Is it the same as going to Harvard Uni? Would it help me get into Harvard Law? Should I do it as a High School Student that is applying?
No.
No.
Depends – it’s really designed as a course for non-traditional students. Some graduates strut around like they’re typical Harvard College grads – but the experience isn’t the same. And savvy employers spot them a mile a way. Nor are the standards for admission the same. If you’re truly a candidate for a rigorous 4 year college, you’d be foolish to go to HES.
You had a decent list of target schools in 6/14. Stay focused on them – they match your academic profile.
And given your HS achievement and SATs, I wouldn’t predict high chances for eventual HLS either. Best of luck w/your decisions this year.
6/14?
Does HS really matter for Harvard Law? I feel as if college would matter more for that?
Would it help that I would be part of a legacy for Columbia or Harvard due to a family member?
HS doesn’t matter for eventual LS. But they indicate what sort of collegian you’ll be. And that matters for LS.
You’ve been an unremarkable HS student in the context of ultra selective programs. You’ll graduate fine and be ready for college fine – but not, on the face, seemingly a candidate for ultra competitive grad/professional schools afterward. Your previous SATs show average scoring (seriously low for Math) – about the 45th percentile overall.
If you can alter your path and become an excellent scholar at college, taking a rigorous curriculum, then your prospects of getting admitted to at Top14 law school improve. But based upon the limited predictive ability of SATs, you still must recognize that you have a huge gulf to leap over, right? I’m not trying to slam you – I’m sorry if I’m coming across like that. But there’s very little in your profile that would indicate that you’ll graduate from college as a likely candidate for a T14 LS much less #1 or #2 like HLS.
Your legacy connections at CU and Harvard College would only be a tip factor if other areas of your profile were competitive. As it stands, they are of no help to you. And they won’t be a factor for later LS admissions either.
Would SAT when applying to a Top 20? I figured it would be more geared towards LSAT, which lucky doesn’t have math? I know on the surface that seems unremarkable but I was hoping to make it up with GPA and essays and Recs and so on?
@T26E4 is simply suggesting that your credentials to date don’t necessarily indicate that you are on track to academic greatness.
Resolve to prove him wrong. Once admitted to undergrad, your SAT scores become irrelevant. Best of luck to you!
Soo what are you suggesting?
I’d suggest you forget about HES, go to a good college that suits you well, work hard, do well, and pursue your goals. If that leads to HLS, that’s great, but don’t be too hung up on lofty goals like that now.
My main hope is a DC school or Cornell. Am I over reaching?
Your HS guidance counselor can provide a good list of target schools that match your metrics. For your own research, google target colleges’ “common data set”. In section C, each school displays its evaluation criteria and stats of admitted students. Thus you can see where you stack up versus those previously admitted. For instance, here is Cornell: http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000563.pdf
Line C9 shows SAT ranges. Your scores place you well below their 25th percentile, I’m afraid.
Regardless, you can do this with any college and compare. Good luck.
So the fact that I go to an Ag school won’t help. Also thanks for the help.
FWIW: The majority of classes at Harvard Extensive School are evening classes. That’s because the average age of HES student’s is 33 years old, with most having full-time day jobs and families to support. It’s basically night school, as most student’s are working on their 2nd and 3rd degree’s.
So, if you were to start taking classes at HES, you would have to find housing in Cambridge (HES doesn’t offer housing and Cambridge isn’t cheap), get a job during the day, and take classes at night. Is that what you want from your college experience?
If your test scores are far below Cornell’s 25th percentile, you should be looking at these schools: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/a-plus
The answers to the OP’s questions in post #1 are:
No
No (I’ve never heard of anyone from HES at HLS, and I went to HLS)
No
Harvard Extension School is Harvard’s school for adults who live locally and are “the working class” and need to take a course here and there. Some people have gotten degrees from the Extension School, and some college-age people have enrolled there, but those are exceptions.
Thanks for the list, but it doesn’t really account for test op uni’s like American and CT?
^^ No, it doesn’t account for test optional schools, but at those institutions your GPA, course rigor, teacher recommendations and essays are pretty much what they use to evaluate student’s:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/07/27/a-list-of-180-ranked-schools-that-dont-require-act-or-sat-scores-for-admissions/
Alright, thanks
Here’s a recent article about Harvard’s Extension School: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/10/15/scrutiny-extension-school/