Official Harvard Extension 2012 Thread

[Qrxn]

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The answer key to the physics final is up.

Thanks for the heads up. I'd given up by this point. Will we be getting these exams back?

 

[TheYeren]

Hey all!

I'm 95% sure I'll be coming here in the fall but I'm a little worried about the schedule. It seems that people normally take chem and physics the first year and orgo and bio the second year but I'm wondering if it's possible to take orgo over the summer? I'm graduating with a bachelors in neuroscience so I have a lot of bio classes and it would suck for me to have to stay at HES for an extra year just to take orgo.

 

[ovoxo]

Hey all!

I'm 95% sure I'll be coming here in the fall but I'm a little worried about the schedule. It seems that people normally take chem and physics the first year and orgo and bio the second year but I'm wondering if it's possible to take orgo over the summer? I'm graduating with a bachelors in neuroscience so I have a lot of bio classes and it would suck for me to have to stay at HES for an extra year just to take orgo.

Congrats! I'm sending in my app this week for Fall 2012, so hopefully I will be joining you too! What were your stats, if you don't mind?

 

[MedWonk]

Hey all!

I'm 95% sure I'll be coming here in the fall but I'm a little worried about the schedule. It seems that people normally take chem and physics the first year and orgo and bio the second year but I'm wondering if it's possible to take orgo over the summer? I'm graduating with a bachelors in neuroscience so I have a lot of bio classes and it would suck for me to have to stay at HES for an extra year just to take orgo.

Yes, you can absolutely take orgo during the summer. Just be ready to work.

 

[johnnyscans]

Hey all!

I'm 95% sure I'll be coming here in the fall but I'm a little worried about the schedule. It seems that people normally take chem and physics the first year and orgo and bio the second year but I'm wondering if it's possible to take orgo over the summer? I'm graduating with a bachelors in neuroscience so I have a lot of bio classes and it would suck for me to have to stay at HES for an extra year just to take orgo.

The workload for summer orgo is intense. 2 5 hr labs each week, class 5 days a week. The professors estimate the workload at 60+ hours.

What classes do you still have to take, or want to take?

 

[medadvicewanted]

I emailed the program and they told me not to apply with a 2.9 gpa...is this normal?

 

[TheYeren]

The workload for summer orgo is intense. 2 5 hr labs each week, class 5 days a week. The professors estimate the workload at 60+ hours.

What classes do you still have to take, or want to take?

Ah, that sounds intense but I wonder if it'd be worth it if it cut down on an entire year? I still have to take physics, chem, and orgo... I was planning on taking a few more upper level bio classes just so I don't get rusty.

 

[johnnyscans]

If you have to take physics chem and orgo why not take chem over the summer then physics/orgo during the year. You would have room in your schedule for an additional bio class each semester, and lots of people take summer chem (as opposed to the masochistic few who elect to take summer orgo). If you took summer orgo when would you study for and take your mcat? What cycle do you plan to apply in?

 

[johnnyscans]

I emailed the program and they told me not to apply with a 2.9 gpa...is this normal?

The program is open enrollment, but sponsorship is not. Anyone can pay the application fee and take classes, but the comittee letter requires acceptance ito the health careers program.

Most of us in the program are in it because of the comittee letter. Its hugely important that you have one if possible when applying to medical school.

Your concern prior to applying should be earning As in the 2 classes you're taking and MCAT preparation, since you mentioned you hae a retake scheduled. If you bomb that retake you are pretty much screwed. If you don't get As this semester you're in trouble also.

If you're deadset on applying before you finish classes email Dr Fixsen and ask for his advice.

 

[Qrxn]

If you're deadset on applying before you finish classes email Dr Fixsen and ask for his advice.

Medadvice, I cannot stress enough the importance of talking to Fixsen. Not only is he receptive and honest but he can provide far better advice than SDN.

 

[TheYeren]

Congrats! I'm sending in my app this week for Fall 2012, so hopefully I will be joining you too! What were your stats, if you don't mind?

Hey, sorry! I didn't see this the first time. I haven't actually applied yet but even if I don't get sponsorship I'll probably be taking classes there. Good luck though!

 

[TheYeren]

If you have to take physics chem and orgo why not take chem over the summer then physics/orgo during the year. You would have room in your schedule for an additional bio class each semester, and lots of people take summer chem (as opposed to the masochistic few who elect to take summer orgo). If you took summer orgo when would you study for and take your mcat? What cycle do you plan to apply in?

