Official Harvard Extension 2012 Thread

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Meanwhile if we want to get into a Harvard building just to pee or to drink water from a fountain, what do we do? Do we need to show them an enrollment form each time?

You need to know the secret harvard handshake to use the potty on campus. To drink from the prestigious harvard water fountains one must take a math test prior to the thirst quenching.

🙄
 
When you say gen bio, do you mean both bio I and II? I'm taking bio I in the fall and was thinking of adding an upper div bio class for spring.

Sorry. I usually refer to General Biology as Bio 1. Bio 1 serves as an introduction to micro, molecular and cellular biology. Let me know if you're considering cell biology for the spring; I'd be more than happy to give you an outline of it. Overall, I thought it was a great course and I'd recommend it to most people.
 
Thanks. I am here in Cambridge over the summer and plan to enroll for summer classes (Biology-1; 2) when they start. Meanwhile if we want to get into a Harvard building just to pee or to drink water from a fountain, what do we do? Do we need to show them an enrollment form each time?

Summer courses are handled differently. You'll get full access to all Harvard facilities since you'll get an ID card. During the year, the only thing you'd need an ID card for are the libraries, gym and museums.
 
You need to know the secret harvard handshake to use the potty on campus. To drink from the prestigious harvard water fountains one must take a math test prior to the thirst quenching.

🙄

Just lol'ed aloud at work.

Gotta agree with everyone - Physics is easier to get the better grade because Rueckner tends to give you a lot of credit and teach to exams. According to students from previous years, he's been really adjusting his teaching style. I sincerely enjoyed both classes but Tucci has a tendency to test the range of your knowledge with applications. Beware of question #6 on his tests. I've gotten 50/50 on them and they can be pretty tricky!
 
Just lol'ed aloud at work.

Gotta agree with everyone - Physics is easier to get the better grade because Rueckner tends to give you a lot of credit and teach to exams. According to students from previous years, he's been really adjusting his teaching style. I sincerely enjoyed both classes but Tucci has a tendency to test the range of your knowledge with applications. Beware of question #6 on his tests. I've gotten 50/50 on them and they can be pretty tricky!

Also, Rueckner drops your lowest midterm. In Tucci's class, you have to perform well on all three midterms. One so-so performance on a midterm can easily drop you from the A to A- range.

I agree though, both professors teach excellent classes, and have left me feeling well prepared for things to come.
 
How much does gym membership cost at Harvard for diploma candidates for HCP?
 
How much does gym membership cost at Harvard for diploma candidates for HCP?

I've heard it rumored to be $100/year but can't find verification of that. I think it was on the website somewhere...
 
While your mileage may vary, my experience in Cambridge so far -

- Don't ask people for directions from your car. People disregard traffic and walk up to your car to give elaborate and detailed directions. They smile, nod, chat, make small talk, ask where you're from, joke with you while disregarding the danger to their lives from passing traffic. And they come up to the driver side to give you directions, so they could easily get hit by passing vehicles. People are so nice here!

- Like Johnnyscans said, landlords and realtors are predatory scumbags of the worst kind.

- For-fee brokers are the biggest scam in Boston.

- Harvard Extension students are treated differently by the rest of Harvard. If you just take classes and are not registered for a diploma that Fixsen says is meaningless, you find that most Harvard doors are closed to you.

- Harvard Housing Office sucks big time and they never help you. Information they do provide is inaccurate, incorrect and a waste of time.

- Harvard has a fascination with Blacks. However, these aren't your African Americans or Black Americans. They are usually rich Africans and rich children of Africans. Your regular Blacks/AAs (descendants of slaves) are often excluded by Harvard and find Harvard doors closed. I also read articles about this in the popular press.

- I am White but my girlfriend is Black. Many landlords are willing to rent me a place but when my gf approaches them, they make excuses. Sometimes they have emailed her that a place has been rented out for a year but they have later emailed me that the place is still available. When my gf inquires again, they tell her the place is gone. And when I inquire they tell me the place is still available. My gf experienced rental discrimination from both private individuals (e.g. Alice Levine, [email protected]) and also professionally managed properties (e.g. The Hamilton in Quincy's property manager Colleen Costa).

- One thing that confuses me the most is that while almost everyone I meet in Boston is really and genuinely VERY nice, drivers in Boston are the worst I have met anywhere. I don't know how to reconcile the difference.

