A few years ago this program was not good. I mean, it wasn't BAD. Did you look into the program awhile back, OTgirl? Now, they are recruiting recent grads pretty hard and it is moving toward a traditional MA. I know a few people who are funded. Is that your situation, NW? If that is the case I would go for it.
Not so sure about the HES comparison... MALS is in the Dartmouth GSAS and HES is completely separate from Harvard GSAS. At HES, you have to apply for special status to take Harvard College courses. Dartmouth requires half your courses to be chosen from the college offerings or Tuck, etc. and half grad seminars. There is no online "distance" option at Dartmouth either--maybe there was 10 years ago?
Don't know the reputation with adcoms but Dartmouth has a relatively weak grad program. If you are unfunded that is another story.
