<p>I'm an international student , who graduated this summer from highschool in my country (Italy). My original intention was to enter in a university in the US for the spring semester , but after I graduated I spent time traveling , and so missed most of the deadlines.</p>
<p>So I started to find out on the web some universities that were offering some credits courses and is then that i have found the Harvard extension school .</p>
<p>At a glance I was very enthusiastic and excited that the most famous university in the world was offering what I was searching , that as I said is , credit courses or certificate programs or anyway anything that would give me some credits(having missed the deadlines) that then will be accepted in any hypothetical university that will accept me for the fall 2013 . But then looking at some student reviews and comments I found many critics about the school and I started to be doubtful about it, and this is the reason why I'm seeking for some help. </p>
<p>One of the thing that is worrying me the most for example is that i heard the average age is 35 years old(I'm 20) and to take courses where all or almost all people are much older than me is not what i'm looking to , for obvius reasons .</p>
<p>The school site have really few informations and talking with a school representative by phone have been unhelpful as well . </p>
<p>So im looking forward to any informations , suggestion and tips you can give me about the Harvard extension school .</p>
<p>Harvard Extension, like most university extension schools, is not the traditional path to a college education. Extensions are usually intended for older working adults who a taking a few courses or are completing a degree for career advancement or for personal fulfillment. Harvard Extension is not a back door into Harvard College.</p>
<p>At your age and stage of life you fit much more in the role of the traditional college student. Taking a few extension classes on the side is fine, but you should consider yourself a regular college student who took a gap year to travel rather than look to Harvard Extension as the answer to your college needs.</p>
<p>Almost every college in the U.S. has a way to take classes there without being fully admitted as a full-time “day” student, September-May. You can go anywhere for a summer session. You can attend evening classes at a lot of colleges quite easily. Some universities have “colleges” geared towards part-time and/or evening/weekend students who tend to be older and have jobs. The reality is that these universities’ classrooms are only full Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m., Sep-May, and it makes sense for them to generate revenue through classes at other times. There are lots of variables involved, including whether or not you can get a degree, whether the degree will make it clear that it’s a different degree from that which “regular” students get, and how many classes will also have “regular” students in them.</p>
<p>Thank you very much coreur . so you would not take in consideration a credit course seeing my situation ?
The problem is that i cant let another year go as Im 20 as in Italy we have one year more of highschool plus i lost a year and if like this i will start universities with class mates that are 3 years younger than me. and thats odd isnt it? nor my parents will let me to do so ( travel and doing notthing). So i must find a solution that it makes me occupied in doing something useful for my near future .</p>
<p>@Olivoiv
Sadly , as I am an international student ,and mostly as an Italian student(being our system completely different apart from being a complete crap) Im completely ignorant in this field and I’m really in need for some help .
The thing is that im not really aiming to a part time courses with classes only on the evening etc — Of course if this is the only option Im eager to take it , but as you said it also depends from the circumstances there are (how many “regular” students there are , will you have a college life as being part of clubs , sleeping in collge forms etc etc like or you you just attend classes like an highschool etc) and this are all answer i cant answer due , as i said my completely ignorance on this field. — What I’m realling aming to find (as long that theres any) is some courses/program that even if your not accepted in the college you still live a college life , being able to take part into college activities etc , so</p>
<p>So do you know the existence of any programs of this kind ? as my complete ignorance hasnt given any results by searching on the web.</p>
<p>If you want to live in the dorms and have the college experience, your best option might be to enroll in an ESL program that is on a university campus, and that offers housing.</p>
<p>Are you in Italy now? Then contact the closest advising center of [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov%5DEducationUSA”>http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov). The counselors there will be able to help you with this.</p>
<p>If your goal is to complete your undergraduate degree in the US, do not enroll in any of the extension programs. If you take classes there, you will probably be considered a transfer student when you apply to college. This will make everything more complicated.</p>
<p>A number of decades ago, I took a couple of Harvard Extension courses to finish my degree from another institution. I was about 22 or 23. The courses were taught by Harvard professors, and the students were a mixed bag, ranging from college age on up.</p>
<p>I think that taking a few courses at the extension school while you apply to colleges for regular admission is a perfectly fine idea, especially if you want to hone your English reading and writing skills. It will not be the same experience as matriculating at a college or university, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be useful to you.</p>
<p>I cross-posted with you. Yes, I think it is likely that another school would accept some credits from the extension school towards graduation. (My school did, and they were VERY picky about what they would and would not accept.) I strongly doubt that another school would treat you as a transfer student if you took 2 or 3 classes at the extension school. I don’t think that the extension school would provide you with the experience of feeling like a regular student. If that is what you want, you may want to look into some of the exchange programs out there. Youth for Understanding, for example, has a program where foreign students can enroll in US community colleges, typically living with a host families. Community colleges vary in terms of how much “student life” they have: some have dorms and so forth.</p>
<p>By checking the ESL program I found some courses. but most are just english laguage courses .Also thank you for the advising center link , I will surely take a look into it! </p>
<p>Yes my goal is to complete my underfraduate degree in the US and ff course before registering in any courses I will make sure that i will not be considered a transfer student in the moment i apply to another university . Thanks for the heads up!</p>
<p>Thank you once again.</p>
<p>@Consolation
Thank you very much for your feedback and review about the Harvard Ext school and your experience , i will surely take in consideration your words .</p>
<p>I checked the “youth for understanding” program , but sadly it isnt available for Italian students .</p>
<p>“Community colleges vary in terms of how much “student life” they have: some have dorms and so forth.”</p>
<p>Yes I clearly understand . However when I’m talking about college life aspect besides as i mentioned dorms , activities etc , i mean being part of a community . Something i would call college social life and not just being in a school, as it can be harvard extension school, where you focus only on the academical part . </p>