- Non-standard pizza shops, usually owned by foreign-born whites, don't know how to make pizza. Their pizza is so greasy that it stains your car seat by the time you drive home. Plus their pizza tastes ugh.

- If you eat at Subway stores owned by East Indians (as many of them are), you almost always get diarrhea or indigestion.

- Contrary to popular belief, it is GREAT to have a car in Cambridge and not a bother at all. I have already visited the New Hampshire mountains and the ocean in Cape Cod. Plus the convenience (e.g. while grocery shopping) is unbeatable.

- HES students need to pool together resources for the common good. These include textbooks, MCAT materials, furniture, etc. We have two cars and don't need to use one until we drive back two years later. I am prepared to loan my car to any HES student for free as long as they promise to return it undamaged and return it with gas they have used up. A good way would be I have the gas tank always full and if any HES student uses it, return it with a full tank. I don't care about insurance or other stuff - just don't hit anyone. It is a 2004 Camry.

- Boston has awful bathrooms. Stores that make billions (like Walmart) have bathrooms with no soap, unflushed poop, run out of toilet paper, run out of paper towels, etc.

- Whites who speak with foreign accents have been the biggest jerks we have met in Boston.

- Catholic cops in Massachusetts are really nice and helpful, contrary to the portrayal in the media.

- One class at HES = 3 or 4 classes at Vanderbilt or elsewhere in terms of workload.

- Sites tell you a city/town is the nicest and a "better and prettier town you cannot find" but when I visit that town, I have never been to uglier towns.

- A cop who was working part-time as store security and I together saw an Asian girl being robbed. We didn't realize she was being robbed. A guy walked up to her and calmly told her she was being robbed and asked her for her money and phone. He then cycled away. The cop said most Asian girls never report the crime because in China cops are probably corrupt.
 
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Some harsh truths I have learned and wish they weren't true -

- Like Johnnyscans said, landlords and realtors are predatory scumbags of the worst kind.

- For-fee brokers are the biggest scam in Boston.

- Harvard Extension students are treated differently by the rest of Harvard. If you just take classes and are not registered for a diploma that Fixsen says is meaningless, you find that most Harvard doors are closed to you.

- Harvard Housing Office sucks big time and they never help you. Information they do provide is inaccurate, incorrect and a waste of time.

- Harvard has a fascination with Blacks. However, these aren't your African Americans or Black Americans. They are usually rich Africans and rich children of Africans. Your regular Blacks/AAs are often excluded by Harvard and find Harvard doors closed.

- I am White but my girlfriend is Black. Many landlords are willing to rent me a place but when my gf approaches them, they make excuses. Sometimes they have emailed her that a place has been rented out for a year but they have later emailed me that the place is still available. When my gf inquires again, they tell her the place is gone. And when I inquire they tell me the place is still available. My gf experienced rental discrimination from both private individuals (e.g. Alice Levine, [email protected]) and also professionally managed properties (e.g. The Hamilton in Quincy's property manager Colleen Costa).

- One thing that confuses me the most is that while almost everyone I meet in Boston is really and genuinely VERY nice, drivers in Boston are the worst I have met anywhere. I don't know how to reconcile the difference.

- Non-standard pizza shops don't know how to make pizza. Their pizza is so greasy that it stains your car seat by the time you drive home. Plus their pizza tastes ugh.

- If you eat at Subway stores owned by East Indians, you almost always get diarrhea or indigestion.

- Contrary to popular belief, it is GREAT to have a car in Cambridge and not a bother at all. I have already visited the New Hampshire mountains and the ocean in Cape Cod. Plus the convenience (e.g. while grocery shopping) is unbeatable.

😴😴😴 😴😴😴😴
 
Next time you make a new account to troll this thread try not to out yourself so early on.
 
Hey come on, wake up, no wonder you admitted "I got a C- in chem and a C+ in physics." Lighten up dude!

If you look at my past posts I mentioned I got two A-'s last semester and last week I posted in this thread saying I did better in both classes this semester.

Trolled a troll.
 
Hey come on, wake up, no wonder you admitted "I got a C- in chem and a C+ in physics." Lighten up dude!

Trollllllllll. You gotta pay the troll toll to get into this boy's soul
 
Next time you make a new account to troll this thread try not to out yourself so early on.