I guess what I was thinking about was doing orgo in the summer of 2013 and then taking my mcat after that? I don't really know much about the med school application cycle yet or even when the mcat is offered. Taking gen chem over the summer sounds good but I won't be able to take it this summer because I can't start at HES until the fall. I've heard of people taking orgo before gen chem but it seems weird to me...

 

[johnnyscans]

I guess what I was thinking about was doing orgo in the summer of 2013 and then taking my mcat after that? I don't really know much about the med school application cycle yet or even when the mcat is offered. Taking gen chem over the summer sounds good but I won't be able to take it this summer because I can't start at HES until the fall. I've heard of people taking orgo before gen chem but it seems weird to me...

Summer session doesn't end until the end of August. If you take summer Orgo you WILL NOT be able to effectively prepare for your MCAT at the same time. 60+ hours a week leaves no time for MCAT preparation.

That said, let's assume you follow a 3 month study plan - that's an end-of-November test date. The application cycle is closed by then so you won't be able to apply until June of 2014 anyway. To give you an idea - I'm planning an April 2013 MCAT date so my scores are released and I'm ready to apply come June 1st (which is when the application cycle opens). There are numerous benefits to applying early and none to applying late.

In essence, the last thing you want to do is rush yourself and end up bombing your MCAT or a summer class. One year in the grand scheme of things is nothing. It's better to be safe than sorry. Also, you will not be able to take Orgo without general Chem. Why can't you start HES until the fall?

 

[Enzyme1]

Tuition for classes in the summer is more than double the academic year, right? I hear taking G Chem if you're just starting is not recommended for the summer, but that was anecdotal by the admissions folks at Extension, so I wanted to know if anyone here has had no prior chem background and ended up taking it in the summer and excelled. I hear though that Tucci does not teach it in the summer so who would inconvenience themselves by doing so?

 

[MedWonk]

I took Gen Chem during the summer. I know Dr. Fixsen and Prof. Peterson will discourage you from taking any course during the summer, but it's totally doable (personal experience, got an A). They're not discouraging anyone to get down on them, but rather they do it because they want to make sure that you get the best possible grade in your classes. Matchacheep teaches it during the summer, and you'll get just as good an experience with her as you will with Tucci. You seriously can't go wrong with any of the Chem profs.

 

[Member111222]

Hey guys,

I am interested in doing this program but I have completed all the pre-reqs needed for medical school, I just need more upper level classes for academic enhancement. I have seen a few different people ask this question but I haven't seen a definitive response- would this program not be for me since I have completed General Bio/Chem/Physics and Orgo? Thanks in advance for the help...

 

[Qrxn]

Hey guys,

I am interested in doing this program but I have completed all the pre-reqs needed for medical school, I just need more upper level classes for academic enhancement. I have seen a few different people ask this question but I haven't seen a definitive response- would this program not be for me since I have completed General Bio/Chem/Physics and Orgo? Thanks in advance for the help...

You won't be eligible for the diploma, but this is straight from the website:

"Advanced elective courses are also available if you already have a science background but wish to enhance your credentials. Through the program you may apply for sponsorship in your pursuit of graduate admission and, if you qualify, a Diploma in Premedical Studies."

You should try hopping online and seeing the course options that interest you. There is a lot of upper level biology courses you could take.

 

[Sciengee]

If anyone here is currently taking Bio E-1b, can someone please send me the link to the course website? The one that's in the syllabus, http://isites.harvard.edu/k84935, seems to only have the syllabus posted and nothing else. I felt like an idiot when I came to lecture tonight and saw that everyone had the lecture slides printed out and I still can't find them on the website! Is there a different link? I didn't take E-1a, so I am completely new here..... Thanks!

EDIT: Never mind, figured it out. Turns out that, unlike the gen chem website, the content is hidden if you are not logged in.

 

[johnnyscans]

If anyone here is currently taking Bio E-1b, can someone please send me the link to the course website? The one that's in the syllabus, http://isites.harvard.edu/k84935, seems to only have the syllabus posted and nothing else. I felt like an idiot when I came to lecture tonight and saw that everyone had the lecture slides printed out and I still can't find them on the website! Is there a different link? I didn't take E-1a, so I am completely new here..... Thanks!

