<p>This is mean spirited and innaccurate. HES is a school of Harvard University. It is not separate from anything. It is an alternative route to a quality education. The costs are competitive with privare colleges. If anyone misrepresents his HES background that does it and themselves a disservice. The benefits of an education extend beyond bragging rights about the selectivity of admission. There is simply nothing to compare with the quality and accessibility of HES. It is wonderful and the experience and benefits it bestows are not diminished by small minded and childish distinctions. The college is fantastic at what it does, it is a World class institution, HES benefits from its association - it is equally good in terms of what it does and its targetted audience and is unmatched in bringing a world class education to so many at a competitive cost - believe me it is well worth it!!!</p>
<p>@thestick- A good precedent for entrance exams is Oxbridge. They have exams that are harder than the A-levels that students over there take, and if you fluff them you’re finished.</p>
<p>Young fella (if I may call you that…), you are either so naive, or delusional. There is nothing that prepares you for the realy world like the real world. Just for your information, the Harvard endowement is estimated at $27 billion as of the 2010 financial reporting year. So, Harvard overall does not necessarily need money generated by HES. In addition, HES has been in existence for over 100 years, don’t you think, if it had negative effect to the University, the board would have voted to eliminate the School? Furthermore, as it crossed your mind that HES is actually one of the 13 Harvard University Schools? By the way, dont mistake attainment of quality education has having a direct correlation to much you pay for tuition. The students enrolled at HES are there for so many reasons and I bet Harvard College claim is not high on that list. Most of these students (at least those in the Graduate programs) have real jobs and successful in their chosen careers. These are people returning to school to upgrade their skills in an environment that has the resources to do so. As one poster indicated, you will find a list of highly accomplished individuals working for some of the most respected local and international orgainizations. So, my advice to you would have been instend of being caught up in the Harvard College debate, you could be leveraging their real world skill sets. Believe me, I work in the corporate world and have a PHD as well but I will be enrolling in HES professinal programs for reasons other than claiming Harvard college on my resume. You will eventually learn that Harvard might get you in the door but success and advancement is an individual effort, some luck, and how you carry yourself. Based on your posts, GOOD LUCK buddy!</p>
<p>Starlight* I have a few simple questions for you. You claim that the classes at HES are not even in the same leauge of difficulty as the classes at the College. How can you say this when the course material, problem sets, professors, and syllabuses are in the degree granting programs the same. While yes it may be true that classes that are not in the degree programs are of a slightly lower claiber (I honestly have no idea how difficult any of the classes at any Harvard school are). But to try and publicly denounce an entire group of hard working people is just wrong. As for the whole listing of Extension Studies on ones CV it totally depends on when one graduates. If just listing ALB from Harvard University was allowed when he/she graduated it is that way for life. Same goes for rules about listing in extension studies, it doesnt matter what past rules were or what future rules are. I am hoping I have the oppertunity to go to HES and get a Masters in Management Finance and then a ALB in CS. The Harvard name commands high respect, but the quality of education is the real reason for this respect.</p>
<p>Can someone please tell me how I can attend HES? I read the website but I am really confused. I would like to do the Management/Finance Masters in Arts.</p>
<p>My background is:</p>
<p>BSc Economics, University of Nottingham, 2.1 (approximately 65%)
3 Finance internships - Big 4/ Top 10 Accounting firm/ Asian Bank</p>
<p>Wow. This thread is still going strong, four years after I first started it. This is certainly a milestone.</p>
<p>I just finished reading this thread. It certainly has a lot of useful information. The ongoing debate whether HES is the real deal or not was interesting to read about. I wonder what ever happened to the early posters from this thread. Are they still around? Although I do not post as much as I used to because of work, and the fact that I am not in school at the moment. The economy is very bad. I never thought that this financial crisis would turn out as bad as it did. Imagine if I completed my BA in 2008?</p>
<p>I can’t help but feel that the OP didn’t really get what he wanted…</p>
<p>You’re quite right about that Moonman676. The present economy makes it very difficult at the moment. I was planning to attend HES in the fall of 2008. However, thanks to the financial crisis, those plans got placed on hold indefinitely. All I am doing right now is struggling to make endsmeat. Just paying for my daily expenses and working hard to keep my job. You never know if you’ll even have job since most of my co-workers got fired.</p>
<p>A Harvard College undergrad told me that the courses she’d taken through the Harvard Extension School were basically identical in difficulty and in the quality of teaching as any course she’d taken at Harvard College. Furthermore, to her, the students at the extension school seemed more dedicated and sincere about their studies.</p>
<p>This is @ Bientot—
Do you really call yourself a Harvardian??? Hahaha lol</p>
<p>I have been researching HES for almost a year now, and I was looking over the posts thinking, I have seen this guys name before. I can’t believe you started this post four years ago, but thank you so much for doing it. I live in Florida, and I can’t find anyone that will talk to me about their experience at HES, since I don’t know any students. I really want to try it, but I am nervous about it.</p>
