. Worry about whether or not the program meets your needs from an educational and structure requirements perspective. If you are looking at the programs based on some perceived band value, you are likely to be disappointed.
Harvard’s programs are good ones but ultimately my decision was based on which courses they offered and how they offered them rather than any value derived from them being associated with Harvard University.
I already have a college degree and I am interested in a Masters Program offered through the Extension School. I was curious how graduates of the extension school master’s programs have fared when applying for doctorate programs at universities?
They’ve done very well. I know of several ALM graduates who have go on to very competitive Ph.D programs all over the country. Many people see the ALM as a stepping stone to a Ph.D because of the thesis requirement. ALM candidates fare very well in admissions.
There are a lot of extremely valuable information in this blog. However, it starts to get a bit confusing. I am an Army Pilot with a MBA from UT at Arlington. I’m looking to continue my graduate education with a degree from a prestigious school such as Harvard prior to retiring from the Army in five years. This brings me to several questions:
1) Is HES right for me as a military service member?
2) Is the impact of a degree from HES the same as Havard University and is it articulated on the Degree in any manner in which potential employers may differentiate?
3) How feasible will it be to complete all the on campus requirements in a summer and a regular term?
Thanks for any input,
I have another quick question… assuming that I meet the requirements to apply (3 classes with B or better with one course being a proseminar), what are the chances of acceptance into the program? Will acceptance be largely automatic or will acceptance largely be based on my application and essays?
Archie,
There are many current and former members of the military taking classes at HES. Many are degree seeking students.
The diploma is the diploma. Employers will know that your degree is from the Extension School. This is not a bad thing. It is a Harvard degree, and you are considered an alumnus of the school. You can join the Harvard Club and you will attend Commencement.
You can get all of your on-campus coursework out of the way in two terms.
James,
Assuming that you can earn the grades in the classes you take, you can counsider yourself over the biggest hurdle. The application is mainly to give the admissions committee some information about you and your goals so they can determine if HES is a good fit for you. The admissions process is not anywhere as difficult as it is in other graduate programs primarily because you prove you can do the work before you are ever eligible to apply.
As a recent graduate from the ALB program, I can assure you that the admissions program is “deceptively” selective. Imagine for a moment that you are a non-traditional student, having been several years removed from formal education, and you are seeking a means of attaining a bachelor’s degree from a reputable institution while also meeting possible work and/or family obligations. For anyone in this scenario, the reputable choices become severely limited. Higher education still very much favors the traditional student. To gain admission to the ALB program, one must already be confident in their ability to perform well at Harvard. The process is self-selective as one must be present in Cambridge (which means relocation for those that are not), must receive a B- in at least three courses and must have a way of supporting themselves (either by a generous benefactor, large saving account, but usually a job). It must be noted that HES does not offer financial aid until one is officially admitted into a program. So in order to gain admission, one must KNOW that they are academically prepared to study at this level, must make a considerable financial sacrifice (full tuition for at least three courses, books, supplies, room, board etc.), and in may cases, must continue to do this while working and tending to family/other obligations.
I myself worked full-time with a family while completing my education and it certainly wasn’t easy. It would have been much easier for me to have done this as a teenager right out of high school with no responsibilities other than excelling in my studies. For Harvard University to provide an opportunity for an academically enabled non-traditional student to earn an Ivy League bachelor’s degree through HES truly demonstrates Harvard’s commitment to academic excellence and academic access.
As for whether this is “really Harvard”, it absolutely is. While the experience is unique (the overwhelming majority of bachelor degree recipients from Harvard are from the College), I have been met with nothing but commendation from others. Most people clearly understand that Harvard is a strong brand and wouldn’t compromise that brand by providing a sub-par experience. As Harvard offers the best traditional undergraduate experience, it also offers the best non-traditional experience is well.
By the way, the degree itself is absolutely beautiful. Having friends and colleagues that have graduated from the College and comparing our bachelor degrees, the College and Extension School degrees (please remember that both are first and foremost Harvard University degrees) read absolutely identically except that the degrees are different (Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies) and the Dean of the College and the House Master sign the Bachelor of Arts degree whereas those signatures do not apply to the ALB. Both degrees are signed by the President of the University (I’m honored that my degree bears Drew Faust’s signature) and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (both the College and Harvard Extension School are governed by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences). The ALB bears the signature of the Dean of Continuing Education/University Extension, currently Michael Shinagel.
Members of the College, or any other school within the university for that matter, receive equal standing within the alumni association. The alumni association is phenomenal, I’m constantly emailed to attend fascinating events. ALB alumni, as well as College alumni, are eligible to vote for the University Board of Overseers as well. Again, graduates of HES degree programs are HARVARD GRADUATES and receive full alumni privileges. I am a member of both the Harvard Clubs of Boston and New York City which are open to all Harvard graduates. I received IMMEDIATE career advancement upon graduation and received acceptance into all three graduate programs of my choice.
