<p>What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing Duke "focus" as a freshman? Is the program targeted to a specific type of student? Thanks.</p>
<p>I was in focus this past semester and I thought it was great. Basically when you choose to do focus you pick one of the clusters which is listed on the focus website which you can find through duke.edu and within that focus there are 4 classes and one Focus IDC. So when you apply you pick 2 classes that you would like to be in and hopefully you get your first choice and the focus IDC is basically a half credit pass/fail discussion group that you have during a meal with all the focus students in your cluster. We had guest speakers and presentations, it was a cake walk. </p>
<p>The advantages are the following:
The classes chosen or designated for focus are really really good courses taught by pretty good professors. You get a lot out of those classes even if you aren’t majoring anything near what you are learning in those classes and you can get some basic t-reqs out of the way through them.
I was in the Across Europe and Asia, Culture, Law, and Cognitive Science one and basically i took a neuroscience and language culture which was a Natural science and a public policy class through it.
THe classes are usually 100 level as well and 100 level classes are generally better.
Another advantage is that you have a close group of friends you make in an academic environment. You see these students in your dorm, up to 2 classes, and the discussion group. You share similar interests with these friends so its good as well. If you need a vehicle to better accomodate yourself at duke, then focus is a really good way to achieve that. </p>
<p>Disadvantages:
Not much of a disadvantage but when you register you only pick 2 more classes because you are basically locked into focus. Its hard to drop out of it. Not a big deal though</p>
<p>Some focus clusters aren’t as good as others, do some research to find the best one for you. Even if something jumps out at you, it doesn’t mean its necessarily going to be good, most are though. </p>
<p>if you have any other questions pm me</p>