+- Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb)
+-- Forum: Main Category (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-Main-Category)
+--- Forum: Graduate School Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-Graduate-School-Discussion)
+--- Thread: Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. (/Thread-Harvard-Extension-School-Software-Engineering-ALM-Alumni-current-student-feedback)
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - sung1contrarian - 10-23-2015
Hi,
I wanted to get some feedback/tips from current students or alumni of the Harvard Extension Schoolâs ALM in Software Engineering. Any feedback would be great but here are some that came to mind:
- How challenging are the courses?
- What was the biggest hurdle?
- What do you wish you knew before you started the program?
- Did you feel it was worth the ROI?
- Did the degree greatly improve employment opportunities, or were employers mainly focused on the technologies listed on your resume?
- How did the degree impact your income?
- Do you come across any negative inference to HES from the âtraditionalâ Ivy leaguers?
A bit of background on me:
I have been in the web development field for 15 years (started as a graphic designer and now primarily doing front-end development). I was almost done at Rutgers for a BA in Communication but left to join a startup as a graphic designer and have been working since. I am currently working for a major consumer technology company as a web developer. I always felt not having a technical degree on my resume was a road block in getting through the HR filter for upper tier positions. I am currently in the process of finishing up my last few credits at Thomas Edison State College for a BA in Communications, since I have met most of the degree requirements already, and focused on getting a masters in CS or similar field to help with future employment.
And information you can share is greatly appreciated!
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - Outis - 10-23-2015
I can't help you with your questions, unfortunately. But, I wanted to point out that the degree awarded is something to the effect of "Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, Field: Software Engineering", and not a "Master of Liberal Arts in Software Engineering".
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - sung1contrarian - 10-23-2015
Outis Wrote:I can't help you with your questions, unfortunately. But, I wanted to point out that the degree awarded is something to the effect of "Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, Field: Software Engineering", and not a "Master of Liberal Arts in Software Engineering".
Yes I am aware of that, and I should have worded my post better. Thanks for pointing it out so it is clear for other readers.
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - rebel100 - 10-23-2015
I don't know how much traction this post will have, there aren't many HES ALM candidates on the board to my knowledge. One poster here, Jonathan Whatley, can probably direct you to the old "extension student" forum where you can find folks in that program. They moved a year or so ago and I lost the link, but you might PM him for it.
My experience with HES is through my daughter who is in the liberal arts undergrad program (ALB) so I can't even take a stab at most of your questions. I will say that the courses are challenging, they expect you to engage fully with the material and to work at what most would consider an advanced college level. CS50 was the only course my daughter ever withdrew from due to difficulty in her entire college career (the experience helped cinch that liberal arts goal
) Most traditional Ivy Leaguers won't know the extension school from anything else, though a Harvard College student (from the undergrad traditional campus based group) might give you some grief, I doubt you would here anything from most students. From time to time The Crimson will run a story or some media outlet will pick up something about HES being "Harvard on the cheap" or something, but she hasn't experienced anything negative from her affiliation. I do hear rumors that locally in Cambridge/Boston employers understand a difference, might be true of certain industries (like investment banking). We live in Florida and while she takes great pains to clearly indicate extension school on her resume, the Harvard brand still seems to carries weight. She has been interviewed for every job or internship for which she has applied and she has been offered every job/internship for which she has interviewed. You won't make contacts the way I imagine traditional students do, but they have opened up full job seeking services and there are alumni affiliations to add value to the program. Anecdotally, she has HES classmates that have gone on to NASA and DoD positions...I believe the vast majority of employers will look favorably on a HES degree.In hindsight, I wish I had an ALM Management from the Extension School instead of my "no name" WGU MBA... looking for a job is in many ways a popularity contest, I think the Harvard brand is appealing and therefore worthwhile to pursue.
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - rebel100 - 10-23-2015
I think this is the group: Recent Discussions on Extension Student Forum
looks like they are just getting things up and running again. See if they can direct you to the archive as well...plenty of great stuff over there!
A couple of good threads for you:
http://extensionstudentforum.com/index.php?p=/discussion/71/benefits-of-attending-harvard-extension-school
http://extensionstudentforum.com/index.php?p=/discussion/45/professional-graduate-certificates
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - sung1contrarian - 10-23-2015
Thank you for those links rebel100!
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - cookderosa - 10-24-2015
sung1contrarian Wrote:Hi,
I wanted to get some feedback/tips from current students or alumni of the Harvard Extension School’s ALM in Software Engineering. Any feedback would be great but here are some that came to mind:
- How challenging are the courses?
- What was the biggest hurdle?
- What do you wish you knew before you started the program?
- Did you feel it was worth the ROI?
- Did the degree greatly improve employment opportunities, or were employers mainly focused on the technologies listed on your resume?
- How did the degree impact your income?
- Do you come across any negative inference to HES from the “traditional” Ivy leaguers?
A bit of background on me:
I have been in the web development field for 15 years (started as a graphic designer and now primarily doing front-end development). I was almost done at Rutgers for a BA in Communication but left to join a startup as a graphic designer and have been working since. I am currently working for a major consumer technology company as a web developer. I always felt not having a technical degree on my resume was a road block in getting through the HR filter for upper tier positions. I am currently in the process of finishing up my last few credits at Thomas Edison State College for a BA in Communications, since I have met most of the degree requirements already, and focused on getting a masters in CS or similar field to help with future employment.
And information you can share is greatly appreciated!
That list is small. I think zero.
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - rebel100 - 10-24-2015
If I ever find a way to get it funded I might bite on the ALM finance. Friday is wear your school jersey day at work. Be fun if it was Harvard crimson.
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - cookderosa - 10-24-2015
rebel100 Wrote:If I ever find a way to get it funded I might bite on the ALM finance. Friday is wear your school jersey day at work. Be fun if it was Harvard crimson.
Once my kids are through college, I'll likely pursue the ALM too, probably something completely random like the History of Medicine.
Harvard Extension School - Software Engineering ALM. Alumni/current student feedback. - Togas - 10-25-2015
Looking forward to the day HES has come mechanical engineering or technology related courses along those lines.