EDIT: Never mind, figured it out. Turns out that, unlike the gen chem website, the content is hidden if you are not logged in.

Treat those lecture notes like gold. You'll be expected to know everything on them, plus information from your reading, come test time. That said, good luck and enjoy the class. I found E-1a to be pretty interesting.

 

[Sciengee]

Treat those lecture notes like gold. You'll be expected to know everything on them, plus information from your reading, come test time. That said, good luck and enjoy the class. I found E-1a to be pretty interesting.

Thanks! To be honest, I was a little disappointed after the first lecture, when some fascinating material and an interesting textbook read (Origins of life...and I am a huge History Channel nerd!) resulted in a pretty boring lecture about the microscopics of it. I guess the fact that it's been years since I took Bio I doesn't really help me either, got lots of catching up to do. Are the exams all multiple choice?

 

[johnnyscans]

Thanks! To be honest, I was a little disappointed after the first lecture, when some fascinating material and an interesting textbook read (Origins of life...and I am a huge History Channel nerd!) resulted in a pretty boring lecture about the microscopics of it. I guess the fact that it's been years since I took Bio I doesn't really help me either, got lots of catching up to do. Are the exams all multiple choice?

Nope. They're a mix of true/false, short answer and multiple choice. The multiple choice suck because they may have more than one correct answer and no partial credit is assigned.

 

[MedWonk]

Thanks! To be honest, I was a little disappointed after the first lecture, when some fascinating material and an interesting textbook read (Origins of life...and I am a huge History Channel nerd!) resulted in a pretty boring lecture about the microscopics of it. I guess the fact that it's been years since I took Bio I doesn't really help me either, got lots of catching up to do. Are the exams all multiple choice?

I actually thought it was one of his better lectures, and may have even felt a little bit of enjoyment from it. But looking at the syllabus, I think I'M more interested in the material presented in this half of bio than in the first. I liked learning the biochem, and I find genetics fascinating, but rest of it was kind of meh. Maybe it was just his presentation, because I did enjoy lab.

 

[johnnyscans]

Anyone here taking, or has taken, Cell Biology? Syllabus and the first set of lecture notes seem really interesting. Most of the topics are super relevant to the work I do in my lab, so this should be a good learning experience.

Wondering how the grading/exams are. Any tips?

 

[johnnyscans]

MY GOD Tucci is amazing. That was the most interesting, well organized chemistry class I've ever sat through.

 

[Qrxn]

MY GOD Tucci is amazing. That was the most interesting, well organized chemistry class I've ever sat through.

Right? Tucci has a great balance of guided lecture, solid Friday reviews, and outstanding TF's. Don't forget to come to Friday review! Justin, the head TF, writes the three tests and his Friday reviews are perfect for the material covered on exams. Honestly, the tests can be challenging, but if you do the work and show up, you shouldn't have a problem.

The class is always funny and Tucci really keeps it moving. Welcome to a semester of sometimes difficult but always interesting Chemistry.

 

[johnnyscans]

Right? Tucci has a great balance of guided lecture, solid Friday reviews, and outstanding TF's. Don't forget to come to Friday review! Justin, the head TF, writes the three tests and his Friday reviews are perfect for the material covered on exams. Honestly, the tests can be challenging, but if you do the work and show up, you shouldn't have a problem.

The class is always funny and Tucci really keeps it moving. Welcome to a semester of sometimes difficult but always interesting Chemistry.

It's sad that this is the only Friday review I can't attend, but I plan on working out the problems tonight and then watching the video tomorrow afternoon.

What, in your opinion, is a good indicator of mastery of the material? Is it the ability to do the review problems, text book problems, hw problems? In the first semester, how did you know that you were ready for the exam?

Thanks.

 

[MedWonk]

It's sad that this is the only Friday review I can't attend, but I plan on working out the problems tonight and then watching the video tomorrow afternoon.

What, in your opinion, is a good indicator of mastery of the material? Is it the ability to do the review problems, text book problems, hw problems? In the first semester, how did you know that you were ready for the exam?

Thanks.

Being able to do all the practice problems, all the problem set problems, the review problems, and destroying the practice tests were pretty good indicators of success when I took it.

I know, it's a lot of problems to go through.

