FOCUS on a Successful Beginning at Ferrum College                      

Get a head start on academic success! Join us for a two week, pre-college experience designed to help you prepare for the academic demands of Ferrum College. During FOCUS (First Opportunity for College Undergraduate Success), you will work with Ferrum faculty members to enhance your skills and complete two academic courses, earning three hours of academic credit towards graduation!

August 4th – August 16th

Join us in August for a two week, pre-college academic experience. FOCUS provides you the opportunity to complete two courses, earning three hours of college credit before the fall semester begins!

FOCUS is designed to give you a preview of the college experience, while providing you with the individual academic support you need to enhance your skills and find success. During FOCUS, you will be enrolled in two academic courses, work closely with our freshman success faculty, and earn three credits toward graduation – all before the rush of the fall semester begins.

The first course (FER 105 Introduction to College Living and Learning, 2 credit hours) is focused on developing college-level reading skills, along with improving your skills in either writing or mathematics.  The second course (HHP 149 Wellness Concepts, 1 credit hr.) enables you to complete a physical activity course, which is a requirement in Ferrum’s Liberal Arts Core.  (Note: You must enroll in both courses if you wish to participate in FOCUS.)

Students who participate in FOCUS will live on campus and attend classes Monday - Friday. You will visit the award-winning NC State Zoo on Saturday, August 10th and participate in activities coordinated by Ferrum Outdoors on Sunday, August 11th.

Bonus Opportunity! During FOCUS, Ferrum College will host college students from Japan. These students are visiting our campus to learn about our culture and to immerse themselves in the English language. The coordinators of this program ask that we pair a Japanese student with a Ferrum student as roommates. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and help these students better understand our culture and language. As you complete your application, please indicate whether you would like to share a room with one of our visiting students from Japan. This will be a wonderful way to round out your FOCUS experience.

The fee for the FOCUS experience is $1000, which includes tuition, room & board, all event tickets, and activity fees. Textbooks and student supplies are not included.
Please note: a deposit of $250.00 must be received by Monday, July 8th.

Additionally, all incoming student assessments must be completed on Panther Tracks in order for your application to be reviewed and processed. To reserve your space in FOCUS 2013, please complete this program application (PDF) and submit it no later than Monday, July 8, 2013. 

For additional information about FOCUS, please contact: