<p>Oh, that is a nice program if you happen to be in high school. Didn't realize we had that.</p>
<hr>
<p>You should remember that this creative writing class I am talking about is a class meant for college students - I am not sure whether it is offered over the summers.</p>
<p>Second, I do not know how a non-Duke-student goes about registering for Duke classes. Contact the registrar for more information (919.684.2813)</p>
<p>For this coming summer, it might already be too late to submit a writing sample. E-mail the professor in charge of the session you'd be interested in (go to Duke.com and search for his/her name).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Second, I do not know how a non-Duke-student goes about registering for Duke classes. Contact the registrar for more information (919.684.2813)
<p>First, you can actually sign up for a DUKE class - you will be in a class full of Duke students. This might be complicated and you will want to contact the registrar.</p>
<p>Second, there is the creative writing CAMP as listed at learnmore, meant for high school students. Unless I am severely mistaken about what this learnmore business is all about, they are two SEAPARATE options.</p>
<p>Actually if you click on the link you will see that I understood the distinction perfectly - it links to registration for undergraduate summer session.</p>
<p>"I would try to contact past students from any FOCUS you're interested in. I did, and that quickly pointed out one to avoid (Modern America)."</p>
<p>...Just to get an idea what exactly did you hear from students that made Modern America seem like one to avoid... sounds interesting to me."</p>
<p>When I took the Modern America poli sci-- the grades weren't arbitrary. The class got what they deserved, which, in almost all circumstances was a B or better. The writing professor when I took it was a complete jack***. He and I do NOT get along, even to this day, but I heard he's gone for the upcoming academic year. I personally think Modern America sounds very interesting, but our professors had varying expertise in their fields and significantly altered the course description to better coincide with their research and knowledge. While this was cool, for me it was also really annoying because I chose the Focus and the courses within the Focus based on their initial descriptions.</p>
<p>Hey guys,
Do you how the Visions of FReedom FOCUS program is? All of the course listings seem vastly interesting and I was wondering if they were all that great in practice.
Also, a random question, Can freshmen have cars on campus? Is there room in the lots?
Thanks.
-shirley</p>
<p>I have one question about the grading curves; do people actually get the grades that they EARN, or do professors deliberately lower, for example, an A that a student earned to attain a certain class average. That would be such ********.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do you how the Visions of FReedom FOCUS program is? All of the course listings seem vastly interesting and I was wondering if they were all that great in practice.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I loved Visions of Freedom. :D I took the two political science classes and writing and thought they were all great. Try to get a class with Scott DeMarchi...he's awesome.</p>
<p>Ultimate Frisbee-- it honestly depends on the class and department. But this is a fact of any course at any university that is graded on a curve. Sometimes, to make a bell curve you don't get the average of your test scores. Sometimes (in my case in one class) it's higher and sometimes (in another of my classes) it's lower. I've found that if the class will be graded on such a curve, the professor will tell you on the first day when he/she introduces the syllabus. You have to change how you think about the class. One class infamous for its curve is PPS55. I think the class is curved to either a B-/C+ and you know this from day one: you know that someone/people will fail and get Ds, and that few people will get A+s/full As. After every assignment its average is calculated... just think of it in terms of where you did on a curve. You can get bad numerical grades, but still be above a low average, and being above the average means you're getting at least a B. And in a class designed so that there are a couple of failures, a B is something to strive for.</p>
<p>Most humanities classes aren't graded on a curve and you get what you earn. The professors like to introduce this with a "i'll fail every single one of you if you deserve it" but that statement is always said with a huge smile because the professor knows that it isn't the case!</p>
<p>Outing Club: I used to be on their mailing list; they're actually pretty active. I ultimately decided it wasn't for me because they seemed to do a lot of rock climbing and little of the light hiking or canoeing/kayaking trips I had expected, but different things for different people - not to mention that the schedule may easily change next year.</p>
<p>Grading: To my knowledge, the math department is unique, at least at the entry Math 31/32 level, because they only give out as many A's, B's, and so on as students make on the final exam - in other words, it's to the class' best interest to have everyone do the best possible on that final, but it may mean your ultimate grade is pulled down somewhat. Other courses and departments grade much more fairly, as far as I can tell; your grade actually <em>does</em> seem consistent with the percentage weightings they tell you at the beginning of the year.</p>
<p>I noticed that the Focus apps are due 5/19. Will I receive more info before this date? (I have already mailed in my deposit and received confirmatin from Duke)</p>
<p>They have course break downs and descriptions for every group as well as the online application. I can't think of MUCH they would be able to tell you that isn't on that site so I'm not sure if you will recieve anythign else.</p>
<p>You guys will receive something about Focus, I believe. The website should give you all the info that you need, but I remember receiving this cardboard box/expandable folder type deal once Duke received my deposit. That comes with everything you could possibly need: intro to the ACES website, email address info, housing forms, health forms, etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>What's the political climate like at Duke? I expect the professors to be mostly liberal, like at all college campuses, but what about the student body? And are the political clubs active?</p>