 

[johnnyscans]

Being able to do all the practice problems, all the problem set problems, the review problems, and destroying the practice tests were pretty good indicators of success when I took it.

I know, it's a lot of problems to go through.

I've had to deal with worse. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Qrxn]

It's sad that this is the only Friday review I can't attend, but I plan on working out the problems tonight and then watching the video tomorrow afternoon.

What, in your opinion, is a good indicator of mastery of the material? Is it the ability to do the review problems, text book problems, hw problems? In the first semester, how did you know that you were ready for the exam?

Thanks.

Pretty much what Medwonk said. I would re-print out the practice problems, the homework problems, the friday review problems, and the practice tests and re-work all of them as a test review. As for the book, I read it to get a good grounding, but I don't take notes, and I don't do the back of chapter problems. At times, Tucci's methods will conflict with the method the book teaches; however, Justin likes to sneak a book question in every now and again. If I were you, I would read the chapter for foundation, but pay primary attention to lecture and review.

Tucci was correct in that "studying is doing problems". The more, the better.

EDIT: Forgot to add that the TF's generally are a huge help in clarifying homeworks and practice problems, so you'll never have a huge issue doing the work correctly.

 

[SpagoBMS]

Apologies if this question has been answered plenty of times before. What's the recommended word or paragraph length of the HCP application?

It asks you "Why do you want to prepare for a career in the medical field? (Please type here or submit essay on a separate page?"

The space given is very small so I assume most people submit a separate page. How long should this be? Any recommendations on what to focus on?

Thanks.

 

[Sciengee]

Apologies if this question has been answered plenty of times before. What's the recommended word or paragraph length of the HCP application?

It asks you "Why do you want to prepare for a career in the medical field? (Please type here or submit essay on a separate page?"

The space given is very small so I assume most people submit a separate page. How long should this be? Any recommendations on what to focus on?

Thanks.

When I applied last spring, I submitted mine on a separate page. Don't remember the exact word count, but it was a little less than one page, single-spaced.
I think you should keep it brief but answer the question asked. I focused on my post-graduate experiences (i.e. a research position in a clinical setting) that led me to develop an interest in medicine.
Seemed to work for me. Good luck.

 

[UCLAtrueblue]

hey everyone! i'm back in boston (from california) for my second semester here. so far i've been having an EXTREMELY difficult time meeting anyone close to my age (i'm only 22) and making friends to the point where i'm seriously considering leaving after this semester and taking the rest of my classes somewhere back at home.

if there's anyone out there who is also looking to meet some new people, send me a message and let me know! 🙂

 

[smiley27]

Let the games begin!! Another semester with Professors Rueckner and Tucci!! Contrary to popular opinion, I actually like physics lectures more than chem lectures. 👍

 

[nycstudyhard]

hey everyone! i'm back in boston (from california) for my second semester here. so far i've been having an EXTREMELY difficult time meeting anyone close to my age (i'm only 22) and making friends to the point where i'm seriously considering leaving after this semester and taking the rest of my classes somewhere back at home.

if there's anyone out there who is also looking to meet some new people, send me a message and let me know! 🙂

Hey!

I'm actually moving there to start in the program in the fall! hopefully you'll be around then and we can hang out 🙂

 

[oldcrumb]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question for anyone in Physics E1b - Does anyone know where/when we're supposed to get the "equipment" for that first lab we do at home (styrofoam cup, packing peanuts, aluminum pie-plate, styrofoam plate)? I was over an hour late to the first class because a job interview ran way over, so I'm assuming he might have talked about it then.

Thanks!

-Vanessa

 

[johnnyscans]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question for anyone in Physics E1b - Does anyone know where/when we're supposed to get the "equipment" for that first lab we do at home (styrofoam cup, packing peanuts, aluminum pie-plate, styrofoam plate)? I was over an hour late to the first class because a job interview ran way over, so I'm assuming he might have talked about it then.

Thanks!

-Vanessa

He didn't mention anything specifically. I haven't checked the discussion board yet though . . .

 

[oldcrumb]

He didn't mention anything specifically. I haven't checked the discussion board yet though . . .

Thanks! I checked the discussion forum but it doesn't seem to be set up. But I guess it's not due for a while, so maybe he'll say something about it next week or something.

