Summary of HES Information Session from 15-Jun-2011
Here's my summary of the HES Information Session held on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 from 5pm to 9pm. The event was held at Memorial Hall and the Science Center.
People I met with:
- Joseph Dunbar (HEPS)
- Annie Stumpf (HEPS)
- William Fixsen
- Owen Peterson
Annenberg Hall inside the Memorial Hall complex hosted an Info Fair with all the different programs within Extension School manning a booth and answering questions of potential students.
The Health Careers Program (HCP) was the first booth to the right as soon as you entered the hall. Dr. Fixsen and Dr. Peterson from the program, and Joseph Dunbar and Annie Stumpf from the Harvard Extension Pre-Health Society were present.
Some fresh fruit, crackers and cheese, and beverages were served. The info session was from 5pm-6:15pm and then we moved Sander's Hall where the Dean of the Extension School, the Director of the Biotechnology program, and Dr. Malan from Computer Science talked for an hour about the Extension School.
Sander's Hall by the way is the same hall where the popular course Justice with Michael Sandel was filmed (available online). There is enough wood in the Memorial Hall complex to build a 19th century navy.
Once this session was over we headed to the break-out sessions in the Science Center. The Science Center, by the way, is where most of our classes will be held. Dr. Fixsen and Dr. Peterson hosted the breakout session and fielded questions, with Dr. Fixsen mostly doing all the talking. There were about 15 people who attended this session.
All this is well and good but not actionable. So here comes the meat. The information below is combination of responses that I gathered from Dr. Fixsen, Joseph Dunbar, and Annie.
How many people are in the HCP?
Approximately, 300. A majority of the people that take the basic science classes with will be part of the HCP. But there is also high attrition. Close to 100~120 people will drop out. Physics seems to be the dog that guards the entry to other courses at the HCP.
Should I change the order in which I take courses? Ex: BIOS and CHEM first and the other later.
Not recommended. The courses are scheduled in such a way so that you can get the maximum out of each class that you take. They account for dependencies and switching the order will place an undue burden on the student to make up for those dependencies. In short, stick with the suggested order.
Can I complete the program in 1 year?
Yes, this is technically possible. Although, the number of people who are going down this route are few and far in-between. The grind can be pretty ruthless, especially, the one summer semester that is needed to complete the program. Essentially a 14-week semester program is being compressed to around 6~8weeks. Plus, the courses would have to be taken during the day and you would be paying 3 times the price of an HES course. But this might work for some people.
Can I complete the program in 3 years, especially if I am working full-time?
Yes, but this is not recommended because medical schools ask the question as to why one took so long to complete a post-bac program. They don't seem to care whether your "40-hour" job actually involves putting in 60-hours. They seem to view the 2 year completion as a test-of-fitness for medical school.
Can you tell us more about sponsorship?
Dr. Fixsen and Co. essentially serve as your pre-med committee. The maximum number of people that HCP has sponsored is around 80. I believe that this year the number is close to 50. Sponsorship essentially involves creating a comprehensive recommendation letter that the HCP provides to the medical school admissions committee. In order to write this letter, a student would have to write close to 13 essays providing a detailed profile of him/her. They would also have to get letters of recommendation from other people that they have worked with or studied under. Putting all of this together HCP sponsors you.
Sponsorship is not easy. You essentially have to work your butt off to get it. The question that needs to be answered is: Why should an ADCOM pick you over some other candidate? The more stellar your MCAT score, credentials, and experience, the better your chances. If you are lacking in any of the aforementioned areas, no letter from Harvard can move heaven and earth to give you a spot in medical school.
What's all this confusion about diploma vs. non-diploma?
Harvard want's to restrict the number of people who have access to their resources. As an extension student you pay one-third of what a day-time Harvard student pays. So they implement this restriction by saying that in order to be eligible for the diploma one shouldn't have taken any of the post-bac courses previously. There are definitely perks that one has by being eligible for the diploma, such as Harvard ID, access to gym, museums, etc. But medical schools could care less if you have a diploma from HES. If you are getting into the program to bandy about a Harvard ID then you should seriously take a rain check. But if you are in it to go to medical school, you will get a fine education.
How to do well in the HCP?
Be dedicated. A lot of people find Physics to be very hard. Spend extra time on it. You might have to look for additional resources given that it is very conceptual. When it comes to Chemistry and Biology, focus on the notes provided in class. While reading the textbooks will be useful, the notes and lectures are extremely well organized and should shepherd you through the course.
I work full-time 40-hours a week. How do I volunteer?
There are no good options. You just have to make it happen. Volunteer experience is extremely important. There is no easy way around. Some have quit their full-time job in order to focus on school and volunteer work.
Some other comments:
- Many medical schools now require students to have taken Biochemistry. It is suggested that one take a Biochemistry course during the "glide" year.
- Applying late to a medical school can be disadvantageous. The 2-year time frame of the HCP puts you in a good position to apply to medical school in a timely manner.
- Get volunteer experience. Period. Medicine is Boston's de-facto industry, aside from Dunkin Donuts. If you can't get a volunteer job in Boston, then you should seriously reconsider your choices. Just show up at a hospital or a practice, and pester them to take you in as a volunteer.
- Around 85% of those sponsored get into medical school. Remember, this is not 85% of 300 but closer to 85% of 50 or 80.
- There are other factors that need to be considered while applying. Race, ethnicity, and gender do play a role. For instance, Asian Americans are a minority but are over-represented in the medical field. So the bar to get in is very high. Whereas, Hispanics are underrepresented and sought after. If you are Native American, you probably have a very good shot. These are the realities as they are and it is important to be aware of these.
- Also consider Osteopathic Medicine (OM). There are currently 26 OM schools in the US. Also, if you have a lower GPA to start with and do a stunning job on your post-bac, OM schools look favorably at your recent grades whereas Allopathic Medical (AM) schools just end up averaging your grade for the equivalent courses.
- People from California are at a disadvantage when applying to medical school because there are way too many people applying to get in for the limited number of spots. This leads them to apply to schools outside the state.
My comments:
- This was a great event to attend. One person in the audience did win a free course. It was done Oprah style with us having to check under our seats for an envelope.
- Dr. Fixsen is simply outstanding. He tells it like it is. If you get a chance please set-up an appointment, and talk to him.
- I walked out realizing the daunting challenges that lie ahead in the next two years.
Were any SDNers in the audience yesterday?
Hope this helps.
~cluster
