ABOUT FOCUS
The City of Atlanta annually sponsors a celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Held in January, the celebration, offers several days of activities and includes participants from around the world. This attraction, along with a partnership between the King Center and the Georgia Institute of Technology, led to the development of a unique program—FOCUS.
Share Their Experiences
The main goal of FOCUS is to give prospective minority graduate students—and any student who will find the program beneficial—an opportunity to visit Georgia Tech and Atlanta, receive an overview of the graduate degree programs, and participate in the King celebration. We hope this visit will encourage each student to pursue an advanced degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology or any other graduate school of their choice.
The FOCUS agenda has four components corresponding to the various groups invited to attend:
FOCUS Friends encourages academically gifted high school seniors who have been admitted to Georgia Tech to explore the benefits of a Georgia Tech education. The Friends will be exposed to our undergraduate degrees, support programs and other student services. They will also benefit from interaction with other top students who have chosen to pursue advanced degrees.
FOCUS Scholars is designed to increase the awareness of undergraduate juniors and seniors of the benefits of receiving an advanced degree. The Scholars receive an overview of Georgia Tech's graduate degree programs, a review of financial sources, and assistance in the application and decision-making process involved with selecting a graduate school.
FOCUS Fellows encourages minority doctoral students who are one or two years away from graduation or recent Ph.D. graduates to consider an academic career. The Fellows serve as outstanding role models for the high school and undergraduate students attending FOCUS. Postdoctoral scholars, researchers holding Ph.D. degrees, and individuals pursuing or holding degrees in engineering, computing, the sciences, mathematics, architecture, and management are invited to participate.
FOCUS Alumni brings together nearly twenty-five former FOCUS Scholars each year, who received advanced degrees from Georgia Tech, to serve as distinguished role models. Their attendance and participation is a key component toward encouraging high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to pursue higher education and careers in academia. Alumni panels are convened to cover topics such as academic and industry careers, and entrepreneurship, among others.