Attending Harvard Extension has become a huge joke?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by bennylinus, Jan 9, 2011.

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  1. bennylinus

    bennylinus New Member

    What's your opinion on people taking open admissions courses through HES just to say they've attended Harvard? Same with Cornell, Notre Dame and Stanford now offering coursework online. Most of these online degrees/certificates through these universities are just cash cows and really have no tough admissions standards. Anyone can pay for an e-certificate through Cornell or ND. Same with Stanford and Berkley. One could argue that it's easy to get into the HES program, but hard to stay in. I would accept that argument. I think a degree earned through the HES is a proud achievement.

    There are many online programs through state universities that have pretty tough admissions standards and rigorous program requirements. At the end of the day, I'd rather have a degree from a state university with a tough admissions standard than a degree from HES. It really seems like it's becoming a laughing stalk akin to the University of Phoenix.
     
  2. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    Really? I think most people in the "real world" have no idea that HES even exists.
     
  3. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    __________
    :iagree:
     
  4. bennylinus

    bennylinus New Member

    Those in academia most certainly differentiate degrees earned through HES and Harvard College.

    However, you're probably correct in assuming that most employers wouldn't know the difference.

    Still, attending an open enrollment course through HES, just to say one attended Harvard, seems a bit silly.
     
  5. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    .....get out the popcorn.......hasn't this been beat to death?
     
  6. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    IMO, if it says "Harvard" on it, it raises the stature of your vita or resume by an order of magnitude. Maybe something from the Harvard extension is not as prestigious as physically attending Harvard, but it's still pretty cool.
     
  7. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    1. It's not a joke if you're carrying a degree from the extension.
    2. It's become a bit of a running joke in the Harvard community that there are many many more people claiming Harvard affiliation than are actively enrolled in programs.
    3. I can tell you from interviewing many people in the extension degree programs that the people who take one course and then laud their affiliation are disliked by those in programs.

    But end of the day, the school isn't a joke. I second Cook's comment. People need to look at old threads and just necro if they really want to dig up history.
     
  8. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    I am going to attend a Harvard continuing education course just so I can put it on my resume. In the world of academia there is no significance to it, but to non-academic people, it will be a positive (and interesting) influence. :bandit:
     
  9. HikaruBr

    HikaruBr Member

    There is a gigantic difference between taking a class at HES and completing a degree there.
    The degrees are not Open admission, by the way.
     
  10. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    The Harvard endowment topped 27 billion dollars in 2010. They have so much money they've made the offer that if you can get in but can't afford the tuition they'll pay your way. Any admitted student with a family income of less than 60K pays nothing. Zero. Do you really think that they need HES as a "cash cow?"

    Harvard Management Company
     
  11. bennylinus

    bennylinus New Member

    Greed has no boundaries.
     
  12. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    So I proved you wrong and you try to save face.
     
  13. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    So, let's play a game. Everyone quick find online degrees offered at their state's university/state schools. Quick, hurry, I'll wait.

    OH LOOK! Universities have extension and continuing education colleges too, and oh look, they offer degrees through them....as in NOT their business college, as in NOT their education college....yet people don't open threads questioning the validity of their MBA or MEd degrees. Why? (she asks rhetorically)


    Having only 64 posts makes it relatively simple and quick to understand a person's position on DL issues. Why they would come here to play is anyone's guess.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 10, 2011
  14. bennylinus

    bennylinus New Member

    You didn't prove anything.
     
  15. bennylinus

    bennylinus New Member

    Most continuing education branches of a university are legitimate. HES specifically names it's degrees with titles such as Master of Liberal Arts and Bachelor of Liberal Arts. They are titled these different degree names in order to separate the distinction between HES and the real Harvard College.
     
  16. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    The distinction is in the name, yes, but since Harvard College doesn't award master's degrees I think that's kinda obvious.
     
  17. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    You obviously don't understand the structure of Harvard. HES offers both masters and undergraduate degrees (ALM and ALB), Harvard College only offers the AB. Graduate degrees, both masters and doctorates, are offered through all of the schools at Harvard with the exception of Harvard College and guess what, they all have different names.

    Forgive me if Im mistaken, but haven't you been studying an MLA at TCU? What is the difference between that and attending HES?
     
  18. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Did they tell you this or are you on Harvard's board that made this decision?
     
  19. bennylinus

    bennylinus New Member

    Well, the actual degree was through TCU, not continuing education or extension studies etc. However, I've moved on to an actual M.A. program. I don't have anything against M.L.A. programs. This argument is about the perception of HES. By the way, I never said I personally had a problem with HES. I'm just stating the fact that degrees through HES are not quite up to par with degrees from Harvard College. Don't believe me? Ask around. Ask an alumni of Harvard College what she or he thinks about degrees from HES.
     
  20. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef


    Of course he doesn't understand, which is why he's here poking the bear. Nuff said.
     

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