Moving out of State for Harvard Extension: Is it worth?

[Twinkling Star]

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I am planning to move from LA to do the Health Careers Program at Harvard Entension School. I haven't done any science prerequisite, so I am starting from scratch. Is this program together with volunteering at the world's renowned Harvard hospitals worth moving across the country?

It's a program through the Harvard Extension Program, not at Harvard. I will be taking separate classes from Harvard undergrad, but all my professors are from Harvard. I will also have a great access to TAs and professors who I hear are to be very experienced with post-bac pre-med students.

How competitive is it to retain a decent GPA in the program? Also, how much should I be expecting to pay for housing in Cambridge?

 

[ltrain]

Hey there,

I'm also going to be starting HES in the fall. So I don't know about the competitiveness of classes, but I went to undergrad in Cambridge, so I can help out with the housing.

It'll be really expensive if you look in Harvard Square. Best bet is to check out Porter Sq (less expensive - you can probably find a place for $600 - $800 a month - by "place" I mean a bedroom in an apt) or Central Sq area (where you can probabaly find even cheaper, but it's sketchy in places). Check out craigslist.org...

ltrain

 

[blankguy]

It's a highly regarded program so it's worth doing, but very competitive. A lot of their upper level biology courses are in fact taught in the medical campuses. If Harvard doesn't really pan out for you there are other programs around Boston. Like Brandeis, Tufts and BU eventhough there are significantly more expensive(BU being the cheapest of the 3). Harvard is probably the best known program in the Boston area it seems. Before you think of moving to Boston from California, talk to Dr. Fixsen, he is the program director if you haven't already done so. According to people of this board this program seems to have a very good success rate and it is highly thought of by medical schools.

BTW it IS Harvard. Whether it is Harvard College or Harvard Extension it is Harvard.

The good thing about their program is that a lot of courses meet in the evening past the afternoon rush hour so it will minimize commuter/parking headaches.

 

[tkim]

Hey there,

I'm also going to be starting HES in the fall. So I don't know about the competitiveness of classes, but I went to undergrad in Cambridge, so I can help out with the housing.

It'll be really expensive if you look in Harvard Square. Best bet is to check out Porter Sq (less expensive - you can probably find a place for $600 - $800 a month - by "place" I mean a bedroom in an apt) or Central Sq area (where you can probabaly find even cheaper, but it's sketchy in places). Check out craigslist.org...

ltrain

Don't forget Somerville, which borders Porter Square.

 

[Cold Penguin]

How many students are actually taking pre-med prerequisites in HCS and how many are taking upper-level classes after having completed their pre-req. elsewhere?

The program handout says that if you are in the Health Careers Program, you will be given an ID, for a fee(how much is this fee by the way?), and have access to recreational activities and Harvard housing list. How helpful is this Harvard housing list? Has anyone used it? I really don't want to pay any more than $600 for my rent. ($650 at most)

I will be a certified EMT by the time I get there. Does anyone have any advice for job search? I really need to be employed by Harvard to be eligible for TAP, and job search seems as difficult as the housing search

 

[Twinkling Star]

Any other comments?

 

[junebuguf]

I don't know exactly what the tuition is like at Harvard Extension, but if it is as high as I hear it is (~$2000 per class) I would ask you to reconsider. Besides the tuition the cost of living in Boston will be high as well. If you plan on taking classes full-time and volunteering, you will be around $40 in debt for the year. All for a Harvard Extension School Certificate? Completing this program in no way assures you admission to any medical school (I may be wrong, but there are no linkage programs).

Also, if you're from California, you should seriously consider the change in weather. Believe me, I speak from experience. I'm from FL and moved to DC to complete a post-bacc program and I really couldnt handle the cold weather. Its one of the reasons I'm probably headed back south for the next year. It wont affect everyone, but you should think about it.

Speaking as someone who has moved pretty far to complete a post-bacc program, I can honestly tell you that I do not think my decision to enroll in a fancy post-bacc at a more prestigious school was worth it, and this is the key--ESPECIALLY FOR THE BASIC PRE-REQ CLASSES. These classes are essentially taught the same everywhere. Harvard may, indeed, teach them far differently, but its unlikely. I really believe that academically you're getting hosed if you think Harvard Extension will give you a better education. Your education is what you put into it. Besides, are you seriously telling me that UCLA doesnt have an excellent undergraduate program?