Dude, ask one of the admins or moderators. I have never had an account on SDN. I have never posted here before, except for the 6 or 7 posts next to my name. Just pm one of the moderators and they will confirm it - it's that simple. You are so judgmental for assuming someone is a troll. My guess is you're either an East Indian or an immigrant of some kind who was offended by my post - or you are a complete idiot. Don't be such idiots and be so quick on the troll gun. Are you such a massive idiot that you cannot even pm a moderator to confirm if I am a troll? Then the moderators will ban someone after they realize they are trolls. And don't pm me again you jerk!
 
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Dude, ask one of the admins or moderators. I have never had an account on SDN. I have never posted here before, except for the 6 or 7 posts next to my name. Just pm one of the moderators and they will confirm it - it's that simple. You are so judgmental for assuming someone is a troll. My guess is you're either an East Indian or an immigrant of some kind who was offended by my post - or you are a complete idiot. Don't be such idiots and be so quick on the troll gun. Are you such a massive idiot that you cannot even pm a moderator to confirm if I am a troll? Then the moderators will ban someone after they realize they are trolls. And don't pm me again you jerk!

What about if he's west indian? They're shady characters😏
 
😴😴😴 😴😴😴😴

While your mileage may vary, my experience in Cambridge so far -

- Don't ask people for directions from your car. People disregard traffic and walk up to your car to give elaborate and detailed directions. They smile, nod, chat, make small talk, ask where you're from, joke with you while disregarding the danger to their lives from passing traffic. And they come up to the driver side to give you directions, so they could easily get hit by passing vehicles. People are so nice here!

Thanks. I appreciate your high esteem of the people of my hometown, though I admit I'm a bit confused as to why you are calling out people from your car in a high traffic area and don't even have the common sense to pull up to the curb so they don't have to risk getting flattened.


Harvard Extension students are treated differently by the rest of Harvard. If you just take classes and are not registered for a diploma that Fixsen says is meaningless, you find that most Harvard doors are closed to you.

I'm not sure what doors are closed that I actually care about. I'm able to get into computer labs and libraries just fine just by being in HCP. I just show them my schedule and acceptance letter and I'm in.

Harvard Housing Office sucks big time and they never help you. Information they do provide is inaccurate, incorrect and a waste of time.

Do you have any verifiable examples? Besides, you're a big boy now. You can seek out a reasonable apartment with only a modicum of effort.

Harvard has a fascination with Blacks. However, these aren't your African Americans or Black Americans. They are usually rich Africans and rich children of Africans. Your regular Blacks/AAs (descendants of slaves) are often excluded by Harvard and find Harvard doors closed. I also read articles about this in the popular press.

Do you have evidence of this? This certainly hasn't been my experience at Harvard.

I am White but my girlfriend is Black. Many landlords are willing to rent me a place but when my gf approaches them, they make excuses. Sometimes they have emailed her that a place has been rented out for a year but they have later emailed me that the place is still available. When my gf inquires again, they tell her the place is gone. And when I inquire they tell me the place is still available. My gf experienced rental discrimination from both private individuals (e.g. Alice Levine, [email protected]) and also professionally managed properties (e.g. The Hamilton in Quincy's property manager Colleen Costa).

Have you considered pursuing legal remedies to this situation? Generally, that sort of overt discrimination doesn't fly around here.

One thing that confuses me the most is that while almost everyone I meet in Boston is really and genuinely VERY nice, drivers in Boston are the worst I have met anywhere. I don't know how to reconcile the difference.

And yet we have a really good record regarding fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents. I'm guessing you don't have extensive driving experience in other locales, whether they be within the US or abroad. Try driving in Eastern or Southern Europe, or in Southeast Asia. You'll see just how bad drivers can get. Boston is a cakewalk in comparison, and in my experience, you won't have very many issues if you're good about following the rules of the road and going with the flow of traffic.

Non-standard pizza shops, usually owned by foreign-born whites, don't know how to make pizza. Their pizza is so greasy that it stains your car seat by the time you drive home. Plus their pizza tastes ugh.

Well, they do know how to make pizza, it's just that it's not to your taste. I know it's unfortunate we only have a million different options for pizza in Boston, and that there is such a dearth of authentic Italian cuisine in the area.

If you eat at Subway stores owned by East Indians (as many of them are), you almost always get diarrhea or indigestion.

