Harvard Extension School

[dartheminence]

I've been reading a lot about the Harvard Extension School and am really interested in attending. However, I am reading that Harvard students tend to look down upon Extension students as do employers. Is there any truth to this? Also, has anyone gotten a Harvard Extension Degree and gotten into a good field? I'm just curious because I know I want to continue my studies, but I don't want to invest in something if it's going to do me more harm than good.

[clep3705]

Harvard Extended: Final thoughts about Harvard Extension

[cookderosa]

EDIT: I deleted my post. Since you're willing to make life-changing decisions based on the opinion of strangers you met less than a month ago, and one blogger, it's probably not a good fit.

[rebel100]

I've been reading a lot about the Harvard Extension School and am really interested in attending. However, I am reading that Harvard students tend to look down upon Extension students as do employers. Is there any truth to this? Also, has anyone gotten a Harvard Extension Degree and gotten into a good field? I'm just curious because I know I want to continue my studies, but I don't want to invest in something if it's going to do me more harm than good.

Who cares what a geeky 18-22 year old thinks? Seriously! With that said your going to earn a degree from one of the top three universities on the planet. Outside of Cambridge/Boston I doubt anyone will know or care that it happened to be earned in a tough, academically serious night school version of Harvard offered via the Con-Ed Dept for nearly the past 100 years.

Mu daughter is taking her first three courses this semester...is is worlds away from her CC experience. HES is the real deal taught by serious professors for serious students. Taking a course is easy...earning a degree is very hard, only around 3% of HES students actually go on to earn a degree.

HES is not HC, nor is it the Divinity School or the Kennedy School of Government, or HBS...its HES.

If a HC student looks down on you so freaking what! You will seldom be in a class with them anyway and unless you wear a HES t-shirt or something I don't think they are gonna cull you from the crowd.

If an employer can't be made to understand that a Harvard University degree is legitimate even if the nearer worked extra hard to get in and stay in, went to school primarily at night in order to finish, and had the fortitude to persevere through a tough academic program...then that employer is probably better suited with another candidate anyway.

I think you are right to address these fears up front...second guessing yourself once your committed would really suck and provide you an easy way out when the going gets tough...and it will get tough....its Harvard!

Great place to crawl around for legit info on ES http://extensionstudent.com/

[rebel100]

EDIT: I deleted my post. Since you're willing to make life-changing decisions based on the opinion of strangers you met less than a month ago, and one blogger, it's probably not a good fit.

Uppity HES student

BTW, I have books for you and need to know where to ship them.

[Jonathan Whatley]

I've been reading a lot about the Harvard Extension School and am really interested in attending.

Yay! It's an outstanding and special school.

Also, has anyone gotten a Harvard Extension Degree and gotten into a good field?

You know the answer isn't no!

However, I am reading that Harvard students tend to look down upon Extension students as do employers. Is there any truth to this? […]
I'm just curious because I know I want to continue my studies, but I don't want to invest in something if it's going to do me more harm than good.

Are there people who would look at a Harvard Extension credential and think, "This is worse than nothing?"

Probably. A small handful of insecure jerks. Few if any would likely think much of Charter Oak, (my school too), either.

Their loss. Don't let it be yours?

[ryoder]

In my opinion as part of the hiring process, I don't care where you went to school. All I care about is what you can do for me as an employer and my customers care about what you can do for them.
If you learn more at Harvard Extension than the local community college or Thomas Edison then go ahead and go to Harvard Extension.
Most of the people I have interviewed attended schools in countries where I couldn't even pronounce the name of the school anyway so I just have to judge them on their abilities, knowledge, and ability to communicate.

[rebel100]

In my opinion as part of the hiring process, I don't care where you went to school. All I care about is what you can do for me as an employer and my customers care about what you can do for them.
If you learn more at Harvard Extension than the local community college or Thomas Edison then go ahead and go to Harvard Extension.
Most of the people I have interviewed attended schools in countries where I couldn't even pronounce the name of the school anyway so I just have to judge them on their abilities, knowledge, and ability to communicate.

Yeah, but folks love to hash out this Harvard Extension School thing, I've never seen anything like it in education. It's like debating Ford and Chevy or 9mm vs 45 or the AK vs the M4...I think some folks are insecure themselves and just love to feed on the insecurities of others.

[dartheminence]

EDIT: I deleted my post. Since you're willing to make life-changing decisions based on the opinion of strangers you met less than a month ago, and one blogger, it's probably not a good fit.

Quite the contrary, actually. I've been looking over the program and reading not just one blog, but several. I've been looking at various websites, Harvard Extended, etc. for about three years now, so this certainly isn't an out of the blue thing. I really do have my reservations. Education is always an investment, and as such, should always require research, etc. which is why I'm asking in the first place. Do I think it will be life-changing? No. Because by the end of this year I'll already have two bachelors. And as far Instantcert goes, although I wasn't a paying member, I've been reading posts on here for 2 years now. So, people here aren't "strangers" to me. I may be to them because I haven't posted much or been on here, but I've always come here for information.

[dartheminence]

Yeah, but folks love to hash out this Harvard Extension School thing, I've never seen anything like it in education. It's like debating Ford and Chevy or 9mm vs 45 or the AK vs the M4...I think some folks are insecure themselves and just love to feed on the insecurities of others.

I agree; it is very odd. It's also very concerning.