As far as volunteering at the 'world reknowned Harvard hospitals,' guess what? Theyre not going to let you treat any patients, in fact, they wont let you do anything related to patient contact other than wheel them around the hospital, answer phones and possibly change bedpans. You're not going to be able to claim having completed a residency from Mass General Hosp, so dont think anyone will be impressed that you volunteered at Harvard and not some xyz community hospital.

I'm really astonished by the depth of your ignorance. Seriously, I really dont intend to be demeaning by that statement, but moving to Boston and paying $40k when there are perfectly good schools and hospitals in the LA area is ridiculous.

Read this forum....meticulously. You'll find that it doesnt matter what hospital you volunteered at, it doesnt even matter if you volunteered at a hospital--many people dont! Just that you were involved in community service. Choose something that you enjoy doing.

I dont know what delusions you seem to have set in your mind about going to Harvard somehow increasing your chances at med school. The fact is, it wont. Ask anyone on this forum and they'll tell you that with comparable grades from UCLA and Harvard Extension, your chances are only infinitesimally better at med school. Besides if you're from CA, why move to Boston only to move back home for med school? Stay home, save money, get involved in community service activities in *your* community. Any of the UC's are fine for remedial post-bacc work. And even if you did want to do a formal post-bacc program, think Columbia or Penn (both ivy's, both with formal linkage programs).

 

[ltrain]

junebuguf -

the basic pre-med classes are $800 a class at HES - much cheaper than the rates at most other schools. also, the classes are all held in the evenings, making it possible for one to work during the days. cost of living is high in boston, but cheap classes + working = coming out even (not 40k in debt!). that's why i'm going!

granted, i'm not moving across the country...

 

[junebuguf]

ltrain: If you already live in the Boston area, I would think that HES would be the best option to complete the pre-med reqs. But if you're from California and living in the second largest metropolitan area in the country, then I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities to work while going to school. Plus, UCLA and USC are both fine schools, and I would think one or the other would offer evening classes for adults, if not outright evening sections for those intro classes.

I didnt know HES was that reasonable. I would have sworn I read something like $2k a class either on this board or on their website when I was researching post-bacc programs. For that much a class, its definetely a bargain, but again, not if you literally have to move cross country for it. Just my opinion. Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[LoneCoyote]

I have to say I pretty much agree with junebug. I would probably not move all the way across the country just to do a post-bac program, even if it is Harvard. I have made a cross country move, as well as several smaller moves, including my move for post-bac, and it is not the easiest thing. Boston is a fun place to live, especiallly if you are in school. I went to college in the area and it was great in many ways. But it is an expensive city and has miserable winters, in my opinion.

As for the Harvard program specifically I do not know much about it except the experiences of one friend who was not that impressed. She was from Boston originally, working for Harvard med school as a researcher and got the tuition assistance, so for her it was not a big deal to go there. She did great in the admissions process, but would have done great had she gone to UMass or elsewhere because she had a strong application and had gone to a top undergrad. She thought the classes were large, some were well taught, others were not, and that they were full of very competitive people who she did not like. Like junebug, I do not think the name on the hospital you volunteered at makes a huge difference... I volunteered at an unknown county hospital and got to do a TON more than fellow students who went to the bigger name unversity medical center across the city. I think being able to talk about having substantial patient encounters in your essays and interviews is more important than where you did it.

I think it might be worth moving cross country for if you really feel your application needs a boost that the Harvard name might give you. I would argue that you could get that at Scripps or Mills if you wanted to stay in California. It also might be worth it if you just want a new experience, have always wanted to live in Boston, or are just looking at the move for personal growth. If you can line up a job to have your tuition paid for, it also might be worth it. One other thing to consider is your state residency. From what I observed with my friend, Mass is a great state to be from in this process since they only take Mass residents at UMass. If you don't want to deal with the UC admissions games, which are tough even with a strong app., and you want a state that is a bit easier to have a shot at a great state school, maybe moving and changing your residency to MA would not be a bad move. If you want to come home, just keep everything in CA and claim you left for educational purposes and you will be fine for UC schools.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with your decision. And if you do end up at Harvard I hope you enjoy Boston and Cambridge 🙂

 

[blankguy]

I've been told the samething that HES is very competitive. There are people on this board who will tell you this. However if you insist on moving to Boston there are other options like UMass-Boston, which is now the second least expensive school to take the courses. There's BU which tends to restrict the number of people in there postbacc program. Tufts and Brandeis which are very $$$$$. I tend to agree with people on this thread, if you move solely for the postbacc then its not worth it. I'm fortunate that I am in an area where I have lots of options.