Have you considered reporting these cases of food poisoning to the Cambridge Public Health Dept/Boston Public Health Commission? Have you considered that you are simply sensitive to whatever it is you're eating from Subway? Perhaps the local flora in the water supply? How do you know it's from Subway?

Contrary to popular belief, it is GREAT to have a car in Cambridge and not a bother at all. I have already visited the New Hampshire mountains and the ocean in Cape Cod. Plus the convenience (e.g. while grocery shopping) is unbeatable.

Unless you're traveling to the Cape, NH, VT, the Berkshires, etc. with a fair amount of regularity, owning a car is expensive. In fact, regularly traveling to those locations is expensive. It's much more economical to use public transport and ZipCar. Also, unless you are lucky enough to have a parking spot near your home, parking is not particularly convenient within the city. Not as bad as Boston, but not as good as Somerville or Brookline.

HES students need to pool together resources for the common good. These include textbooks, MCAT materials, furniture, etc. We have two cars and don't need to use one until we drive back two years later. I am prepared to loan my car to any HES student for free as long as they promise to return it undamaged and return it with gas they have used up. A good way would be I have the gas tank always full and if any HES student uses it, return it with a full tank. I don't care about insurance or other stuff - just don't hit anyone. It is a 2004 Camry.

Why don't you just sell the car?

Boston has awful bathrooms. Stores that make billions (like Walmart) have bathrooms with no soap, unflushed poop, run out of toilet paper, run out of paper towels, etc.

Walmart isn't really the gold standard for anything.

Whites who speak with foreign accents have been the biggest jerks we have met in Boston.

We get it. You don't like foreigners.

Catholic cops in Massachusetts are really nice and helpful, contrary to the portrayal in the media.

The Departed isn't real.

One class at HES = 3 or 4 classes at Vanderbilt or elsewhere in terms of workload.

Only if you're the laziest student in the world. Otherwise I think you'll find courses at HES only require somewhat more effort to get an A. Or you could give it the bare minimum and still get a B. Or maybe you're full of crap.

Sites tell you a city/town is the nicest and a "better and prettier town you cannot find" but when I visit that town, I have never been to uglier towns.

It's called marketing and advertisement. Some people actually like the look and feel of towns that resemble 17th century East Anglia, or mill towns that are stuck in the Industrial Revolution (many of which are being gentrified and revived).

A cop who was working part-time as store security and I together saw an Asian girl being robbed. We didn't realize she was being robbed. A guy walked up to her and calmly told her she was being robbed and asked her for her money and phone. He then cycled away. The cop said most Asian girls never report the crime because in China cops are probably corrupt.

Two things: 1) Not all Asians are Chinese; 2) Most Asians in Boston are not "fresh off the boat". It's clear you've never been to China. While there is corruption among police in China, a native Chinese person is likely to equate urban areas with being safer and thus urban police with being less corrupt, because that is in fact how it is in China (and historically all over the world until recently). Also if you didn't realize she was being robbed, how did you come to find out she was robbed?
 
I see the HES thread troll is back - its been a couple of weeks since he last posted
 
Sad isn't it . ..

I was busy enjoying my Memorial Day when this appeared! A ghost from the past! I feel like he could at least try and do something new with his username. 😛

Smiley trolled a troll. Love it. And Medwonk, that was both impressive and hilarious. Nicely done everyone.
 
Just got an e-mail back from Dr. Peterson saying they are no longer accepting applications for the fall term. Looks like I will be taking classes in the mean time then applying for HCP my second year!
 
Can you guys give your advice for organic chemistry and biology and how to succeed in these classes?

Do you guys read the book? Is there a logan notes practice problem like for gen chem? Do you guys do end of the chapter problems?

How do the professors write the exams? Are they fair and reasonable? Do they like to test stuff on the lecture notes? Stuff in the book? Stuff in the problem sets?

It's been a year since finishing HCP, so my experience is starting to fade. Nonetheless, I can tell you that for Orgo, you just need to attend lecture and do ALL the homework and practice exams that are assigned. There is no need to read the book. I never did the problems at the end of the chapter, but Prof. Matchacheep assigned a few HW problems from there. During those occasions, the study guide/solutions manual was helpful in understanding some of the answers. But Prof. McCarthy didn't have any problems from the book. If you struggle with Orgo, I'm sure practicing with problems at the end of the book would be helpful. But if you can manage to absorb all the info every week, you should be in good shape with just the HW/practice exams. Yes, I vaguely recall there being a Logan Notes equivalent.

