Is Harvard Extension considered the same as Harvard University on applications?
I've been looking into some courses at Harvard Extension School and I'm a little confused about how it's perceived. If I take classes or earn a degree from Harvard Extension, is it seen the same way as having gone to Harvard College or Harvard University in general?
I'm a current high school junior, and my parents are encouraging me to try some Harvard Extension classes. I'm just wondering if having Harvard Extension on my resume or future applications looks the same as regular Harvard to admissions officers (or potential employers). Also, is the experience similar? Any insight from students who have gone this route would be much appreciated.
I've seen mixed info online and hoping to clear things up before I make a decision. Does it really give the same prestige or is it totally different?
I'm a current high school junior, and my parents are encouraging me to try some Harvard Extension classes. I'm just wondering if having Harvard Extension on my resume or future applications looks the same as regular Harvard to admissions officers (or potential employers). Also, is the experience similar? Any insight from students who have gone this route would be much appreciated.
I've seen mixed info online and hoping to clear things up before I make a decision. Does it really give the same prestige or is it totally different?
6 months ago
•
170 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 6 months ago
Advisor
This is a really important distinction, and it’s great that you’re looking into it before committing. Harvard Extension School (HES) is a division of Harvard University, but it’s separate from Harvard College (the undergraduate school) and Harvard’s other graduate schools.
When you take classes at Harvard Extension, your transcript and any eventual degree will come from Harvard Extension School specifically—not Harvard College. On applications, listing a course or certificate from Harvard Extension won’t be interpreted the same way as being a degree-seeking student at Harvard College, and admissions officers are usually familiar with the difference.
The main differences are in how selective the admissions process is, the student experience, and the recognition attached to each unit. Harvard Extension is designed to be open-enrollment for many courses and geared more towards nontraditional or continuing education students. For degrees, there are admissions criteria, but they’re much more flexible than Harvard College. The experience also tends to be more remote or part-time, and the campus life won’t mirror that of being a full-time undergraduate at Harvard College.
Employers and college admissions officers generally see Harvard Extension courses as an impressive extracurricular, especially if you do well in rigorous subjects. For example, if you take an advanced computer science class and perform strongly, that shows initiative and academic ability. However, no one will confuse a Harvard Extension course or certificate with a Harvard College degree, and the prestige is different. For future college applications, including for Harvard itself, Extension courses can help supplement your academic record, but they won’t guarantee admission or carry the weight of being a full undergraduate at Harvard.
As an example, some students have mentioned that listing a Harvard Extension certificate on their resume sparked interview questions, but employers knew it wasn't a Harvard College diploma and assessed it as continuing education instead. If you’re genuinely interested in the topics offered and want to show intellectual curiosity, Extension courses can be valuable. Just don’t go into it expecting the same reputation boost as attending Harvard College.
If you’re mainly considering it as a way to stand out, you might also look at programs designed specifically for high school students (like Harvard’s Pre-College Program) or advanced coursework at your own school, which might align more closely with traditional undergraduate admissions expectations. Hope this helps clarify the difference!
When you take classes at Harvard Extension, your transcript and any eventual degree will come from Harvard Extension School specifically—not Harvard College. On applications, listing a course or certificate from Harvard Extension won’t be interpreted the same way as being a degree-seeking student at Harvard College, and admissions officers are usually familiar with the difference.
The main differences are in how selective the admissions process is, the student experience, and the recognition attached to each unit. Harvard Extension is designed to be open-enrollment for many courses and geared more towards nontraditional or continuing education students. For degrees, there are admissions criteria, but they’re much more flexible than Harvard College. The experience also tends to be more remote or part-time, and the campus life won’t mirror that of being a full-time undergraduate at Harvard College.
Employers and college admissions officers generally see Harvard Extension courses as an impressive extracurricular, especially if you do well in rigorous subjects. For example, if you take an advanced computer science class and perform strongly, that shows initiative and academic ability. However, no one will confuse a Harvard Extension course or certificate with a Harvard College degree, and the prestige is different. For future college applications, including for Harvard itself, Extension courses can help supplement your academic record, but they won’t guarantee admission or carry the weight of being a full undergraduate at Harvard.
As an example, some students have mentioned that listing a Harvard Extension certificate on their resume sparked interview questions, but employers knew it wasn't a Harvard College diploma and assessed it as continuing education instead. If you’re genuinely interested in the topics offered and want to show intellectual curiosity, Extension courses can be valuable. Just don’t go into it expecting the same reputation boost as attending Harvard College.
If you’re mainly considering it as a way to stand out, you might also look at programs designed specifically for high school students (like Harvard’s Pre-College Program) or advanced coursework at your own school, which might align more closely with traditional undergraduate admissions expectations. Hope this helps clarify the difference!
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years