<p>For all of you who go to Duke and still stalk the boards, would you recommend doing FOCUS freshman year? I'm kinda tentative of the same residence arrangements in a dorm that hasn't been determined yet, but I feel that the seminars will really be engaging. What do you think?</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend doing the FOCUS program. The transition form high school to college is a big one and being in the FOCUS program, guarantees you to have 2 small classes first semester. I really got to know my professors, which is a good network to have for recommendations etc.
As for the living situation, it is a non-issue. It would be silly for you to not do FOCUS because of housing.</p>
<p>Wow. Well-spoken bluedog. Do you have any advice on which one to take? I’m planning on majoring in Biology and minoring in Public Policy Analysis.</p>
<p>The only downside to it is if you already have a strong idea of what you want to do and the FOCUS classes don’t fit into it. But this only really matters for engineering, I think, since the seminars will get in the way of the required core classes.</p>
<p>btw, you can’t minor in public policy–its only offered as a major</p>
<p>@daughters: Oh really? Thanks for the heads up. Is a double major in Pubic policy and biology manageable? Even on a premed track?</p>
<p>I’m really glad that I did FOCUS this year, because the classes were engaging and it allowed me to really bond with the people in my hall, intellectually and socially. I know that a lot of people in my dorm who didn’t do FOCUS kind of wished that they did now, because FOCUS made it easier for us to bond quickly and feel less intimidated about walking into someone’s room and striking up a casual conversation. Even though we were only together for one semester, I still talk and hang out with the people in my FOCUS classes today. </p>
<p>That said, it made me completely rewrite my initially planned schedule because of the class times. Still, I enjoyed it and the workload isn’t overwhelming at all.</p>
<p>haha well I guess I have to be the one to rain on this parade. I don’t know anyone (from ~5 of the focus programs) who thought focus was worth it. Some thought it wasn’t terrible, but having such a restricted schedule and useless weekly dinners got on their nerves. Now a lot of them are stressed about what they want to major in since they couldn’t take a bunch of survey/intro courses 1st semester. A lot of the focuses are quite different than they sound (just like most courses at Duke), so you really never know what a focus will actually be like. After talking with all my friends I’m glad I turned down between europe & asia. </p>
<p>Anyway, focus can be great. I’m just saying if you aren’t super pumped for it don’t do it. Definitely don’t feel like it is something that you should do or that if you aren’t doing it you’re missing out. I loved the variety of classes I had first semester and all of them count towards my majors so I’m a lot less stressed than the still undecideds.</p>
<p>Good luck! No matter what you decide, don’t regret it! Go for it! Duke is such a great place that even it’s worst aspects aren’t that bad.</p>
<p>Thanks for that post it was really helpful.</p>
<p>Yeah that was extremely helpful for me too. I don’t think I’m going to do it anymore. I was on the fence about it anyways, but I would rather just focus on my premed requirements.</p>
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