Exams were very similar to practice exams and all of it is written by the professor. They are not meant to be tricky, but they do test your understanding of the material quite thoroughly. When studying, review your HW, lecture notes and practice problems. They occasionally even put a problem verbatim from one of these sources. Don't bother studying the text.

I had Bio with Anderson. Since this thread suggests that he's not teaching this year, I guess my experience won't help you guys much. But he tested out of his lecture notes. Our textbook was "Biology" 2nd Ed by Brooker. I thought it was an excellent textbook.
 
For you veterans out there:

Can you guys give your advice for organic chemistry and biology and how to succeed in these classes?

Do you guys read the book? Is there a logan notes practice problem like for gen chem? Do you guys do end of the chapter problems?

How do the professors write the exams? Are they fair and reasonable? Do they like to test stuff on the lecture notes? Stuff in the book? Stuff in the problem sets?

After finishing up gen chem and physics I decided to stay in this rat race and proceed onto organic chemistry and bio and am looking for advice on how to ball out in these classes.

It seems that Casey will be teaching in the fall. She was the head TF second semester. She gave two lectures during the year, and shocked us all by actually annotating the lecture notes and giving a clear, thorough lecture on the topic at hand. I don't know how exams will go in the class, but I'd say you're probably in good hands.
 
Anyone looking for housing in Cambridge or Somerville near the red line? We should get a HCP group together. Anyone interested or that knows of anything send me a PM.
 
Hi guys,

So much useful info in this thread, thanks for it all. I had a few questions I was hoping you guys could answer, is it possible to start in spring? I will be using the program to bring up my gpa, I've already taken orgo and gen chem 1 and a ton of bio courses.

Also I am starting to freak out about if I will be accepted into the HCP, I've heard people with <3.0 gpa are told not to even apply? I have a 2.8 gpa from a hard program I wasn't prepared for, also have a 31 on the mcat. Do you think I have a shot at sponsorship?

Also how hard is it to make friends in the program? I will actually be moving from Canada, not knowing a soul, so I'm a bit worried that everyone will be to busy with their own stuff to socialize.

Thanks again.
 
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Just got an e-mail back from Dr. Peterson saying they are no longer accepting applications for the fall term. Looks like I will be taking classes in the mean time then applying for HCP my second year!


Quick question, how can one apply into the program then if we cannot start in the Fall? Are there distance/online classes we can take and then transfer into the program the second year? Do I just take the beginning science courses for a year at a school near me, and then apply to HCP for Fall 2013? I'm a little worried here...any help is greatly appreciated! Sorry if this is a redundant or silly question.
 
Quick question, how can one apply into the program then if we cannot start in the Fall? Are there distance/online classes we can take and then transfer into the program the second year? Do I just take the beginning science courses for a year at a school near me, and then apply to HCP for Fall 2013? I'm a little worried here...any help is greatly appreciated! Sorry if this is a redundant or silly question.

You can take classes in fall at Harvard Extension without being in the HCP program because it's open-enrollment. You can apply to enter the program for 2013 after you have finished fall courses, or perhaps submit the application for the next cycle while you take courses. It's really not clear when cycles begin or end, but I think they just filled up for fall 2012.
 
Hi guys,

So much useful info in this thread, thanks for it all. I had a few questions I was hoping you guys could answer, is it possible to start in spring? I will be using the program to bring up my gpa, I've already taken orgo and gen chem 1 and a ton of bio courses.

Also I am starting to freak out about if I will be accepted into the HCP, I've heard people with <3.0 gpa are told not to even apply? I have a 2.8 gpa from a hard program I wasn't prepared for, also have a 31 on the mcat. Do you think I have a shot at sponsorship?

Also how hard is it to make friends in the program? I will actually be moving from Canada, not knowing a soul, so I'm a bit worried that everyone will be to busy with their own stuff to socialize.

Thanks again.

Considering you've taken so many science courses already, I would say that the risk is high that you won't be accepted for sponsorship with a GPA under 3.0 despite having a decent MCAT score. An easy way to test the waters would be to simply email Dr. Fixsen or Peterson. They're very blunt when it comes to your chances and will tell you flat out whether or not you have a shot.

