<p>I'm sure if I searched for a while, I could find the answers, but I'm really in a rush, so I'd appreciate any responses. </p>
<p>Can someone explain what Duke's curriculum is like? Core requirements? I've heard people say "Focus." What's that? </p>
<p>Also, how diverse is the student body? I've heard a lot of people say that it's mostly rich, snobby, preppy, white kids? I know not everyone will be like that, so I don't want to start an argument on this board or anything. But, in general, how much of the duke population is white and preppy? </p>
<p>Duke is 53% white, about 20% Asian/Indian, and 18% URM - don't listen to those misconceptions is all I'd say. </p>
<p>Comparing Duke to schools that are similar academically:
Brown is 50% White, Dartmouth is 60% White, Penn is 48% White, Princeton is 60% White, Stanford is 42% White, Chicago is 48% White, Cornell is 55% White</p>
<p>"I've heard a lot of people say that it's mostly rich, snobby, preppy, white kids?"</p>
<p>People say this about any prestigious school. And while rich preppy white kids certainly are the plurality, usually the snobby ones stick to themselves and the rest don't discriminate in making friends or whatever. Just because someone has a Polo shirt on doesn't mean he's a snob</p>
<p>Regarding the curriculum: there is a "core curriculum" - each class you take has certain designations (for example, CHEM152L carries along with it an NS and an STS fulfillment) In Trinity, you have to take a total of 2 classes with each of the following designations: SGLE (Small Group Learning Experience, Seminar, or Independent Study - not including those taken in 1st year), ALP (Arts, Literature, Performance), CZ (Civilizations), QS (Quantitative Studies), NS (Natural Sciences), SS (Social Sciences), CCI (Cross Cultural Inquiry), EI (Ethical Inquiry), R (Research). You also must take 3 classes with a W (Writing) designation (one of which is freshman writing - WRITING 20), meet the FL (Foreign Language) requirement, 3 classes or up to a 100 level FL class, whichever comes first, and also take a freshman seminar.</p>
<p>These are requirements, in addition to the major.</p>
<p>FOCUS is a seminar program that you may apply to and take during the Fall of your freshman year (some topics are in the Spring). It is discussion and writing intensive, pursues one broad topic from an interdisciplinary perspective, and has accompanying enrichment activities. Plus, FOCUS classes are small in size (generally 15 or less) due to their seminar-style instruction.</p>