Harvard Extension School

[MCATScheduler]

Hi all,

I graduated last May, and have since been living and teaching in Phuket, Thailand during my gap year. I graduated with a subpar GPA as far as Medical School Admissions are concerned (A 3.67 cGPA, 3.45 sGPA). In order to remedy this, I knew I had to take additional science classes. But, I know Phuket Tech College classes will not be accepted by AMCAS! So, I enrolled at Harvard Extension School, and took 32 credits of Science via correspondence. I watch my lectures at a local juice bar with excellent wifi, and take my exams through a proctoring service that administers TOEFL exams here in Phuket.

I've gotten an A in every class I've taken at Harvard Extension School, as I realize the seriousness of a DIY Post-Bacc. I'm now going to be applying with a 3.72 cGPA, 3.65 sGPA.

However, I was recently told that Distance Education is looked down upon, and am now frantically worrying that my year at HES will be for naught. Opinions?

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[FalconSlice]

Hi all,

I graduated last May, and have since been living and teaching in Phuket, Thailand during my gap year. I graduated with a subpar GPA as far as Medical School Admissions are concerned (A 3.67 cGPA, 3.45 sGPA). In order to remedy this, I knew I had to take additional science classes. But, I know Phuket Tech College classes will not be accepted by AMCAS! So, I enrolled at Harvard Extension School, and took 32 credits of Science via correspondence. I watch my lectures at a local juice bar with excellent wifi, and take my exams through a proctoring service that administers TOEFL exams here in Phuket.

I've gotten an A in every class I've taken at Harvard Extension School, as I realize the seriousness of a DIY Post-Bacc. I'm now going to be applying with a 3.72 cGPA, 3.65 sGPA.

However, I was recently told that Distance Education is looked down upon, and am now frantically worrying that my year at HES will be for naught. Opinions?

$500 if you say "Harvard Extension School" one more time.

 

[MCATScheduler]

$500 if you say "Harvard Extension School" one more time.

lol I only said it twice, doesn't seem excessive to me. HES, happy now? lol

 

[MCATScheduler]

I can't imagine that schools (especially top schools) will be too happy with distance education, but why worry about it? What's done is done.

lols top schools aren't really in my reach. You know, when I drove up to Boston to talk to admissions members about this, they reassured me that no one even cares. I was a fool for listening to them! I loved the classes, but I mean I worked my tail off, could've done that and more sitting in some lecture in my hometown.

 

[IlDestriero]

You were in Thailand. Your options are limited. Don't sweat it. If anyone was to ask why you took those classes vs regular ones, tell them the Thailand juice bar story. Then they'll understand.

 

[ridethecliche]

I bet you were graded on the same curve as students in the class, right? If that's true then it should help your cause.

Also, tell me the awesome places I should go to in Thailand this summer!

 

[MCATScheduler]

It was! Is there a way to explain that? I feel like not many people (including adcoms) know what HES even is lol.

Hmm, going to Bangkok? Wat Pho is a must, probably my favorite thing around those regions. If you're up for a bus ride, sanctuary of truth is pretty awe-inspiring, and on the beach. Or if you want to see something similar to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Wat Phra Sanphet is pretty cool.

And obviously, come stay in Phuket for like as long as possible and visit our nice and desolate off-season beaches haha.

I bet you were graded on the same curve as students in the class, right? If that's true then it should help your cause.

Also, tell me the awesome places I should go to in Thailand this summer!

 

[Neutropix]

Sarvard Sextention Hool

 

[ridethecliche]

It was! Is there a way to explain that? I feel like not many people (including adcoms) know what HES even is lol.

Hmm, going to Bangkok? Wat Pho is a must, probably my favorite thing around those regions. If you're up for a bus ride, sanctuary of truth is pretty awe-inspiring, and on the beach. Or if you want to see something similar to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Wat Phra Sanphet is pretty cool.

And obviously, come stay in Phuket for like as long as possible and visit our nice and desolate off-season beaches haha.

Don't you get a committee letter from HES? That would explain things.

Thanks for the recs!

 

[MCATScheduler]

Yeah no worries! I am sure you will love the beauty and how CHEAP everything is.

As for the committee letter, I could ask a handful of professors to write me a rec b/c they've been active participants in this whole Phuket Fulbright Adventure of mine, but I'm not sure if this would aggravate things.

As for Committee letter, no, I think that is only offered to students who go through the Pre-med program at HES, and I did not. I took my own tailored Medical Science courses because my pre-reqs were fulfilled during my time in Undergrad.

Don't you get a committee letter from HES? That would explain things.

Thanks for the recs!

 

[ucsbfuturemd]

anyone have any feedback about doing pre med post bacc at HES without being in the HCP program?
has anyone successfully gotten into medical/dental/PA school taking this route?

Other than the committee letter (and access to federal loans), is there another huge difference between being in the HCP program and taking classes informally at HES? Is there access to advising either way? Looks like the tuition would be the same.