<p>any thoughts as to the best/worst of these programs? Any ones to particularly avoid? Im considering Global Health, Exploring the Mind, and the Genome one. Thanks!</p>
<p>You will face hefty competition getting into those three (Power of Ideas is the other tough one to get into) so make sure you write excellent essays if you want to get into them.</p>
<p>I'm really interested in the Genome Revolution FOCUS program. Do I really need to spend a lot of time on the essay if I want a chance to get in? I'm really busy right now studying for APs and such. How competitive are these programs?</p>
<p>Just a thought- I was told by the director (or a representative) of the FOCUS program at Blue Devils Days that there's a spring FOCUS semester as well as the better known fall one. I think there's different subjects (not sure on this) in spring semester FOCUS and about equal level of competition. About 50% of applicants are accepted in each semester of FOCUS, but keep in mind that with 12 clusters and 30 kids per cluster, that means a decent amount of students are applying. Still, the woman with whom I spoke said it is pretty competitive, and possibly the percentage seems high, but this could be a self-selecting type deal. Those who are really into learning across the disciplines and getting that extra edge are gonna go for this.</p>
<p>The 50% number is more applicable to the competitive clusters (i.e. the four mentioned already). Others accept pretty much anyone who lists a specific program as their #1 choice.</p>
<p>Was the person Amy Feistel? She's the person in charge of FOCUS, so she'd know better than I would...but I haven't heard of a spring FOCUS. They offered Global Health as a spring FOCUS this year, but that was only because it's new.</p>
<p>In general, the four above will be the tough ones, but other ones offer advantages as well - if you do the Russian FOCUS, they actually take you on a trip to Russia over fall break.</p>
<p>^ not necessarily</p>
<p>don't do focus - it is not all it's cracked up to be. I don't know a single senior who is still glad that they did it.</p>
<p>I wouldn't go that far. You have to take a seminar and Writing 20 anyway, so you really only take one extra class (which can get rid of some of the pesky Curriculum 2K requirements). I enjoyed my FOCUS, although it wasn't related to my major. I had a lot of AP credit to get rid of pre-reqs, though. The residential part of FOCUS was nice too.</p>
<p>Yes, I think it was Amy Feistel that I spoke too.</p>
<p>alexatduke06, can you explain further what problems FOCUS has? The publicity for it makes it sound really great, but it seems you know another side to the program.</p>
<p>I did FOCUS this year and probably would not do it again. However, when asked if people would do it over again, you will get a different response from each FOCUS. The faculty of a FOCUS is what makes it great or boring. In my case, I had world-renowned classicists, who are on the History Channel and translated the texts we were reading. However, although they may be the best experts in their field, they may not be the best at teaching. Thus, it is really the professors that will make or break your FOCUS experience.</p>