Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Pathway

[Life_One]

Congratulations on your certificate and Almuni status! Your posts and the information you have shared have been wonderful!

[collegecareerstudent]

Thank you so  much!!! I hope people can come back to this forum post to get additional information if they'd like to take advantage of the information for themselves. The PLC Credential is pricey- the current price hangs around $6400, but it's a great way to satisfy three courses at Harvard Kennedy School for the MC/MPA or three courses at Harvard Extension School.  Both require an on-campus commitment for a degree, but I think that the requirement is important and necessary to maintain the legitimacy of the institutions and programs. Harvard has so many museums, libraries, volunteer and job opportunities not available elsewhere- even at other top schools. I highly recommend taking advantage of them. 

If anyone has any remaining questions, please post them here. I'll do my best to answer them to the best of my ability.

[ThatBankDude]

Thank you so  much!!! I hope people can come back to this forum post to get additional information if they'd like to take advantage of the information for themselves. The PLC Credential is pricey- the current price hangs around $6400, but it's a great way to satisfy three courses at Harvard Kennedy School for the MC/MPA or three courses at Harvard Extension School.  Both require an on-campus commitment for a degree, but I think that the requirement is important and necessary to maintain the legitimacy of the institutions and programs. Harvard has so many museums, libraries, volunteer and job opportunities not available elsewhere- even at other top schools. I highly recommend taking advantage of them. 

If anyone has any remaining questions, please post them here. I'll do my best to answer them to the best of my ability.

In person interactions are certainly a plus but I would not say they maintain legitimacy. The program(s) would be just as legitimate without any on-campus requirements…at least in my non-expert opinion.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, just wondering, since I'm not sure why there are 'on campus' requirements, in this digital age, can't they move it all to online conferencing instead?

[collegecareerstudent]

They did that for a few semesters during Covid- move all things online. So technically, I really don't have to go back to campus unless I want to, but I don't think it makes much sense as student government president to not do so. For my degree record sheet, it shows the three classes I took on Zoom during the pandemic as satisfying the on campus requirement. That being said, given the stigma that lingers for HES (it's way better these days than even ten years ago but let's not act like there aren't naysayers out there) I think it helps us to go on campus and have the full Harvard experience, experience the athletics, various museums and libraries, and take advantage of career services.

[ReyMysterioso]

They did that for a few semesters during Covid- move all things online. So technically, I really don't have to go back to campus unless I want to, but I don't think it makes much sense as student government president to not do so. For my degree record sheet, it shows the three classes I took on Zoom during the pandemic as satisfying the on campus requirement. That being said, given the stigma that lingers for HES (it's way better these days than even ten years ago but let's not act like there aren't naysayers out there) I think it helps us to go on campus and have the full Harvard experience, experience the athletics, various museums and libraries, and take advantage of career services.

Having joined athletic clubs, immersed in the museums, done homework in libraries, participated in social/music events at the Smith center and Lehman Hall... I can say that it's a TOTALLY different and WAY better experience than solely online. 

Hang out on the tenth floor of the Smith Center to do homework. I found tons of natural light and a GREAT view helped keep me energized. Also, when you take a break, you might fall into a fooseball or billiards game with other students. That's always fun!

[collegecareerstudent]

I definitely intend to join the athletic club. 160 for membership isn't that bad. I will do all those things， I was on campus for a week in May 2019 to scope out the campus and make sure HES was where I wanted to go but I didn't havw time for any fun activities nor did I have an ID card to access the museums yet.

A campus wide email just went for the ALM programs saying that 12 on campus graduate credits will no longer be required, just 4. I didn't get the email personally but the governing board is discussing it, so we'll see what's going on.