How is the Extension School viewed by undergraduate transfer admissions officers?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I have made numerous attempts to research this sort of information online, and have come up virtually empty. The threads I generally encounter end up devolving into unhelpful debates about how to explain HES on a resume.</p>

<p>I have come to this board in the hopes of reaching someone knowledgeable about how admissions officers view the Extension School. I have been enrolled at HES for two years, and am looking to transfer to a more traditional four-year university or college for the remainder of my undergraduate career, but am wondering how it will be read on my transcript.</p>

<p>Is HES viewed similarly to a community college? A four-year institution? How rigorous is its program perceived to be? Do adcoms feel that HES practices a lot of grade inflation like the day school? Any information would be very greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!</p>

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<p>I’m not sure anyone on CC can answer that question. Have you asked someone at HES? I’m sure you are not the first person to seek to transfer to a more traditional four-year college from HES and there must be someone there that could answer that question at <a href=“http://www.extension.harvard.edu/resources/career-academic-resource-center[/url]”>http://www.extension.harvard.edu/resources/career-academic-resource-center&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>It seems from the link that gibby provided that the HES has two types of programs:</p>

<p>(1) Extension school courses - “…Harvard Extension School courses are open to the public—no application required…”
[Registering</a> for Harvard Extension School Courses](<a href=“http://www.extension.harvard.edu/registration]Registering”>http://www.extension.harvard.edu/registration)</p>

<p>(2) Undergraduate program courses - “…While Extension School courses are open enrollment, degree programs are not. You must meet admission criteria, including grade and GPA requirements, and apply to earn the degree. Given that 35 is the average age of our students, SAT scores and high school grades are not relevant indicators of success. The most important predictor is your ability to do honors-level work at Harvard…”
[Admission</a> to the Harvard Extension Undergraduate Program](<a href=“http://www.extension.harvard.edu/degrees-certificates/undergraduate-degrees/admission]Admission”>Bachelor's Degree Program Requirements | Harvard Extension School)</p>

<p>So, since you have already been taken courses at HES, it sounds like yours were of type (1) and probably non-transferable, however as gibby pointed out, you should really check with them. The (2) undergrad program requirements sounds more inline with the community college requirements. </p>

<p>My son just applied to dual enrollment this past Monday at a local cc and we were surprised of the strict req’mt by the community college for enrollment - gpa, placement test, high school counselor signature and approval, community college sig and approval, and even an orientation attendance requirement.</p>

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<p>^^ Except . . . the website also says: [Accreditation</a> and Transfer Credit](<a href=“http://www.extension.harvard.edu/exams-grades-policies/accreditation-transfer-credit]Accreditation”>http://www.extension.harvard.edu/exams-grades-policies/accreditation-transfer-credit)</p>

<p>“Harvard Extension School courses are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Because transfer policies and degree requirements vary among schools, students should confirm their home or prospective schools’ policy about transfer credit before enrolling in courses.”</p>

<p>@EwePilgrim: You should contact one of the HES Advisors directly and ask them whether your HES credits would be seen as transferable by other 4-year colleges: <a href=“http://www.extension.harvard.edu/degrees-certificates/undergraduate-degrees/advising[/url]”>http://www.extension.harvard.edu/degrees-certificates/undergraduate-degrees/advising&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;