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lordalabaster · 06-28-2007, 02:51 PM

I will offer my opinion based on my own personal experience. I have a bachelors of science in Biology from Tufts University. During my undergrad years my classmates would elect to go to Harvard to get their premed requirements out of the way. Now whether it's Harvard college or the extension school, I can with certainty say that Tufts chemistry classes are harder than the Harvard ones based on what my friends have told me. This has to do with Harvard College's grade inflation among other things.

Nevertheless after graduation I wanted to look into the "ALM' which annoyingly stands for the masters in liberal arts. The peculiar thing about most Harvard extension courses is that their class time per week is 2 hours as opposed to Tufts courses which are 2 hours and thirty minutes per week. That extra half an hour adds up! The difference is about 7 hours that when you think about it, it's like taking three weeks off at Tufts.

The courses that do have close to three hours per week (at the extension school) are the premed courses like chemistry and physics. Now why is that?
Is it because it is Harvard's best interest not to cheapen out on the premed students so that they can do well on the MCAT? I would say yes because if premed students were to only get 2 hours of instruction per week they would get screwed on the MCAT.

If you want to get a bachelors degree it would be better to go to Umass Boston which is about the same price as Harvard Extension school but you get more instruction time. Knowledge is more important than a piece of paper. A paper will only get you a job, but true knowledge will keep your job.

If you can't even get into Umass Boston, then go for it! You can still make something out of nothing at the extension school.

ps. I did take a Biology course at the extension school and it was the easiest bio course I took. I felt like I was on vacation and was studying without any sweat beads. The professor would sometimes end half an hour early (I'd say at least one third of the semester). I mean, maybe not all biology courses are like that but you're already at a disadvantage to begin with when you only have two hours per week.

But like I said, I'm not TOTALLY bashing Harvard. if you've done poorly in high school and feel like you're changing, then go for Harvard Extension school. It's better than the community colleges, that's for sure.

If I were in the Harvard Extension Senate (if there is one) I'd petition for extra
class time.

06-28-2007, 02:51 PM	#58
lordalabaster New Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1	I will offer my opinion based on my own personal experience. I have a bachelors of science in Biology from Tufts University. During my undergrad years my classmates would elect to go to Harvard to get their premed requirements out of the way. Now whether it's Harvard college or the extension school, I can with certainty say that Tufts chemistry classes are harder than the Harvard ones based on what my friends have told me. This has to do with Harvard College's grade inflation among other things. Nevertheless after graduation I wanted to look into the "ALM' which annoyingly stands for the masters in liberal arts. The peculiar thing about most Harvard extension courses is that their class time per week is 2 hours as opposed to Tufts courses which are 2 hours and thirty minutes per week. That extra half an hour adds up! The difference is about 7 hours that when you think about it, it's like taking three weeks off at Tufts. The courses that do have close to three hours per week (at the extension school) are the premed courses like chemistry and physics. Now why is that? Is it because it is Harvard's best interest not to cheapen out on the premed students so that they can do well on the MCAT? I would say yes because if premed students were to only get 2 hours of instruction per week they would get screwed on the MCAT. If you want to get a bachelors degree it would be better to go to Umass Boston which is about the same price as Harvard Extension school but you get more instruction time. Knowledge is more important than a piece of paper. A paper will only get you a job, but true knowledge will keep your job. If you can't even get into Umass Boston, then go for it! You can still make something out of nothing at the extension school. ps. I did take a Biology course at the extension school and it was the easiest bio course I took. I felt like I was on vacation and was studying without any sweat beads. The professor would sometimes end half an hour early (I'd say at least one third of the semester). I mean, maybe not all biology courses are like that but you're already at a disadvantage to begin with when you only have two hours per week. But like I said, I'm not TOTALLY bashing Harvard. if you've done poorly in high school and feel like you're changing, then go for Harvard Extension school. It's better than the community colleges, that's for sure. If I were in the Harvard Extension Senate (if there is one) I'd petition for extra class time.
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