<p>My conclusion is that the people that are mad about the school graduated from Harvard College and they are a bit peeved there being a Harvard school like HES. Okay so if that is the only real objection to the school, then I really don’t care what they think.</p>
<p>I am a hispanic who would love an opportunity like HES, an opportunity to show my merit at Harvard. Have you seen children in third world countries, finally get an education? They are so eager, so thirsty for knowledge. Do you think they care what the name of the school is, or where the school came from? No, they just can’t believe that they got the opportunity, one that they never had before. </p>
<p>So thank you Harvard, for the opportunity. Thank you for being the bigger person.</p>
<p>Okay, so I am off my soap box now. Can anyone tell me if they are getting jobs out there with their Harvard degrees or their HES degress or Harvard-HES degrees? I really want to know if the economy is to the point that it doesn’t matter where you got your degree, that is going to help me make my decision. Thanks guys for all the awesome debating! I appreciate all the time you guys took to do this, its like I can actually read the debate going on in my mind!</p>
<p>Oh and if anyone is interested in giving me more insight on the school, respond back to this post and I will give you an email address to email me at or I will figure something out so we can talk. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Hey, well said! Thank you for that post. Its the reality of life. Businesses don’t care about you, trust me my husband is an African-american and he sees institutionalized racism every day. He is more qualified than his white peers, and never gets promoted, but under qualified white employees do. He works harder than his peers, and it is scrutinized more than his white peers. Human Resources at his job, is a front. Its a way for the company to get intel on employee issues so they can decide if they need to quickly write up some reasons to fire someone before that employee gets them into trouble. Yes well said, don’t be naive. Companies will interview and ask you questions like " Do you have kids?" If you say yes, they won’t hire you. Or they will interveiw you over the phone and almost say that you have the job, until you come in to speak with the employer and they realize that you are black. If you are pregnant and interviewing, make sure you aren’t showing, they won’t hire you. </p>
<p>I am just stating what me and my husband have gone through for over 10 years. Its real people.</p>
<p>…because I recently discovered the ALM-IT program with an emphasis in Digital Media Arts and Instructional Design and would like honest feedback on the admissions process. I know what Harvard states about 3 courses with B’s, solid programming/math background, good financial standing with the school for admission. However, I wonder if anyone has been rejected (reading other forum postings I am fairly certain that some have) despite meeting the stated criteria? </p>
<p>I am curious because I have a less than desirable academic background. I do possess a bachelors degree but took time off from school and didn’t graduate until I was 27. I am 38 now and I am a world away from where I was at a younger age. I found success and had academic success in college, but my transcript is like a roller coaster, with a 4.0 one semester followed by a 2.0 the next. It is littered with grades I would rather not disclose but know will be seen when reviewed for any chance at admission. Even if I were to complete the 3 courses with excellent grades, would there be any real chance at admission? If not I really don’t intend to throw away money course-by-course if I am fooling myself and I am wondering if anyone here can give me an honest opinion on this matter.</p>
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<p>Well, I think HES is a great thing. However, I wonder what you mean when you say you want to “show [your] merit at Harvard.” A good performance in Harvard classes is not necessarily any more difficult or impressive than a state flagship. And I believe HES is separate from the normal Harvard college classes, so the competition isn’t the same either as if you were going up against Harvard College students. </p>
<p>On the one hand, it seems like you don’t approve of the elitism of Harvard College graduates. At the same time, it seems like you think there should be some prestige to HES because it is at Harvard. It’s a lot harder to get in Harvard College than it is to do well there. Employers use the Harvard name by-and-large to help them filter applicants. If they see the Harvard name, they assume they are getting someone who graduated in the top 5% of their high school classes and had very high standardized test scores. This is not true of HES.</p>
<p>I am not affiliated but Harvard, but I see the point of those alumni that feel HES dilutes the prestige of college graduates. Regardless, like I said, I think it’s great that people near Boston have the opportunity to benefit from Harvard’s educational resources.</p>
<p>I agree with post #144 for the most part.</p>
<p>Are HES students allowed to participate in Harvard College clubs??</p>
<p>My question is, are you or were you an ‘all original Harvard student’ because of "how the general population understands a “Harvard degree”?</p>
<p>What did you mean by it is “no University of Phoenix”? University of Phoenix is a very respected academic institution from which I am proud to have graduated. The ball keeps on rolling and one day University of Phoenix might become the new Harvard. Please do not underestimate that which you apparently have so little knowledge about.</p>
<p>It’s refreshing reading your post and acknowledging how wonderfully you think. Harvard University should be proud to have you as a student.</p>