Which One Would You Pick: Harvard Extension ALM or UIUC iMSM?

[Lyhnidas]

If you had to choose between the Harvard Extension School’s ALM in Management and the UIUC iMSM program, which one would you go for and why? I’m weighing both in terms of learning experience, recognition, and future opportunities. Would love to hear your thoughts!r

[Pikachu]

UIUC.

Harvard Extension isn't seen as "real" Harvard by a lot of people - even Harvard itself is way too anal about how you reference the Extension degrees. Just search reddit for opinions on their Extension School and you'll get what I'm talking about. I don't like the naming of their degrees either.

[bluebooger]

whichever is least expensive

[bjcheung77]

UIUC IMSM is a great program, I suggest that one as well... If you want, you can skip the IMBA as that's not really a 'ladder' into a second degree. IMSM is sufficient by itself - meaning, no, you don't need to ladder into the IMBA at all (even though their brochures indicate so). You should fill in the addendum and template (located at the bottom links of my signature).

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

If you had to choose between the Harvard Extension School’s ALM in Management and the UIUC iMSM program, which one would you go for and why? I’m weighing both in terms of learning experience, recognition, and future opportunities. Would love to hear your thoughts!r

I would go with the UIUC program.

Gies Business School is considered to be just as good as an Ivy (per US News) the program is cheaper, the U of I alumni association is amazing, and the basketball team is a hell of a lot better.

[Lyhnidas]

Thank you everyone!


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[ifomonay]

UIUC without a doubt. UIUC is very well-known. It's a member of the public Ivy.
Harvard's ALM is actually "Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies". So they want to communicate to your prospective employers that you didn't go to the real Harvard.

[Duneranger]

I am in IL, UIUC for sure. Sorry, it's not the real Harvard. Not saying it isn't quality education, but its pure copium to think its the same thing.

Harvard gatekeeps their degrees hard. The undergraduate program has a 3.5% acceptance rate; the extension school is essentially 100% if you get Bs in a few classes.

[crimsonhairless]

I went to HES, studied on campus, joined some clubs there, participated in the Harvard-MIT consulting competition, and graduated with my ALM in International Relations (plus a certificate in Security). I made friends in almost every school at Harvard including the college. I can confidently say that no one gave a shit which graduate school I was enrolled at and the talk of Harvard students looking down on you is mostly projection. If you are interested in HES and find it works for you and your schedule I say go for it.

[bjcheung77]

Further to that, if you have the energy, money, time to get it done at HES... That may be another reason for it as well, for example, you have tuition assistance or reimbursement from work, potentially $5K+/year of saving. Going with that cost, you can take 3 years for the UIUC IMSM and be done with it, for FREE... For HES, you'll shave $15K off that cost...

For those who want to go for HES Bachelors & Masters combo, you're look at $100K for both... I've always recommended skipping the Bachelors and only going for the Masters as the final leg, at the end of the day, the Masters is what you'll count the most. So, an example is, get a TESU or UMPI Bachelors, then do the Masters at HES, for a whopping half price of $50K.