 

[Curious Tom]

It's been a while since I visited this site.
Perhaps I can say few things regarding the issues.
I moved from CA for Harvard postbac. program two years before, have completed all the required courses, took the MCAT in April and am now filling out the last of my secondaries applications.
Was it worth it? For me, very much so. I have enjoyed the great environment, met many new peoples, made great friends, and got a wonderful job at the MGH Neuro-research lab under the world renowned doctor in that specialty. It is refreshing to see him being so ordinary and humble despite his reputation. I am digressing here.
The classes costed only $750. THe professors are great mostly. Students are from all over the nation from all walks of life. Competitive? Well, why does it matter since the grades are not curved? (Except biology). Was it tough to get all A's? That totally depends on your capacity, but with determined desire and will-power it shouldn't be hard at all. Wait, as I am writing, I remember writing the same at another thread. Why don't you check that thread. I think its title is "Harvard extension...."
I've also seen someone failing and having to go back home after spending large sum of money. But as we all know not everyone is meant to be a physician.

If you like trying new things, meeting new people, and facing challenges, do come and enjoy Boston.

 

[PositivePostBac]

It's been a while since I visited this site.
Perhaps I can say few things regarding the issues.
I moved from CA for Harvard postbac. program two years before, have completed all the required courses, took the MCAT in April and am now filling out the last of my secondaries applications.
Was it worth it? For me, very much so. I have enjoyed the great environment, met many new peoples, made great friends, and got a wonderful job at the MGH Neuro-research lab under the world renowned doctor in that specialty. It is refreshing to see him being so ordinary and humble despite his reputation. I am digressing here.
The classes costed only $750. THe professors are great mostly. Students are from all over the nation from all walks of life. Competitive? Well, why does it matter since the grades are not curved? (Except biology). Was it tough to get all A's? That totally depends on your capacity, but with determined desire and will-power it shouldn't be hard at all. Wait, as I am writing, I remember writing the same at another thread. Why don't you check that thread. I think its title is "Harvard extension...."
I've also seen someone failing and having to go back home after spending large sum of money. But as we all know not everyone is meant to be a physician.

If you like trying new things, meeting new people, and facing challenges, do come and enjoy Boston.

I have to agree completely with Tom here... I attended the HCP and I thought it was amazing... I moved from NYC, not across the country, but I can tell you a few things:

1) the discrepency between the course costs comes from the issue of the extension school versus the summer school... extension course are taught during the year in the evening by professors from Harvard that do not have other undergraduate teaching duties during the year, research fellows, or professors from other schools... because it is run through the extension school/division of continuing ed, whose mission statement is to provide education to the greater boston area as a community service, the division is not run for a profit and classes are at cost... in comparison, the summer school is run by the faculty of arts and sciences and is designed specifically for profit... the same classes run through the extension school, 1-2 nights a week over eight months will cost you $1500 for the year (750/sem), but will cost you nearly $5000 run during the day, five days a week for eight weeks over the summer

2) A's are not easy, but anyone who is truly dedicated will do well enough to get what they need to get into some medical school... the people are for the most part very nice and driven but cooperative, not overly competitive with each other... there are some gunners and some nasty folks, but in general its a truly great place to learn and make friends

3) Unless you have actually been to Boston and been around the Longwood medical area, you cannot understand the resources that you have at your fingertips for volunteer work, research and jobs... no, you can't put your hand on a patient here or at anywhere else for that matter, but the people you can work under are amazing

4) Bottom line, its not an easy road and they don't hold your hand, but if you everything you need to succeed is there... you just have to have the guts and determination to take it,... 😉