FOCUS Program at Duke?

Hi, I’m an RD admit to Duke 2021. My intended major is Biology with a concentration in Biochemistry. I’m a little undecided on whether or not to apply for the FOCUS program, and am considering the Global Health and Genomics clusters. While there is an existing thread on FOCUS, I was hoping you could help me with some specific aspects of the program:

– Is the course content academically challenging? I would like to participate in courses that are slightly difficult and technical. Most of the reviews I have read emphasise the community-based aspect which I would love but it is not a priority.

– Any opportunities available specifically to FOCUS students?

Any specific pros/ cons, insights, recommendations and experiences will be helpful to me.

I’m also a RD admitted student at Duke. I’m going in as a biology major but may transfer to Pratt to major in biomedical engineering. I just submitted my application for the Duke Focus Program and my top to choices were global health and genomics. The benefits I’m aware of is that these classes count towards the Trinity requirements and I was told that like most classes at Duke, they are rigorous. It also allows you to make connections with professors that can write recommendations in the future plus the program itself looks great on resumés. It also makes you a priority if you plan on applying to DukeEngage.

Ah okay. Thanks so much!

What I’ve heard from my friends that did it:
-Classes are hard.
-Free dinners every other Monday.
-Major con is you can’t choose your schedule (sucks if you’re second window second semester freshman year), haven’t heard anything negative besides that.

As Dee8754, major perk is the connections you establish. Definitely apply if interested.

I was also admitted to the class of 2017. Students that I’ve met that were in the program are glad for it, and students who didn’t apply seem to regret it. It’s only for the first semester, so you should do it!