The FOCUS Program
FOCUS is an interactive tool that will assess your interests, preferences, and skills, and provide you and your academic advisor with information that will help you choose a major.
You are encouraged to meet with your academic advisor to discuss how FOCUS can help you! Print the FOCUS summary reports and bring them to your advising meeting. Your academic advisor will review the reports and any questions you may have on the results. It is not necessary to print out suggested occupation lists.
Please stop by or call the University Advising Center to schedule your appointment. We are located in the Administration Building, first floor. 401-254-3456.
To start the FOCUS program for the first time, you may register and use the key code “Hawks”.
RWU Student Testimonials
If you are anything like me, you stared at the computer screen for a good 30 seconds after logging into the FOCUS system, thinking, “What do I do first?” The FOCUS website may seem a bit confusing at first glance, but it’s really very simple. Just go down the list of links, fill out the surveys provided and take a look at the answers they give you. This is not a fool-proof system; if you aren’t honest about your level of interest in something, your results will seem off. So do your best to be honest, and keep an open mind about the career results they give you. You may not think that you want to be a social worker or an accountant until you read the descriptions. Just remember to keep an open mind and be honest, and you may just stumble upon the perfect major or career for you!
- Jessica Cassidy, Class of 2010
When I took FOCUS, I thought it was going to be another one of those painful surveys that take you forever to complete. After taking it, I learned that it wasn’t as long or as painful as I thought and it ended up helping me figure out what I wanted to major in.
- Bianca Leonardo, Class of 2012
The FOCUS assessment wasn’t a difficult standardized test like I thought it was going to be. It was actually really easy to do and it helped me decide on which major to declare based on my interests and skills. It only took fifteen minutes, but it showed me a lot of opportunities that I have available to me.
- Nora Mitnick, Class of 2011
I believe the FOCUS assessment can be a very valuable tool, especially for those who do not fully know what direction he/she wants to go in with his/her life or occupation. This assessment definitely makes students think of what they are actually interested in, what skills they have, and what their strengths and weakness are. I found FOCUS to be very useful and easy. It really doesn’t take long and can help immensely. I believe this can help lead a student in the right direction or give the student careers/educational goals to consider.
- Doug Lake, Class of 2012
FOCUS is designed to help and guide us in the right direction towards a career and major that we enjoy. I know sometimes a standardized test such as this can be one of the last things you want to do, but as a Roger Williams Student I can honestly say these series of tests really helped me in my search for a major and a possible career path. It doesn't take very long and it truly is helpful!
- Lindsay Prior, Class of 2011