The following study skills services are available to Harvard Extension School students.
Online tools
Throughout the year, you can access the Bureau of Study Counsel’s self-help resources with links that cover 24 academic topics such as anxiety, concentration, memory, motivation, note-taking, and procrastination.
The Harvard College Writing Program provides a number of writing resources. Sources include handouts on various aspects of the essay writing process (e.g., developing a thesis, tips on grammar, conclusions) and discipline-specific writing guides (e.g., brief guide to writing the history paper, brief guide to writing the psychology paper, and a guide to philosphical writing).
Study strategies courses
The Harvard Course in Reading and Study Strategies, offered by the Bureau of Study Counsel, focuses on reading comprehension and speed-reading skills. The fee is $150. Please visit the BSC’s website for more information and schedule, or call (617) 495-2581.
The Extension School also offers a noncredit study-skills course, Learning Styles and Compensatory Strategies.
Tutoring
Writing and math tutors are available through the Writing Center and Math Question Center.
For other subjects and for a fee, you can contact Harvard Student Agencies or post a tutoring job as an outside employer through Harvard Student Employment Office job database to hire a Harvard College student.
We also recommend contacting your teaching fellow or instructor and forming a study group. Visit the College Board's Power of Study Groups for suggestions.
Degree candidates only
The Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) provides academic counseling to a limited number of degree candidates on a referral basis. You can explore potential difficulties and blocks to your learning or be matched with a peer tutor to support your foreign language, math, and science learning. See Forms to download the referral form.
In addition, the BSC reading and study strategies course (described above) is available to degree candidates for half price ($75).
Thesis writers
Many Extension School graduate degree programs require students to write a thesis. And most programs offer their own thesis workshops (visit your program office to learn more). You can also find a collection of thesis books in the CARC reference library.
For help with issues related to time management, procrastination, and writer’s block, see the online resources of the Harvard Writing Program and Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC). For more individual support, get a referral for 1 to 3 meetings with a BSC counselor. See Forms to download the BSC referral form.