Harvard Extension School Students Rally for Degree Name Change

[newdegree]

At the end of the day it’s what you make out of the actual Harvard Extension School degree but we all know the playing field is not even. Is it a college degree ? The answer is YES , is it review as less prestigious ? Yes of course because it’s a liberal arts degree from a program that admits almost anyone with a high price tag just to get the Harvard name in a degree. If people want quality education with big names for cheaper they can search elsewhere and find competitive schools where they have to compete to pass the rigorous application and selection process. I am not trying to put down any HES graduate I applaud you for taking the step to go here and put the time and effort to graduate. Sometimes we have to understand that what may work for one person may not work for another and we must accept the consequences that the degree may not be looked at the same by each employer but that is always subject to discretion of each job/company standards and hiring practices. If someone wants a competitive Harvard degree they should apply directly to the school that correlates to their major at Harvard and attempt to gain admissions which will allow them to get the competitive degree and credentials they seek rather then a degree in extension studies.

[InItForFun]

At the end of the day it’s what you make out of the actual Harvard Extension School degree but we all know the playing field is not even. Is it a college degree ? The answer is YES , is it review as less prestigious ? Yes of course because it’s a liberal arts degree from a program that admits almost anyone with a high price tag just to get the Harvard name in a degree. If people want quality education with big names for cheaper they can search elsewhere and find competitive schools where they have to compete to pass the rigorous application and selection process. I am not trying to put down any HES graduate I applaud you for taking the step to go here and put the time and effort to graduate. Sometimes we have to understand that what may work for one person may not work for another and we must accept the consequences that the degree may not be looked at the same by each employer but that is always subject to discretion of each job/company standards and hiring practices. If someone wants a competitive Harvard degree they should apply directly to the school that correlates to their major at Harvard and attempt to gain admissions which will allow them to get the competitive degree and credentials they seek rather then a degree in extension studies.

Have you applied for admission?  Have you taken a class at HES?  Have you applied for a job with HES on your resume?  Because if the answer to any is “no,” you’re just explaining how you think HES works, rather than how it actually works.

And that’s the problem with the internet - it’s mostly people who assume something about a topic then present themselves as experts despite no real knowledge.

[sanantone]

How is it the best deal in distance education? Do you have the ROI figures? I doubt teenagers are online debating HES' value. That's something middle-aged people do. LOL

[Pats20]

There is no point in trying to convince a few people on a Internet forum the validity or Roi of the degree. The same argument can be applied to TESU , HAU or many others. Heck there was a thread not too long ago on this very platform (which built itself on helping people get affordable online degrees)  where around half the respondents voted that an online degree was inferior to a butt in seat program. So much for trying to help push a narrative when many of our  own members believe otherwise.  So do your research, take opinions with a grain of salt and do what you want.

[InItForFun]

I agree with you Pats20.

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s the medium of a course that determines it’s value, rather the quality of the professor. A great professor will make a class worthwhile no matter how the class is conducted.

I took HES courses because I wanted to learn from what I consider to be the best faculty in the world but did not want to leave my dream job. HES is the best deal in education because of that.

[ReyMysterioso]

I agree with you Pats20.  

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s the medium of a course that determines it’s value, rather the quality of the professor.  A great professor will make a class worthwhile no matter how the class is conducted.

I took HES courses because I wanted to learn from what I consider to be the best faculty in the world but did not want to leave my dream job.  HES is the best deal in education because of that.

No I'm going to disagree with you. newdegree has convinced me. It's not about learning anything, expanding my skills, building a network, gaining insight from world class faculty, being inspired by cohorts who've overcome incredible life obstacles, growing as a person or being in the 1% of HES course takers that ever earn a degree. 

No. It's ENTIRELY about the difficulty of getting accepted. Based on newdegree's posts, it is my new goal to get accepted into the most rigorous and selective program I can - after which I will immediately drop out. Because the admissions process was where all the value was, so once I accomplish that, I will have distinguished myself, and I should be set. 

[sanantone]

I agree with you Pats20.  

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s the medium of a course that determines it’s value, rather the quality of the professor.  A great professor will make a class worthwhile no matter how the class is conducted.

I took HES courses because I wanted to learn from what I consider to be the best faculty in the world but did not want to leave my dream job.  HES is the best deal in education because of that.

This is an opinion and a very generalized one that lacks nuance. There are many great professors at other universities. Harvard is not at the top when it comes to every field of study. 