I think in your situation, either a post-bacc geared towards GPA repair, or a Special Masters' Program would be more suitable for you. It looks like the only things you haven't taken are the two semesters of physics, and the one additional semester of Gen Chem. I would probably take the missing pre-reqs and apply SMP rather than trying for post-bacc GPA repair since you've taken so many science courses (in particular bio courses) and you have a good MCAT, but I think there are people more qualified to answer your questions regarding SMP in the non-trad forum. They could give more solid advice and help you make a decision.
 
You can take classes in fall at Harvard Extension without being in the HCP program because it's open-enrollment. You can apply to enter the program for 2013 after you have finished fall courses, or perhaps submit the application for the next cycle while you take courses. It's really not clear when cycles begin or end, but I think they just filled up for fall 2012.


If I apply and do the Chem/Phys as is recommended. Peterson mentioned to apply formally into the program by December 2012. My other question is this, if I become an open enrollment student and have my classes registered do I still get an ID? Also, is it difficult to get into the formal program, once I have been doing the open enrollment classes? say that worse case scenario, I do not get accepted into the HCP can I still get sponsorship later on? Sorry for all the questions! any help is super appreciated 🙂
 
If I apply and do the Chem/Phys as is recommended. Peterson mentioned to apply formally into the program by December 2012. My other question is this, if I become an open enrollment student and have my classes registered do I still get an ID? Also, is it difficult to get into the formal program, once I have been doing the open enrollment classes? say that worse case scenario, I do not get accepted into the HCP can I still get sponsorship later on? Sorry for all the questions! any help is super appreciated 🙂

I don't think you get an ID if open-enrolling unless it's summer courses. I've read that you can show printed proof of registration to get into most libraries, and it's not really a big deal to not have the ID. My guess is you wouldn't be less likely to get into HCP after you've taken HES courses unless you got less than a B in both courses. Even that may not be a death sentence provided your starting GPA was pretty good. You'd want to do better than Bs anyway to secure sponsorship and get accepted to med school, etc. You need to be in HCP to get sponsorship, but you also need certain minimum grades at B or better depending on GPA:

3.2 or higher, complete 20 credits
Between 3.0 and 3.2, complete 24 credits
Between 2.8 and 3.0, complete 28 credits
Below 2.8, complete 32 credits

So the bottom line is there is risk in taking courses and not getting sponsored whether in HCP.

If you're concerned about getting accepted at any point, perhaps post your numbers here or ask Peterson or Fixsen. In general, getting into HCP is not super competitive. I don't know that there is a hard cutoff, but people seem to say above 3.0 and you're likely to get in, although amount of science courses taken also makes a difference, the fewer the better.

Disclaimer: I haven't started HCP yet, starting in fall, but have browsed this thread a lot and had similar questions. There are a few things about this program that are not intuitive, but things start to make sense once you talk to Peterson or Fixsen.
 
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Quick question, how can one apply into the program then if we cannot start in the Fall? Are there distance/online classes we can take and then transfer into the program the second year? Do I just take the beginning science courses for a year at a school near me, and then apply to HCP for Fall 2013? I'm a little worried here...any help is greatly appreciated! Sorry if this is a redundant or silly question.

In a follow-up e-mail with Peterson: "You could certainly register in August for the appropriate courses at the Extension School. But you'd want to apply to begin official membership in the program in the following fall. I would estimate that we will begin accepting applications for that fall in December of this year." hope that helps!!
 
I don't think you get an ID if open-enrolling unless it's summer courses. I've read that you can show printed proof of registration to get into most libraries, and it's not really a big deal to not have the ID. My guess is you wouldn't be less likely to get into HCP after you've taken HES courses unless you got less than a B in both courses. Even that may not be a death sentence provided your starting GPA was pretty good. You'd want to do better than Bs anyway to secure sponsorship and get accepted to med school, etc. You need to be in HCP to get sponsorship, but you also need certain minimum grades at B or better depending on GPA:

3.2 or higher, complete 20 credits
Between 3.0 and 3.2, complete 24 credits
Between 2.8 and 3.0, complete 28 credits
Below 2.8, complete 32 credits

So the bottom line is there is risk in taking courses and not getting sponsored whether in HCP.