 

[johnnyscans]

Thanks! I checked the discussion forum but it doesn't seem to be set up. But I guess it's not due for a while, so maybe he'll say something about it next week or something.

I just checked the discussion forum (the one on the website). He said he'll hand out materials in lecture this week.

 

[SpagoBMS]

Thanks Sciengee.

Is it hard finding research positions in Cambridge/Boston if you have little to no research experience?

I've done a little digging where I am now and a lot of the positions are for more psych based clinical research. Is this the best route or should you focus on other types of research?

 

[Jennet]

hey everyone! i'm back in boston (from california) for my second semester here. so far i've been having an EXTREMELY difficult time meeting anyone close to my age (i'm only 22) and making friends to the point where i'm seriously considering leaving after this semester and taking the rest of my classes somewhere back at home.

if there's anyone out there who is also looking to meet some new people, send me a message and let me know! 🙂

There are weekly socials at the Queen's Head on Thursdays at 9:00 pm (after Chem). Come by sometime!

 

[johnnyscans]

Thanks Sciengee.

Is it hard finding research positions in Cambridge/Boston if you have little to no research experience?

I've done a little digging where I am now and a lot of the positions are for more psych based clinical research. Is this the best route or should you focus on other types of research?

If you can't land a research position here, you won't be able to get one anywhere. Check the hospital web sites or use smart google searches to find out who is hiring. If you're willing to work as a volunteer (as I am), you should be able to get a gig if you can commit for the long term (< 1 year).

You should focus on whatever type of research interests you and will keep you motivated enough to put in long hours completing protocols/experiments. As I mentioned, my research is completely volunteer, and I put in anywhere from 20-40 hours a week in the lab. If you are lucky enough to be trained in cell culture you will have to come in on some weekends to change media on your cells. Research is not easy and fixed hours are rare, at least in my field.

That said, I love basic science research - I am lucky enough to work in a lab where there is strong crossover between our research and clinical research. My PI is world renowned and has helped develop drugs and therapies in use on thousands of patients.

If you're worried about what looks better on an application, there is no clear cut answer. Both clinical and basic science research are important to any field of medicine - the key is truly enjoying what you do to the point where you can comfortably talk about it, and hopefully get yourself published before it's all said and done.

 

[oldcrumb]

I just checked the discussion forum (the one on the website). He said he'll hand out materials in lecture this week.

Thanks! The discussion forum is just when you click "question forum" on the left-side of the physics website, right? Every time I've clicked that it says the website isn't available... what am I doing wrong? Same thing used to happen last semester too, so I'm assuming I'm just not looking at the right thing.

 

[oldcrumb]

If you can't land a research position here, you won't be able to get one anywhere. Check the hospital web sites or use smart google searches to find out who is hiring. If you're willing to work as a volunteer (as I am), you should be able to get a gig if you can commit for the long term (< 1 year).

You should focus on whatever type of research interests you and will keep you motivated enough to put in long hours completing protocols/experiments. As I mentioned, my research is completely volunteer, and I put in anywhere from 20-40 hours a week in the lab. If you are lucky enough to be trained in cell culture you will have to come in on some weekends to change media on your cells. Research is not easy and fixed hours are rare, at least in my field.

That said, I love basic science research - I am lucky enough to work in a lab where there is strong crossover between our research and clinical research. My PI is world renowned and has helped develop drugs and therapies in use on thousands of patients.

If you're worried about what looks better on an application, there is no clear cut answer. Both clinical and basic science research are important to any field of medicine - the key is truly enjoying what you do to the point where you can comfortably talk about it, and hopefully get yourself published before it's all said and done.

Another thing I've found is that, if you want to get a paid research assistant/tech position, the best way to do it is to contact PIs directly. Go to the Harvard Med School website (or different hospital websites, another university, whatever) and start looking at departments you're interested in (immunology, genetics, biochem, whatever) and look at who's doing what research. If it's interesting to you, write a brief email to the head of the lab asking if they're hiring. I've found that most of the time these positions are taken before they're even posted on the formal employment websites, and it's just a formality that they're up there for the minimum 2 weeks or whatever. Good luck!

 

[hrhcow]

Thanks Sciengee.

Is it hard finding research positions in Cambridge/Boston if you have little to no research experience?

I've done a little digging where I am now and a lot of the positions are for more psych based clinical research. Is this the best route or should you focus on other types of research?