I'm not sure why mode of delivery is being brought up here. HES is not a virtual school. They have many on-campus courses, and their degree programs are not 100% online.

[Pats20]

I agree with you Pats20.  

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s the medium of a course that determines it’s value, rather the quality of the professor.  A great professor will make a class worthwhile no matter how the class is conducted.

I took HES courses because I wanted to learn from what I consider to be the best faculty in the world but did not want to leave my dream job.  HES is the best deal in education because of that.

No I'm going to disagree with you. newdegree has convinced me. It's not about learning anything, expanding my skills, building a network, gaining insight from world class faculty, being inspired by cohorts who've overcome incredible life obstacles, growing as a person or being in the 1% of HES course takers that ever earn a degree. 

No. It's ENTIRELY about the difficulty of getting accepted. Based on newdegree's posts, it is my new goal to get accepted into the most rigorous and selective program I can - after which I will immediately drop out. Because the admissions process was where all the value was, so once I accomplish that, I will have distinguished myself, and I should be set. 

That’s funny.     
You had me going till the punchline.

[sanantone]

A "good deal" is a comparison of value versus cost. Being the best at something doesn't automatically make something a good deal. The fastest car in the world is a Bugatti Chiron, but at $2.9 million, is it the best deal for a sports car? I'd argue that it's not. A car that's a hair slower and half the cost could be the better deal.

[newdegree]

At the end of the day it’s what you make out of the actual Harvard Extension School degree but we all know the playing field is not even. Is it a college degree ? The answer is YES , is it review as less prestigious ? Yes of course because it’s a liberal arts degree from a program that admits almost anyone with a high price tag just to get the Harvard name in a degree. If people want quality education with big names for cheaper they can search elsewhere and find competitive schools where they have to compete to pass the rigorous application and selection process. I am not trying to put down any HES graduate I applaud you for taking the step to go here and put the time and effort to graduate. Sometimes we have to understand that what may work for one person may not work for another and we must accept the consequences that the degree may not be looked at the same by each employer but that is always subject to discretion of each job/company standards and hiring practices. If someone wants a competitive Harvard degree they should apply directly to the school that correlates to their major at Harvard and attempt to gain admissions which will allow them to get the competitive degree and credentials they seek rather then a degree in extension studies.

Have you applied for admission?  Have you taken a class at HES?  Have you applied for a job with HES on your resume?  Because if the answer to any is “no,” you’re just explaining how you think HES works, rather than how it actually works.

And that’s the problem with the internet - it’s mostly people who assume something about a topic then present themselves as experts despite no real knowledge.

Let me just shut down your comment real quick I have done more than my fair share of schooling. I understand how the system works and have researched more than enough. If you want to cry go cry because you do not like what the "internet" has to say about HES you should really go cry to Havard's board of overseas, trustees, presidents, deans, and program directors to change this. Sometimes you have to face reality and I keep it real with my view on topics. I don't have to be an "expert" as you claim but I am intelligent enough to make a good reference and opinion on the subject matter. It doesn't make a difference to me as I know where I got my educational degrees and I know their value whether it is personal or valued by an employer. Now if you feel the degree is looked down upon by employers that's a personal issue because you thought the degree would work for you and would guarantee you a job which is never the case. Many other factors go into play and assuming just because it says Havard on the degree it should be valued the same is completely wrong. There are levels to the degrees at Harvard and it's obvious. It is a degree at the end of the day from Havard yes but the value to an employer may vary.

---

I agree with you Pats20.  

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s the medium of a course that determines it’s value, rather the quality of the professor.  A great professor will make a class worthwhile no matter how the class is conducted.

I took HES courses because I wanted to learn from what I consider to be the best faculty in the world but did not want to leave my dream job.  HES is the best deal in education because of that.

No I'm going to disagree with you. newdegree has convinced me. It's not about learning anything, expanding my skills, building a network, gaining insight from world class faculty, being inspired by cohorts who've overcome incredible life obstacles, growing as a person or being in the 1% of HES course takers that ever earn a degree. 

No. It's ENTIRELY about the difficulty of getting accepted. Based on newdegree's posts, it is my new goal to get accepted into the most rigorous and selective program I can - after which I will immediately drop out. Because the admissions process was where all the value was, so once I accomplish that, I will have distinguished myself, and I should be set. 

What works for you works for you my friend