HBS PLD vs GMP vs other Extension School Master

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Prosaic

I am an expat R&D executive with >10 years of experience and wanted to explore a part-time MBA alike experience while working (I will eventually return to China in same technology management track, hopefully promotion, but want to leverage being in Boston to invest on learning business for potential career switch), Harvard GMP sounds attractive given the speed of getting into alumni, PLD looks like another great experience too with a longer (and hopefully more thorough) learning schedule, I also noticed I could choose to apply Harvard extension school general management master degree, which obviously need more time commitment without alumni privilege. any advice which one works better for people in my situation? thanks

I am an expat R&D executive with >10 years of experience and wanted to explore a part-time MBA alike experience while working (I will eventually return to China in same technology management track, hopefully promotion, but want to leverage being in Boston to invest on learning business for potential career switch), Harvard GMP sounds attractive given the speed of getting into alumni, PLD looks like another great experience too with a longer (and hopefully more thorough) learning schedule, I also noticed I could choose to apply Harvard extension school general management master degree, which obviously need more time commitment without alumni privilege. any advice which one works better for people in my situation? thanks
quote
Duncan

Graduates of the extension school are Harvard alumni, with all privileges. What are your goals?

Graduates of the extension school are Harvard alumni, with all privileges. What are your goals?
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maury

I think the PLD is designed for a younger cohort (10-15 years of work experience vs. 15-20 years of work experience.)

I think the PLD is designed for a younger cohort (10-15 years of work experience vs. 15-20 years of work experience.)
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tylersdad

I'm currently enrolled in PLD. Strong program, excellent and accomplished peer group, and reasonably rigorous. If someone is looking for vertical growth within an organization/sector it's great (ex as a physician and rising healthcare exec it does the trick). However, if you're trying to change sectors, break into consulting, banking, etc I just don't feel it has the breadth or depth to do that. In that case the full MBA or EMBA would be better. Just my two cents. Good luck.

I'm currently enrolled in PLD. Strong program, excellent and accomplished peer group, and reasonably rigorous. If someone is looking for vertical growth within an organization/sector it's great (ex as a physician and rising healthcare exec it does the trick). However, if you're trying to change sectors, break into consulting, banking, etc I just don't feel it has the breadth or depth to do that. In that case the full MBA or EMBA would be better. Just my two cents. Good luck.
quote
George Pat...

Graduates of the extension school are Harvard alumni, with all privileges. What are your goals?



1) The HES alumni can join some of the recruit events mixed with real alumni 1-2 times, but the website warns you that the recruiters have the option to opt out of HES graduates, specifically. And that, said recruitment events are targeted for entry level professionals (they are not mixed with the HBS ones)

2) Rumor has it (please take this with a grain of salt - I cannot confirm it) that real Harvard alumni snob the HES ones.

3) The degree is master of liberal arts in extension studies, which sucks. For me it sounds bogus to say "I studied Extension Studies". They should at least have the decency to offer a degree on the actual field that you study.

Edited post when I read alumni become also part of HAA

[Edited by George Patsoulis on Aug 25, 2017]

[quote]Graduates of the extension school are Harvard alumni, with all privileges. What are your goals?[/quote]


1) The HES alumni can join some of the recruit events mixed with real alumni 1-2 times, but the website warns you that the recruiters have the option to opt out of HES graduates, specifically. And that, said recruitment events are targeted for entry level professionals (they are not mixed with the HBS ones)

2) Rumor has it (please take this with a grain of salt - I cannot confirm it) that real Harvard alumni snob the HES ones.

3) The degree is master of liberal arts in extension studies, which sucks. For me it sounds bogus to say "I studied Extension Studies". They should at least have the decency to offer a degree on the actual field that you study.

Edited post when I read alumni become also part of HAA
quote
Duncan

Do you have a link to where it says recruiters have the option to opt out from HES? I am skeptical that recruiters can opt out from just one school. As a former HES student, I found that there is a huge range of recruitment events on campus that are open to final-year degree takers in any Harvard school . There are more than a dozen careers fairs each year, all of which are open to final-year students: https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/career-fairs. Indeed, the only fair that can be attended only by students from one school is for HES students.

HES degree students who are working with a Harvard careers advisor can also access on-campus interviews. But, certainly, most jobs that come to the central careers service are either functional roles or junior ones.

2. HES graduates *are* real Harvard alumni. But, certainly, undergraduate alumni are snobby about all the graduate schools because they are less selective.

3. The ALM *does* have stated fields. Harvard says you have an ALM in management. See the screenshot at http://blogs.harvard.edu/lamont/files/2013/09/hes_almm.jpg

Do you have a link to where it says recruiters have the option to opt out from HES? I am skeptical that recruiters can opt out from just one school. As a former HES student, I found that there is a huge range of recruitment events on campus that are open to final-year degree takers in any Harvard school . There are more than a dozen careers fairs each year, all of which are open to final-year students: https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/career-fairs. Indeed, the only fair that can be attended only by students from one school is for HES students.

HES degree students who are working with a Harvard careers advisor can also access on-campus interviews. But, certainly, most jobs that come to the central careers service are either functional roles or junior ones.

2. HES graduates *are* real Harvard alumni. But, certainly, undergraduate alumni are snobby about all the graduate schools because they are less selective.

3. The ALM *does* have stated fields. Harvard says you have an ALM in management. See the screenshot at http://blogs.harvard.edu/lamont/files/2013/09/hes_almm.jpg
quote

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