Harvard Extension vs SUNY Empire State

But more importantly what HES "IS" is one of several colleges of Harvard. I think we are in our own little bubble here and of course we all know what HES is and how it's a "real" Harvard degree, but still not from the B&M campus (damn run-on sentence). I believe that most people have no clue what the difference is. The big "BUT" is do employers know or care?

Again if it was me and it was for personal fulfillment I couldn't think of a better degree to have than one from Harvard (Extension or otherwise).

 

There are pros and cons to each program. How they weigh out depends on YOUR personal situation. It's important to state that the idea of one program v. another program is, by definition, a subjective opinion.

What is the rep of SUNY in Kansas?

Who will recognize HES (as opposed to "HARVARD") ?

What about the money? What about residency?

Lots of other questions.

It's an OK question to ask and we've had some good opinions expressed. If you're willing, the next step is to go deeper. Look at the courses. Who teaches them? What are the standards? What are the placement rates like? Don't just do the "name brand routine" It's so easy. Everyone knows Harvard so it's a lock. Maybe SUNY has a fantastic placement record. Who knows?

 

Avoid HES.

I, for one, would be ashamed to have Harvard on my resume if my degree was from the least selective school there.

At least the SUNY school will be considered ordinary and your degree won't be stigmatized.

 

That big bolded word is where I stopped reading. I don't understand how anyone would be ashamed of a degree from HES.

 

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(emphasis mine) Just a tiny detail. Harvard's Extension isn't a virtual school- it's absolutely brick and mortar. Their business as usual is on campus at night not online. Bonus, they happen to offer some of the courses with a distance option, but the class is still taught on campus- uploaded the next day for you to watch on the web. A few are online option only. I'll emphasize a few. Not many are online only. Certainly less than ~10%. Many more have the distance option, but really we are only talking about maybe ~25% of the courses even have the distance option. In any event, HES isn't a distance learning school, and there are no degrees that can be completed at a distance. In fact, they reduced the number of distance courses that you can count toward your degree last year. Any way you cut it, if you end up with an HES degree- you went TO Cambridge to do at least 1 semester, likely 2.

 

Often not talked about here, but in order to enroll in a master's program through HES, you are spending no less than 12K out of pocket before you can apply for financial aid. You have to complete 3 courses before you can apply, one of which must be the proseminar. That has to be done on campus- so you'll be spending 7 weeks over the summer in dorms or hotel. The dorm rate is $5K. Minor detail, but when you map out a degree plan, you'd be a fool not to use your one residency visit to knock out of your required campus courses in one visit. So, in all fairness, you are paying for 4 courses ($2500 each) plus books, plus travel and accommodations. This is BEFORE you enroll. If you meet the GPA and entrance requirements, there is no reason to predict being denied admission- they say as much on the web site- however, it's a gamble. What if you fail your proseminar?

So, a factor is that you will need cash up front for HES. I don't know about SUNY.

 

For sure. In my case, if I decide to take the ALB route at HES I would have to spend at least 17k, probably more. At SUNY-Esc I'd get another BA for around 5k.

 

To add to this, I have been told (sorry I don't have any stats) that HES students continue to be primarily "butt in classroom" students many of whom never take a distance learning course during their degree program.

 

Why do you want another bachelor's degree anyway? I don't think it's going to add to your employability.

And yes, I'd be ashamed to hold a HES degree. They shamelessly piggyback off the Harvard name (and the reputation of its college, law school, business school, etc.) and take advantage of less than scholarly people who want to become "Harvard men" (and women).

I've come to respect schools like Princeton and Caltech more because they don't use money-makers like HES. All of their programs are top notch and selective. The same can't be said for HES, Harvard Summer School (program for high school underclassmen who want to say "I'm going to Harvard" to their friends; in reality the selectivity level is close to zero), Harvard GSE, and Harvard Kennedy School (although they have some redeeming features, I'd bet most of their students would rather be at HLS or HBS... just saying).

