<p>Prospective, it looks like you have already made up your mind, and are looking for confirmation, not advice. But when I read what you are writing, I think that you are really not looking for any university’s continuing-ed/night-school program. Those are generally designed for older students in the immediately surrounding community who need to get their ticket punched with a degree or skill that they lack, and as tool for improving community relations AND monetizing the university’s brand. </p>
<p>According to what you wrote, it looks like you don’t need to be able to show a bachelor’s degree on your resume in order to be successful. You want to be part of an academic community, and you are toying with perhaps pursuing a PhD. You should really be applying as a transfer student, not just to Harvard but to any number of great universities. If your background is as you represent, you will be a competitive candidate. (Don’t forget Cornell, which is absolutely a great university, accepts many more transfers than Harvard, and might well treat you as a returning student, not a transfer, thus increasing your chance of admission exponentially – to close to 100%.)</p>
<p>You aren’t going to get the kind of academic experience you want working full time and taking night classes. You could probably swing working part time, but to do what you want to do in college you are going to need thought time, library time, writing time, and schmoozing/debating time. Also listening to other people (not just your teachers) time, and networking time. That’s not what night school is about.</p>