Ditto what the others have said. I work in translational research (basically the love-child of basic science and clinical research), and I put in a good amount of hours despite a supposed 9-5 workday. Do whatever interests you most, because i assure you whatever field of research you end up in, you will have to devote a lot of hours. Nobody wants to train someone who will work only the minimal amount of hours/week because some experiments (especially if you work with mice!) can take all day.

If you write a personalized cover letter and can articulate genuinely why you want to participate in a PI's lab, most PI's will be happy to take you on (especially if you're offering free labor) even if you have minimal experience. Also, email broadly, as there simply might not be enough space in a lab to accommodate another person.

If you have any questions about applying (either through the HR site) or by cold-emailing, PM me and i will be happy to answer them!

 

[exercise]

Hello, I am new to SDN and new to Harvard Extension. A friend who was added to HES' group Facebook page posted a message there. But his post was deleted by one XXXX (HES faculty? administrator?) because she said they "don't permit discussion of finances". What is funny is that the deleted post was rather innocent. Here is the post that was deleted by HES' Facebook page. We still would like to know the responses to the questions below, so if any of you have any suggestions, it would help me. Here is the deleted post:

I saw someone ask a similar question on the internet and I too had a question. What does Harvard's campus and the area surrounding the campus (walking zone) have to offer? Cheap pizza (less than $5 for a large pizza)? Wal-Mart /Shaw's /Safeway /other superstores? Free food available frequently to students on campus? How much does the CHEAPEST meal cost on campus - not necessarily in dining but somewhere within walking distance of Harvard? I can't exactly afford Harvard/Cambridge, so I am trying to minimize my expenses and making the on/off campus decision. I guess I am trying to make two decisions here a) whether to choose Harvard Extension or another cheaper school/city and b) if Harvard Extension, whether to live very close to campus and pay higher rents or live far away, waste time commuting but pay lower rent.


Thanks - and hope to hear your responses to the questions above.

 

[exercise]

- Is Dr. Tucci a fair grader?
- Overall, did people get better grades in Physics (Wolfgang) or Chemistry (Tucci)?

 

[exercise]

Thank you! This really helps a newbie like me. How did you get a one-bedroom apartment in Cambridge for $1250?

Hey all, I finished the HCP about a half year ago, and I wanted to give an review of the program and my experiences for anyone considering coming to the program. I hope this is helpful to people searching for post-baccs like I was a couple years ago.

Me - I started the program in fall 2009, finished in spring 2011 and am currently in the middle of my glide year.

What the program consists of - The HCP is only semi-formal. Owen Peterson and Dr. Fixsen don't hold your hand during the whole process. Their main purpose is for the composite letter that they submit to AMCAS. You can ask them questions about medical school and applying, but I never found them any more useful than SDN and other resources.

Getting sponsored vs. just taking the classes - Unlike most post-bacc programs, you are totally free to sign up and take the classes on your own, without sponsorship. This will save you about $600 in fees. There are only two downsides to this. The biggest downside is that you won’t get the composite letter. With sponsorship, Owen Peterson will take all your letters of recommendation and package them together along with an overall recommendation of you. This composite letter is actually quite useful for medical school applications. About half of the secondary applications I filled out required an explanation for why you would be sending individual letters rather than a composite letter from your school. The medical schools want to have one composite letter, although it’s certainly possible to send in individual ones.
The other downside to not getting sponsorship is not being able to have a Harvard ID card. This is only available if you never took any of the medical school pre-reqs before. The card is certainly not necessary to enjoy your time at the HCP, but it is nice. You can use all the libraries, use the gym for a small fee, and there is the M2 shuttle that you can use for free that goes to from the Harvard undergrad campus (where you take your classes) to Harvard medical school, which is close to three hospitals. Many many people take advantage of this for research or for volunteering.

Cost of the classes - $1150 for a semester class during the year. You’ll need 8 classes to do all the pre-reqs, so for less than 10K you can do the whole premedical education. This is a minuscule cost compared to many of the other post-baccs. Considering how good the program is, this is a huge draw for coming here.