 

As I said earlier, it won't - it's just for personal reasons. I work in the art/media field 0 in this field what matters is your portfolio, nothing else.

Well, you're position is totally nonsense (Harvard Extension graduates ARE Harvard graduates because Harvard says so, like you or not) but it's the fact that so many people think like you (I'm still not sure why, no one seems to care about Columbia adult degree program...for example) that makes me wonder that if in the end a SUNY-ESC will have the same weight as a HES degree.

 

It used to be:

Harvard University Degree Name in Extension Studies, concentration in X.

To others who have commented on earlier posts. Of course you're right, I'm not looking to be contrary, but I can only truthfully comment on what I've experienced.

 

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Remember when the SAT used to have an analogy section? Where you looked at relationships between two words in a pair and compared the relationship in the same context parallel to another pair? Yeah. They should bring that section back.

In other news:
MOST colleges within a university that offer a distance learning degree do so from an alternative campus (Continuing Education is Harvard's), but people continue to miss this point. It' likely-not certain but likely- Premiere, that if you are earning a distance learning degree, it is from an alternative campus. You should check so you wouldn't be embarrassed.

 

The stigma attached to the Extension School offsets the Harvard name and puts it on equal footing with SUNY.

Columbia's School of General Studies also has quite a bit of stigma attached to it but they at least take regular courses with Columbia College students. Columbia GS is far superior to HES in my opinion.

 

And why exactly are you posting this in response to my post?

I also never said that HES graduates aren't real Harvard graduates. They are like Harvard graduates with an asterisk attached.

 

Ok so you don't care for the school's policies regarding using their elite name to admit students into what you consider their lesser program. I understand this point but to say you would be ashamed of any accredited degree that you put in time, money, and hard work is simply irrational.

Also, like I was corrected about above by Jennifer HES is a school for adult learners and not typically DL. Do you think that adult learners shouldn't be given a nontraditional option to attend Harvard? After all this entire board is filled with nontraditional students from all walks of life with different aspirations and desires. I chose my school (Penn State) because of name recognition AND the quality of the program. Do you believe I'm less educated for having attended their online school rather than attend University Park courses? I enjoy the fact that Universities offer chances for adults like me the chance to receive a quality education AND utilize their name.

I just believe the word "ashamed" is a poor choice when describing an accredited degree.

 

I also never said that HES graduates aren't real Harvard graduates. They are like Harvard graduates with an asterisk attached.

No, they are not "like" Harvard graduates with an asterisk. They ARE Harvard graduates who earned a degree through the Continuing Education college at Harvard.

Trying to draw parallels between CALTEC and HES shows a bit of a misunderstanding of a few things....but I can't believe I got pulled into this game before my second cup of coffee. Premiere, do you have a distance learning degree? I'm thinking no. I'm thinking you are here to slam distance education. I really should have that second cup of coffee before I post. My apologies for being slow to catch myself.

 

Sure, you're technically a graduate of Harvard University if you earn an A.L.B. from HES but unlike graduates of Harvard College, HLS, HBS, and HMS (and other top-notch Harvard schools) you won't be put on a fast track to a successful career.

How the heck did I draw a parallel between Caltech (not CALTEC, as you seem to think its called) and HES? I said that Caltech doesn't stoop to selling its name like Harvard does with HES. Got it?

 

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LOL, Harvard College is undergrad. HLS, HBS, and HMS are graduate colleges. Wow. Ok, school's over, I have laundry to do.

 

Do you honestly think I don't know that Harvard College is Harvard's undergraduate school? The term "college" designates undergraduate schools. HLS, HBS, and HMS are not even graduate "colleges". They're graduate schools. Who's wrong now?

Original poster, since you're studying just for the knowledge I suggest you go with the cheaper option. Don't let HES draw you in with the Harvard name. It's clearly the worst school at the university.

First you claim I somehow compared Caltech to HES and now I don't know what a college is? Okay then...