<p>Let me tackle your third question first: Are Harvard professors accessible? Yes. Would they be open to discussing research? Yes. You can meet with any Harvard professor during their office hours, or you can make an appointment to see one. Some professors even take students out for lunch, coffee or ice cream. Others will invite you to their home for dinner. Can you transfer to Harvard? Yes, Harvard accepts transfer students. Last year over 1500 transfer students applied and 15 were accepted – that’s a 1% transfer admissions rate. Unfortunately, the deadline for transfer applications was March 1st, so you have to wait another year to apply. See: [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Transfer Program](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/transfer/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/transfer/index.html)</p>
<p>As to your first question: You are about 27 years old, maybe have one and a half years of transferable college credits from Cornell, but do not have a college degree. If you are not already living in Cambridge, don’t bother with the Harvard Extension School. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful school, but as you are several years shy of turning 30, you don’t want to incur the expense of moving to Cambridge, finding another job and going to night school (that’s what HES is – classes occur after 5:00pm). See: [Harvard</a> Extension School | Online Courses & Harvard Continuing Education | Boston](<a href=“http://www.extension.harvard.edu/]Harvard”>http://www.extension.harvard.edu/). You should start working on your college degree in whatever city you are currently residing. If you’re still in New York, there’s Columbia, NYU, CCNY, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn College, Queens College etc. You need to let go of the prestige thing – getting a college degree should be your goal. Getting a degree from HES is not any better or more prestigious than getting one from another school. There is no added-on value.</p>