<p>Fall semester or Spring semester? Or not at all? </p>
<p>Anyone have any opinions?</p>
<p>i'd like to know as well</p>
<p>My son LOVED Focus. It was an essential part of his life at Duke. From what I can tell, his friends who opted not to do it are just as happy however. You can find old threads on this. I don't think Focus vs non-Focus divides freshmen however...either path can be a winners path. Some engineer track and accelerated track premed kids may prefer the a la carte path for those reqs. </p>
<p>You do have to complete a writing seminar regardless. This is a pretty interesting way to get it done if you like classes that are connected and in-depth. My son had a Mellon grant teacher for writing segment. </p>
<p>FOCUS offers a set of classmates in your dorm but not as your roommate. East campus dorms do turn out to be real "home turf" for most freshmen regardless. Very cozy on East for all but Focus gives you immediate study groups. You will be seeing a LOT of them for one semester and some meetings may be held for discussions in the commons room of your dorm or in a place for eating or conferring. There will be one or two classes in the Focus segment you are not enrolled in but you will have discussions with those kids and their teacher too. ie..my son was not in the legal angle course in his cluster for instance but he got to hear the professor some times anyway and found it fascinating.</p>
<p>Focus offers access to senior professors who are likely spending time writing and doing research. Our Duke tour guide has been offered the chance to do biological research for her whole Focus class with a senior prof. My son was able to hear lectures from a fantastic semi retired history prof with many publications and an august career behind him, and a close up view of things from another prof who does research in another country etc. In small rooms with complete opportunity for conversation. My son is still close friends with his Focus classmates, runs into them all the time and a couple of them are best friend category. My son also felt that his Focus profs were true touchstones and early mentors. Sometimes Focus serves as a way to expose a dept to students to get them to consider a major or a minor. </p>
<p>so a vote for Focus which I feel gives Duke a sort of liberal arts college beginning with all the excitement of a larger college still all around you.</p>
<p>I'd pretty much decided to do the program as well - the only thing is whether to do it spring or fall semester? For fall semester you would get to live with fellow FOCUS members whereas spring you don't. Any opinions?</p>
<p>I'd say spring. In the fall you need time and space to relax and find your place. Focus limits your course options and may make it difficult for you to adjust (because you can't pick your courses "a la carte" to leave time for adjustment) so save it for spring. As you already know, it's a tremendous opportunity that's not to be missed.</p>
<p>But the problem with the spring cluster is that there's only 2 clusters available and I'm not that particularly interested in either of them.</p>
<p>Then do what you're interested in! Even if you decide not to do it, though, don't think you'll be missing out on quality academics--this is Duke after all :)</p>
<p>I think Focus serves also as a grand fall freshman orientation program and is great in the fall. Several premeds in my son's group. Still plenty of time to hit the prerequisites but little chance to study three related courses in small groups at Duke in the four years you are there. If you do it, don't get hung up on which one though. Your first choice can fill up and there is an application essay. Lots of people were assigned to third choices. Always time to drop out and take a la carte instead of you don't find you like your assignment.</p>
<p>Do FOCUS in the fall, if you're going to do it. The whole point is to serve as a transition to Duke, and the housing is an important part of that.</p>
<p>I think I'll do it in the fall if I end up going to Duke because the fall cluster sounds more interesting. But is it difficult to fulfill other requirements if you do FOCUS?</p>
<p>I did FOCUS and will graduate with a major, a minor, and a year of study abroad completely unrelated to either. You'll have more academic flexibility than you know what to do with. :D</p>
<p>Greetings</p>
<p>I wanted to tell those of you who are contemplating applying to Duke's Focus program about the newest cluster debuting this Fall. It is called "Prospective Health Care: The Next Health Care Transformation?" It is based on an emerging area known as "prospective health care," which deals with personalized, predictive and preventative health care. This cluster was developed by the Center for Research on Prospective Health Care at Duke because we are dedicated to involving undergraduates. We also started an undergraduate Duke Prospective Health Care club, which is now 2 years old.</p>
<p>This Focus cluster is NOT just for pre-meds or science majors. It is for everyone! The core courses of this cluster encompass Public Policy, History, Psychology and Immunology. In addition, the IDC will integrate diverse perspectives such as theology and business. Please tell anyone else you think might be interested about this Focus cluster.</p>
<p>Check out the Focus website and read more about our cluster.</p>
<p>I just saw that cluster! When I saw it earlier today I though, Wow I REALLY want to do it! :) </p>
<p>Is it true that we have to apply for Focus by May 26? Someone told me that and I wasn't sure if that's right? It seems really early.</p>
<p>Yes.
<a href="http://focus.aas.duke.edu/program/application.php%5B/url%5D">http://focus.aas.duke.edu/program/application.php</a></p>
<p>Looking over the FOCUS groups for next year, Visions of Freedom (Ruth Grant, Michael Moses), Global Climate Change (Cindy Van Dover, Michael Orbach), and Evolution & Humankind (Anne Yoder, Matt Cartmill) also have really great/famous professors. </p>
<p>It's not fair that all the best courses are offered to FOCUS kids. :mad: :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Yes, the deadline is May 26.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Applications are not considered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Phew! That's good.
Can anyone tell me what the app. is like? How hard is it to get into a FOCUS?</p>
<p>actually, i think focus makes getting requirements out of the way (in terms of matrix, grad. requirements, not necessarily major requirements...) easier. in one semester, you get your writing 20 and seminar which are your two main freshman requirements, and get a head start getting other things covered (and if not, have second semester to work on that).</p>
<p>i did a focus that no longer exists, and didn't really enjoy it and almost wish i hadn't done it. but in reality, it was a great transitional experience, and i loved living with my classmates. but i can say that i didn't start my major classes until sophomore year, and i'll graduate with more courses in my major than i need, and i finished my matrix requirements before senior year.</p>
<p>Anyone know what the Focus group / dorm pairings were this year? Does it change every year?</p>
<p>I know it's a stupid thing to want to know, but I really want to do Focus, but I also will definitely need to be in an AC dorm (really horrible allergies / asthma, which actually almost led to me ruling out going to school at Duke as an option when I originally applied), so I need to figure out some way I can be in a Focus and not die in the spring. >.<</p>
<p>I REALLY want to do Visions of Freedom. All I'm waiting for is my financial aid package, then I'll submit the FOCUS app. I NEED Visions of Freedom.</p>
<p>sphairistic: I have heard from many colleges that if you specify your needs allergy-wise, they will give you a room with a/c. (At least I know this is true of UNC and PSU)</p>