If you're concerned about getting accepted at any point, perhaps post your numbers here or ask Peterson or Fixsen. In general, getting into HCP is not super competitive. I don't know that there is a hard cutoff, but people seem to say above 3.0 and you're likely to get in, although amount of science courses taken also makes a difference, the fewer the better.

Disclaimer: I haven't started HCP yet, starting in fall, but have browsed this thread a lot and had similar questions. There are a few things about this program that are not intuitive, but things start to make sense once you talk to Peterson or Fixsen.




Thank you so much for that respone! I have above a 3.7 at the moment from my undergrad. So hopefully I'll be alright if I just apply in December. If I can get into the libraries with my registration proof papers, what does the ID exactly give then? Thanks again for the info! Much appreciated!
 
Thank you so much for that respone! I have above a 3.7 at the moment from my undergrad. So hopefully I'll be alright if I just apply in December. If I can get into the libraries with my registration proof papers, what does the ID exactly give then? Thanks again for the info! Much appreciated!

No prob! There are some arts and entertainment benefits, discounts, etc. More info here on pg. 2-3: http://www.extension.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/ext_dcib.pdf
 
What is the application process like? I want to start the program in the Summer/Fall of 2013
 
What is the application process like? I want to start the program in the Summer/Fall of 2013

The application process is simple. Just download it from the Extension School website, fill it out, and send it in with your check. Assuming you haven't taken too many science courses or have too low of a GPA, then you should be accepted. If you're not accepted, they will usually send it back to you with your check, so there isn't any real risk in applying. If you're starting in 2013, I would submit an application at the beginning of February 2013. That should give plenty of time to get your acceptance letter and subsequently allow you to fill out your FAFSA (if you choose to do so). Bear in mind, though, that you can only take out federal loans over a consecutive 12 month period in HCP.

If you've never taken any of the prerequisites, then you get a fancy ID that makes getting into certain facilities (the library, for example) less of a nuisance. You also get certain discounts. I don't have an ID card, but have successfully accessed almost everything on campus without one with my schedule and acceptance letter alone. I think the discounts are the biggest perk.

In the event you are not accepted, I would find out why. Dr. Fixsen (the program director) and Owen Peterson (God's right hand man, if God were Dr. Fixsen) are quite helpful and straightforward (by which I mean frank and blunt) giving you advice on applying to HCP. and med school. Also keep in mind that all classes at the Extension School are open enrollment, so you can take any course you like without being formally enrolled in any Extension School program.
 
The application process is simple. Just download it from the Extension School website, fill it out, and send it in with your check. Assuming you haven't taken too many science courses or have too low of a GPA, then you should be accepted. If you're not accepted, they will usually send it back to you with your check, so there isn't any real risk in applying. If you're starting in 2013, I would submit an application at the beginning of February 2013. That should give plenty of time to get your acceptance letter and subsequently allow you to fill out your FAFSA (if you choose to do so). Bear in mind, though, that you can only take out federal loans over a consecutive 12 month period in HCP.

If you've never taken any of the prerequisites, then you get a fancy ID that makes getting into certain facilities (the library, for example) less of a nuisance. You also get certain discounts. I don't have an ID card, but have successfully accessed almost everything on campus without one with my schedule and acceptance letter alone. I think the discounts are the biggest perk.

In the event you are not accepted, I would find out why. Dr. Fixsen (the program director) and Owen Peterson (God's right hand man, if God were Dr. Fixsen) are quite helpful and straightforward (by which I mean frank and blunt) giving you advice on applying to HCP. and med school. Also keep in mind that all classes at the Extension School are open enrollment, so you can take any course you like without being formally enrolled in any Extension School program.

I am confused by what you said about the Federal Loans, can you explain? Also, do you know how the student interaction is with each other? Is it very cut throat or less competitive?
 
I am confused by what you said about the Federal Loans, can you explain? Also, do you know how the student interaction is with each other? Is it very cut throat or less competitive?

You get a 12 consecutive month period to use up any federal loans you can get your hands on. So, if you start by apply for loans in the Summer of 2013, then you are eligible to apply for loans for the Summer of 2013 through the Spring of 2014. Alternatively, if you start in the Fall, then it would be Fall 2013 through Summer 2014. After the 12 consecutive month period is over, you are no longer eligible for federal loans and must pay with either private loans or out of pocket. Student Financial Services can help you in seeking out private loans if you choose to apply for them. I would also continue filling out a FAFSA beyond the 12 month period since it makes you eligible to potentially receive a scholarship from the Extension School equivalent in value to a 4-credit course.

