For Harvard Extension School, do you take the admissions requirement courses first?

[Life Long Learning]

Western Carolina is one of the 3 schools selected to participate in the new NC Promise program this year 2018-2019, making tuition for all in-state students a flat rate of $500 per semester unlimited.  HES doesn't care where/what your undergrad degree is in, but there aren't many ways to chop the cost for the Master's program- so my opinion is to do everything within your power to spend as little as possible now so you can use your $$$ on your HES degree - you'll need it.  I don't know the dynamics of that program, but there will be travel to Boston in there as well.  
Rigor is to be assumed.
I can only share my limited experience, and I haven't taken any classes in your field, so take my opinion with a grain of salt- but I have taken dozens (and my husband and kids have taken dozens^) of tedious brainless thoughtless hunt-and-peck online trivial pursuit games under the category of "online classes."  I can barely drag myself through TEEX to pull out 2 credits for Cyber101 this week.  To me, they are painfully boring and a waste of my time- but, the price is right, expiration is around the corner, low hanging fruit and all.  Harvard grad classes are not that.  Don't go in with fear, go in ready to work, and you won't be disapointed.

Wow!

This is neat.  Instate $500, Out-of-State $2500.  That is dirt cheap.  The video even says lower fees for online students?

Through NC Promise, the state will significantly reduce student tuition cost at three UNC system institutions – Elizabeth City State University, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Western Carolina University – beginning in Fall 2018.

https://ncpromise.com/

Learner, thanks for posting that in its own thread- I did share what I know, but it's a new program, and even last week I attended a homeschool meeting about the program and most of the details are still big question marks.  You can bet, however, that I'm paying very close attention.

What is the general NC reputation of these three schools?  I have heard of WCU, but NOT the other two.