An admissions representative at Boston University noted how impressed she was that I was able to complete the ALB program while working full-time, with frequent travel, and having family obligations. I stress that HES is the best non-traditional Ivy League experience available.
There are plenty of activities for the non-traditional student (the ones that have some time between work/family) at Harvard, including many Club sports, attending varsity games, cultural and special interest clubs etc. ALB students can apply for coveted research assistant positions, working with esteemed Professors and academics, have access to a variety of workshops and volunteer opportunities including study abroad opportunities. The great part is that you’ll get to know your fellow HES students as well as students from other schools within the university. I will forever be thankful and loyal to Harvard and the Extension School for this opportunity. It is my hope that my children, after graduating from high school with stellar academic records, will continue on to Harvard College and keep a tradition of academic excellence alive.
I want to thank both Richard and Chris for sharing their experiences in this blog. I am currently taking two distance courses and Planning to apply for admissions in two weeks. I took the required Expo course in Campus and for this I traveled on the bus from NY for a whole semester while I was expecting my first child.
I loved the campus and everyone was really nice and helpful. I benefited from workshops and writing tutorials as well as the library for HES students.
I love the courses and this program allows me to be a mother, wife, student, and full time employee all at the same time. I do hope to be admitted next spring.
Best wishes to all…
Paula
Thank you all for your blogposts. Having been on the same shoe as everyone, each post have answers to countless questions I have in mind. Now I am completely convinced to give myself another chance to complete a degree in Computer Science. The stories you shared made me feel strong to decide taking the first of the three preliminary required courses for admission this Spring.
Delia
I can not afford to live in Boston / Cambridge. Living in Salt Lake City suits me well for the On-line studies.
I am glad will attend starting january 2009.
best regards
Marco
I can not afford to live in Boston / Cambridge. Living and working in Salt Lake City suits me well, my job is like the biggest lab for th studies I have chosen in Safety and Environmental Studies.
The On-line studies makes my life easier. Work on the subjects when I get home, not having to deal with campus parking etc.
I am glad will attend starting January 2009.
Good luck and best regards to everyone.
Marco
Great Blog, I am so happy I found it. I am currently signed up to take Expo-25 for the spring and I am so excited to complete my pre reqs and apply for matriculation. Chris and of course Richard, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with all of us. Chris, what you said about gaining admittance to the three grad programs of your choice is very encouraging as I want to move on to law school after my ALB. Just wanted to say, thanks everyone and happy holidays.
Thanks everyone! You have all asked all the questions I wanted too, and provided all the answers I needed. I grew up in Boston, played basketball in the Harvard gym (shh!), am walked the hall as a juvenile. It has always been something more than just a degree. I have always felt I was apart of the place in some weird way. I have an uncle who is now deceased that graduated Harvard Law, but I certainly do not come from some pedigree. I have spent over nine years as a police officer before realizing it was not for me. Since the time I left law enforcement I have longed to finish my degree, and Harvard just feels like home. I will make it through HES as will everyone who knows this program is right for them. Good luck all!!! God Bless…
ok. so to see if i understand in order to complete the bachelors degree online i must take some classes on campus? is there any way around that? once i graduate with the bachelors degree will it say extension on there or just harvard university? and how does the employer know the difference? thank you in advanced!
In order to earn the ALB from Harvard, you MUST attend at least 16 hours on campus. There is no way around this requirement.
You degree will state that you have an ALB in Extension Studies.
Only your employer can tell you if you they consider this to be a problem. It would be unwise to attempt to suggest that you had earned an AB from Harvard College.
Hello!
I looked at the ALB Harvard admissions requirements and I’m thinking this is too good to be true! According to the website, admission criteria requires
*Complete 3 Harvard specific course with a B-
*Meet the expository writing prerequisite
*Have a 2.5 GPA at Harvard
*Meet English proficiency requirements
Richard, could you clarify if the above information is correct?
I should also mention that my previous efforts at an undergrad study are far from impressive. My transcript shows withdrawals and less than good grades. I am hoping that succeeding in the required Harvard prerequisite courses will show that I have overcome any personal obstacles and am an ambitious, hard-working student with outstanding potential.
My question is; with the basic Application requirements consisting of transcripts, resume, essay, etc. will my poor academic history prevent admission to the HES program?
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer questions!
Your past academic performance isn’t necessarily relevant in this context.
If you can manage to earn the required grades in the three required classes you’re probably going to get admitted. If your academic record isn’t too spotty (and by spotty I mean lots of disciplinary actions), then your actual past academic performance isn’t necessarily going to hinder you. You just need to be sure you can do the work.
Keep this in mind: getting those grades is no mean feat. The professors for the writing program are keenly aware of their ability to serve as a filter for students who don’t have the academic ability to graduate. That said, they are there to help, and if you demonstrate an ability to learn, you’ll probably be fine.
It’s far more important that you have the determination to succeed now rather than in the past. HES is all about providing second (even third) chances to those who missed out on a decent education the first time out.
I wanted to ask:
how have people fared career wise with a degree in Management from HES?