What did you learn about your own capabilities through the rigor of your coursework? Were there any moments in particular that pushed you to grow?
When I enrolled in the “Financial Accounting and Managerial Economics” course for my ALM in Management, I hadn’t been in an academic setting for over 40 years. I didn’t know Excel, I’d forgotten most of basic algebra, and suddenly I was staring down regression analysis. I was completely overwhelmed.
What saved me was being able to listen to the lectures over and over — and at different speeds. That flexibility made all the difference.
Concepts I couldn’t grasp the first time eventually clicked, and what felt impossible started to feel manageable. It was hard, but I got through it, and when my grades came in I felt incredibly proud of myself. The professors and TAs were always available and genuinely helpful.
I can say without hesitation that every instructor I had at Harvard Extension School was outstanding — true experts in their fields who were both passionate about teaching and remarkably good at it.
What are you doing today that you never could have imagined you’d achieve before your time at HES?
Having enjoyed my first Harvard master’s degree program experience so much, I’m going back for a second — this time pursuing an ALM in International Relations. I’m already enrolled in my first course for the summer session and am really looking forward to the journey ahead.
How did you fit your education into your life? (Working full/part time, balancing with other responsibilities, meeting the on-campus requirement, etc.)
As a mother of four and grandmother of two, life is rarely quiet. On top of that, I co-founded a new nonprofit just a couple of months after starting classes, and my retired husband loves to travel. There were plenty of moments when keeping up felt like a real challenge. But the asynchronous format made it work — I could watch lectures and complete assignments on my own schedule, whether we were home or away. That flexibility was everything.
Describe your Extension experience in one word:
Transformative.