The teachers and classes - Gen chem with Dr. Tucci: This will be one of the best classes of your life. His classes are often hysterical with his chemistry humor abounding. The class is well run too. Everything he writes in class are up on powerpoint slides on the website. The head teaching fellow, Justin, explains all the concepts in the Friday reviews, and the teaching fellows for the course are generally pretty knowledgeable and will try to help you out. This class will prepare you quite well for the MCAT, with only one or two MCAT relevant topics you’ll need to study on your own.

Physics with Rueckner: This class is pretty much the opposite of Tucci’s class. It is poorly run, confusing, and boring. Although Rueckner is a decent guy, he has no idea how to present ideas to a group of premeds who haven’t taken a science course in years. The textbook is even confusing. The teaching fellows often do not understand the material and sometimes don’t even show up to their own helprooms and labs. This class will be unpleasant at the best. However, if you struggle through all the homework and the textbook and do some independent learning of the concepts, you will be prepared for the MCAT. I even had one MCAT passage that came almost exactly from a problem we did in class which I hadn’t covered in any of my MCAT practice.

Bio with Anderson: I took this class the first time Anderson taught it after Fixsen quit teaching it. Some people didn’t like it, but I thought it was decent. Although most of his lectures were powerpoint summaries of the textbook, Anderson does like teaching and is willing to help people during office hours and after class. His exams that first year were sometimes confusing and his answers were sometimes wrong. I think he’s fixed the class up since then. Nevertheless, I did learn a lot and felt like I had a foundation for the MCAT, but since biology is the most important topic for the MCAT, I still had a lot of studying to do.

Orgo: I took this over the summer with Dr. Logan McCarty and Dr. Melissa Grachan. Most people take it during the year with Dr. Matchacheep and Logan, but I think Logan is going to stop teaching it soon and Dr. Matchacheep will do it alone. Summer orgo was the hardest class of my life, and one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever had. It was 10 hours of lab a week, 3 hours of lecture a day, and constant, never ending studying and memorizing. A chill still flows over me every time I hear the word “Orgo.” Fortunately, it is much easier to deal with if you take it over the year. The course is well run, and the teaching fellows are helpful. However, the course is only decent good practice for the MCAT. The MCAT’s material is much more based around carbohydrates, proteins, and nomenclature, all which are covered only somewhat during the course. But, as most organic chemistry classes don’t emphasize what the MCAT tests, you most likely won’t be any better off going elsewhere.

Grades - It is possible to get straight As while you’re here. Is it easy? No, but your grade is limited by your own ability, not by any arbitrary limit of the number of As that the teachers give out. The classes are difficult, but all of them (except physics) teach the material well enough that it is up to you to sit down and study what you’ve been given until you’ve learnt the material.

Finishing the program in 1 year vs. 2 years - If you haven’t completed any of the science pre-reqs, and you have no or just a small amount of medically relevant ECs, I highly recommend finishing the program in at least two years. I did it this way, and even with spending two years doing volunteering and having some research, I still thought my ECs were a low point in my application. In addition, without a science background, it is difficult to do very well in the classes if you take three at a time, especially if you need to work during the program. Considering how important getting good grades is, I don’t recommend rushing to complete the program. However, if you already have experiences in medically related fields, and you have completed some of the pre-reqs, then it would probably be okay to finish it quickly.

The location - Boston is awesome for being a pre-med. There are so many famous hospitals and opportunities for volunteering and research even if you have no prior experience. I, like many others, volunteered at MGH. I was a patient escort there and had a great time getting to know patients. I also was able to start a research internship at a hospital. I was pretty much working for free in a hospital, but since I had no experience in research before, it was a great opportunity.
Living can be a little expensive here depending where you are. The closer to Harvard you are, probably the more expensive it will be. I live here with my wife, and for a one bedroom, it’s about $1250 a month. This is on the cheaper side.
For that little time you’ll have free, there are plenty of bars around Harvard and elsewhere. The only bad side is that the weather sucks. Rain, snow, and cold.

Opportunities during the glide year - There are plenty of things to do here in the glide year. I’m working full-time doing research in a lab, and a few of my friends are doing clinical research. I’m hoping on getting my first publication in a few months. Harvard Extension School has an impressive amount of upper-division biology classes, so a bunch of us are taking a class each semester while we work.

Do I recommend the HCP? Definitely! I’m mid-season in the application process, and I am already holding multiple acceptances at schools I’m very happy with. I had to work hard to get where I am, but it was worth it, and I’m not in huge debt as some of the more formal programs put you in. I highly recommend coming here.

