Harvard Extension School

Is it by mail/correspondence/internet?

I took Physics there, but then again I live 30 min from Harvard and I did 2 classes a week from 6-9pm or so for a few months.

What do you want to know? I thought it was good and worth the money, IMO.

 

Extension school is easier to get in to, but to be blunt, as a degree it's not terribly respected. As a course or two like Mike took, that would be fine.

You would be better off just trying for the regular Divinity program. Seriously. I'm not certain of their admissions #'s, but there are programs at Harvard that aren't as difficult to get in to (education Master's for example - PhD is hard to get though).

 

I took a class there last summer while I finished my thesis down the road at MIT. I don't think they really reject people as long as they are paying the tuition. It's sort of like a community college in that respect...lots of kids from random schools and some reaaally old adults too. I had a professor who went to Harvard for undergrad but normally taught in Texas and you could tell she thought so highly of herself just because of where she went to school. The class was pretty much a joke, though-- not difficult in the least.

 

The others nailed it... I don't think I even really "applied", just signed up and paid a fee. My prof was one of the Harvard regulars and it wasn't some mental gimp TA or anything like that. The class was pretty good, but I felt that it was more expensive than doing it at a local community college because you were going to "Harvard".

 

Hey Perry,

I was enrolled in the ALM (Masters of Liberal Arts) in Government working on a thesis on "Universal Jurisdiction and State Sovereignty." Since I was an employee at Harvard, my tuition was free.

The process for addmitance is as follows:
You must take 3 courses and then apply-
1 course must be a writing for scholars course and the other 2 must be in your area of study.
All 3 MUST be taught by Harvard professors
You must average a B+ Average
Submit your application

The obvious advantages to this program are:
1- Eve courses
2- Harvard Degree
3- Not a full-time program
4- No need for GREs or College Grades (other then to verify you graduated)

Now the honest truth about the program --
You will be lumped in with students (undergrad and grad -- there are no grad only courses) who are taking courses there just because it is Harvard. This means you get some real oddballs (the Harvard PD refers to the Extension School as the "Eccentric School"), and some poor classes. However, you also get a large amount of Professionals (such as myself) who cannot afford to go to a traditional f/t program and opt this route. So it is a real mixed bag. I will say that I found the administration more interested in getting as many students enrolled in classes to collect $$, and they also had a real confindence problem (you'll hear over and over again -- "yes we are Harvard"). Finally, registration is incredibly difficult, and if you are not enrolled in a degree program it is EXTREMELY difficult to get the courses you want. The whole "Harvard Professor" requirement is an example of an arbitrary clause that makes it quite difficult to finish the program.

My wife, a Harvard phd geneticist (who I might add is really top of her field) taught there. She liked the students but also felt the administration was frankly lacking. She is a perfect example of some of the young hot shot profs you will get, and really get a chance to learn quite a bit (I had some fascinating profs).

The program is really meant for professionals who are working a full-time job and cannot take on a full-time program. So if you are working f/t I would say consider the Extension School. However, as Ryalex pointed out, if this is a substitute for a f/t program don't do it -- you'll be disapointed.

I honestly don't know if I can recommend the Extension School, but I can go into detail if you wish.

-N

 

I just want to point out that taking classes there and actually getting a degree program are completely different. Getting into the degree program is quite difficult. If nothing else it will take you at least 2 semesters (1 year) before you can even apply for admission.

The problem, as others have pointed out, is that even when you get into a degree program you are still in classes with non-matric students. This means that you are surrounded by some real losers and idiots -- something that will follow you from class to class.

In order to complete your degree you have to take:

1 intensive scholarly writing course
6 courses in your area of study
2 seminars
2 electives
- your last course is to write your thesis.
7 of the 10 courses must be taught by Harvard profs

If you're looking at the list and going "huh?", you're not alone. This is a perfect example of the disorganization and odd management of the Extension School -- and why I am reluctant to say "go for it."

On a side note: after leaving Harvard I took a post at Columbi Business School's Exec MBA Program. This is a program tailored to those wanting to acquire an MBA without going the full-time student route. I can tell you that teachers, organization, etc was no better then the Extension School. They had a real problem with people viewing EMBA as a "soft" Columbia MBA program (ergo a safety if you didn't get into the Main MBA). And the cheating by the students -- oh god! What pitas they were!

There are many professionals who go back to school while working and do not attend f/t programs. Most universities have programs and degrees that are tailored to these professionals. In many respects these programs are real cash cows, since oftentimes the student's employeer pix up the tuition (EMBA was 120K vs the 70K of the Main MBA). As such you need to be very careful when shopping for a program and a school. I would tend to agree that you will not recieve the same traditional academic and scholarly education as those in a f/t program, but you will still get a Masters/JD/MBA. Are these degrees somehow "less" then a traditional program? Well it all depends how you look at it. Most people who are in these programs are older then those in FT programs, and already have an established career. However, amongst academics and those who judge you on the quality of your education, Ryalex is right, they do not compare. But to an employer you still have a degree from Harvard, Columbia, etc.

-N

 

The price changes for graduate students and once you are matriculated in.

Read those rules *CAREFULLY*.

-N