As far as student interaction, it is mostly non-competitive. There are those who will try to compete and make it about beating out their peers, but I think for most of us, it is about bettering ourselves and helping the person next to you so we all have a shot.
 
You get a 12 consecutive month period to use up any federal loans you can get your hands on. So, if you start by apply for loans in the Summer of 2013, then you are eligible to apply for loans for the Summer of 2013 through the Spring of 2014. Alternatively, if you start in the Fall, then it would be Fall 2013 through Summer 2014. After the 12 consecutive month period is over, you are no longer eligible for federal loans and must pay with either private loans or out of pocket. Student Financial Services can help you in seeking out private loans if you choose to apply for them. I would also continue filling out a FAFSA beyond the 12 month period since it makes you eligible to potentially receive a scholarship from the Extension School equivalent in value to a 4-credit course.

As far as student interaction, it is mostly non-competitive. There are those who will try to compete and make it about beating out their peers, but I think for most of us, it is about bettering ourselves and helping the person next to you so we all have a shot.

Little confused on where you're getting this 12 month rule. It says nothing about it on the website and I'm applying for my second year's worth of federal loans - no hitches so far. You do have to be an "admitted candidate" but that is the only stipulation as far as I can tell. I took out the max at the given rate for our program (I believe it is the undergrad rate at $6K a semester); I've only been told I can max it out over the year, but my financial aid letter said I can receive aid for two years and broke it down my aid award calculations.
 
Little confused on where you're getting this 12 month rule. It says nothing about it on the website and I'm applying for my second year's worth of federal loans - no hitches so far. You do have to be an "admitted candidate" but that is the only stipulation as far as I can tell. I took out the max at the given rate for our program (I believe it is the undergrad rate at $6K a semester); I've only been told I can max it out over the year, but my financial aid letter said I can receive aid for two years and broke it down my aid award calculations.

I got it from my award letter. I was denied federal loans because I'm only allowed to take them out for 12 consecutive months. I thought it was the same for all admitted candidates.
 
Little confused on where you're getting this 12 month rule. It says nothing about it on the website and I'm applying for my second year's worth of federal loans - no hitches so far. You do have to be an "admitted candidate" but that is the only stipulation as far as I can tell. I took out the max at the given rate for our program (I believe it is the undergrad rate at $6K a semester); I've only been told I can max it out over the year, but my financial aid letter said I can receive aid for two years and broke it down my aid award calculations.

I really hope they don't put a 1 year cap because I can kiss Harvard's post bac good bye then!!
 
I really hope they don't put a 1 year cap because I can kiss Harvard's post bac good bye then!!

You can take out private loans, albeit with a slightly higher interest rate. Plus the required fall/spring science courses are pretty cheap to begin with at $1,150.You'd probably only be taking eight or fewer of these courses over a two year period unless you wanted to add electives, which I believe are $975. I realize there is more to consider such as cost of living, etc. but hope that helps.
 
You can take out private loans, albeit with a slightly higher interest rate. Plus the required fall/spring science courses are pretty cheap to begin with at $1,150.You'd probably only be taking eight or fewer of these courses over a two year period unless you wanted to add electives, which I believe are $975. I realize there is more to consider such as cost of living, etc. but hope that helps.

It most definitely does help, but I just had a really hard time taking out private loans because I don't have great credit and I'd be doing it all by myself so my only hope it federal loans/aid and whatever money I have saved up/I would earn while working! I just really, really hope that I am accepted when I apply
 
I got it from my award letter. I was denied federal loans because I'm only allowed to take them out for 12 consecutive months. I thought it was the same for all admitted candidates.

Interesting - I'll let you know if the same goes for me this year. Hope not, but I'm okay with taking out private loans.
 
So, who's taking what this summer?

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology here. Masochistic, oh yes. . .
 
Same here, I was told by Student Financial Services that federal loans would only be for 12 consecutive months as a postbac student, but I was planning on taking classes full time when I applied in 2011. I'm thinking you might be able to get funding for two years if you're taking classes part time?
 
Answer key to the physics final is up if anyone cares.
 
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