 

[johnnyscans]

- Is Dr. Tucci a fair grader?
- Overall, did people get better grades in Physics (Wolfgang) or Chemistry (Tucci)?

I think something like 33% of my physics class last semester got an A. I found that Reuckner (Physics) was an extremely fair grader - both MC and long answer had partial credit, he drops the lowest of two midterms, and alters the value of your midterm/final if you show drastic improvement throughout the year.

I've also heard that Tucci is extremely fair. He gives you everything you need to succeed. I've only been to one lecture (my first) so far and he gives out practice problems, friday review problems, HW problems, outline sheets, etc.

 

[johnnyscans]

Hello, I am new to SDN and new to Harvard Extension. A friend who was added to HES' group Facebook page posted a message there. But his post was deleted by one Annie Stumpf (HES faculty? administrator?) because she said they "don't permit discussion of finances". What is funny is that the deleted post was rather innocent. Here is the post that was deleted by HES' Facebook page. We still would like to know the responses to the questions below, so if any of you have any suggestions, it would help me. Here is the deleted post:

I saw someone ask a similar question on the internet and I too had a question. What does Harvard's campus and the area surrounding the campus (walking zone) have to offer? Cheap pizza (less than $5 for a large pizza)? Wal-Mart /Shaw's /Safeway /other superstores? Free food available frequently to students on campus? How much does the CHEAPEST meal cost on campus - not necessarily in dining but somewhere within walking distance of Harvard? I can't exactly afford Harvard/Cambridge, so I am trying to minimize my expenses and making the on/off campus decision. I guess I am trying to make two decisions here a) whether to choose Harvard Extension or another cheaper school/city and b) if Harvard Extension, whether to live very close to campus and pay higher rents or live far away, waste time commuting but pay lower rent.


Thanks - and hope to hear your responses to the questions above.

Harvard/Cambridge is pretty expensive. I live over the Charles in Fenway/Kenmore and find it pretty affordable. I think the key is your comfort level with public transportation/biking/walking. Living right next to campus is nice, but all of the major hospitals are on my side of the river. I'm 2 blocks away from a huge shaws, whole foods is an 8-10 minute walk (same with trader joes), there's a giant shopping plaza down the street with REI, Best Buy, Staples, BSC (my gym), a movie theater, chipotle, panera, Sal's pizza, emack and bolios ice cream, etc. Boylston/Back Bay is a short walk away, and I'm 2 blocks from the Kenmore T stop.

If I had to pick between living on the Harvard side of the river or my side I would choose my side. I spend more time @ my lab in Charlestown than in class, and my apartment falls right in the middle of everything.

If you're comfortable biking in Boston (which isn't too bad, there's lots of bike lanes and dedicated bike paths, and if you know how to dress it's not cold at all) you can get pretty much anywhere faster than the T.

 

[Jennet]

Hello, I am new to SDN and new to Harvard Extension. A friend who was added to HES' group Facebook page posted a message there. But his post was deleted by one (HES faculty? administrator?) because she said they "don't permit discussion of finances". What is funny is that the deleted post was rather innocent. Here is the post that was deleted by HES' Facebook page. We still would like to know the responses to the questions below, so if any of you have any suggestions, it would help me. Here is the deleted post:

I saw someone ask a similar question on the internet and I too had a question. What does Harvard's campus and the area surrounding the campus (walking zone) have to offer? Cheap pizza (less than $5 for a large pizza)? Wal-Mart /Shaw's /Safeway /other superstores? Free food available frequently to students on campus? How much does the CHEAPEST meal cost on campus - not necessarily in dining but somewhere within walking distance of Harvard? I can't exactly afford Harvard/Cambridge, so I am trying to minimize my expenses and making the on/off campus decision. I guess I am trying to make two decisions here a) whether to choose Harvard Extension or another cheaper school/city and b) if Harvard Extension, whether to live very close to campus and pay higher rents or live far away, waste time commuting but pay lower rent.


Thanks - and hope to hear your responses to the questions above.

You need to remove her name from the forum please; it is impolite to call people out.

EDIT: And those were posted on the HEPS board, not HES. Those posts were against policy. We do not discuss financials in the student group. You can direct financials related questions to SDN though!