Wake Forest University Top Questions

What are the most popular student activities/groups?

Nicole

As far as the social life goes, I would say it is primarily Greek party wise. That could also be because me and most of my friends are involved in greek organizations, however. I know a ton of people in my dorm who choose to not attend parties or drink on the weekends and theres always something going on, whether its concerts in chapel hill or greensboro (or even downtown winston-salem) or student union and student government activities - like Shag on the Mag. You meet a ton of great people both at parties and on your dorm halls. Everyone is really social and you shouldn't have a problem finding a fit thats right for you.

Meghan

Greek Life here on campus is hands down the largest organization. We have other organizations such as service oriented to diversity oriented, but Greeks tend to rule the social scene and therefore many people join fraternities of sororities.

Elizabeth

Freshman halls bond with each other quite a bit. Frats and Sororities are bigger as you get past being a freshman. I really like that, although a lot of student's drink regularly, I feel like if you don't go out all the time, people don't really care and don't judge you for it. You could always find an event to do on a weekend that doesn't involve alcohol, but some would definitely be better than others. Joining clubs and stuff will help with that. Drugs are almost non-existent when you compare it the standard of other colleges. They make it pretty clear during orientation that if you are caught with weed or anything else, you will be in big trouble, whereas it can be possible to weasel your way out of an alcohol violation.

Anna

Either you hang out with atheletes or youre greek or you dont have a social life. also, we do party really hard, no one goes out unless theyre getting absolutely trashed

Katie

Dating scene - not so hot, there are a lot of single people and there's a lot of random hookups. Greek life is big here, and a lot of the parties have been pushed off campus. Most of the fraternity make their pledges sober shuttle people to all their off campus parties. There are one or two over 18 bars *though one may be torn down in 2009* and once you are 21 there is a whole new scene in downtown Winston-Salem -it's nice to change it up halfway through college. Fall is football season which is amazing. Some students wear sundresses and bowties and some wear Wake gear but everybody has a great time tailgating. The year we won the ACC and went to the Orange Bowl (which it seems like everybody flew to Miami to see) was the most incredible season.

Ashley

Greek life is the center of social life at Wake, at least in my opinion. Many students don't lock their doors, and this is usually safe. Athletic events are more popular than guest speakers, and definitely more popular than theater, but this fluctuates. I met my closest friends freshman year and in my sorority pledge class. I eat off campus a lot, and go to bars downtown.

Royce

One thing you should know before coming to Wake is that Greek life dominates this school. If you are not going to be on a sports team or in a fraternity or sorority, life may be difficult for you. There are many independents who have a great social life here but they are on the periphery. Everything revolves around fraternities and sororities.

Devin

the campus is dominated by greek life. 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of all the parties on campus are greek parties. we are a hard liquor campus, not so much drugs. the football games are usually pretty packed...for the first 5 mins.

Steffie

Fraternities and sororities, like I said, are huge at Wake. But if you're from the North, don't let this scare you away. Most people who come to Wake thinking they will hate Greek life (myself included) tend to have a change of heart and learn to love it. It is not nearly as intense and caddy as the movies like to make it appear. Fraternities are pretty much just a group of guys that like to get drunk together, to be honest. When I first got to Wake, before sororities were even in the picture, I joined lacrosse because I wanted the team feeling back from my high school days. It has been such a good way to get to know other girls on campus and get some fun exercise. There are a ton of club sports teams and intramural teams offered at Wake besides lacrosse, too, and they are really popular with students here as well. Dorm life at Wake is great. Freshman year you will live in a dorm with all freshman and a number of RAs and people tend to get really close to their halls. The upperclassmen dorms are really nice, and set up as suites, with 4 or more rooms and a common bathroom. Rooms are decently sized, but you will definitely be ready to upgrade to an apartment when you are a senior (or junior). The apartments by campus are really nice, affordable, and well-run, and so popular with Wake kids that you are sure to have some friends as neighbors. Houses by campus are also really cheap and pretty well-kept, so they will often be bought up by fraternities and sororities or groups of friends so they can hold their own parties. The dating scene at Wake is not terribly lively, as most guys and girls tend to stick to random hooks up that may later lead to relationships. Relationships are definitely common among the older crew, but as freshman and sophomores people generally choose to play the field and see what's out there. Wake Wednesday's have become a tradition at Wake, because apparently we all need the aid of alcohol to get over the hump of mid-week misery. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are definitely the biggest social nights on the calendar, but Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays pick up significantly once you're of-age. We are also big fans of day drinking, especially in the spring when the weather is perfect for some morning punch or cheap champagne and pools of jello pudding to make things messy. More tame traditions are events like Hit the Bricks, Wake 'n Shake (both charitable events that raise money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Foundation), a ton of events held by the Student Government and Student Union (concerts, carnivals, dances, etc.), and of course tailgates, football games, and basketball games. Wake is alllll about tradition and is what makes the campus so close and the alums keep coming back.

Megs

If you are really into the indie scene (movies or music) and if it's really important to you, then look elsewhere.

Fran

Wake Forest has a great social scene. Fraternities and sororities are a HUGE part of that social scene. I think that the Greek life on Wakes campus is incredibly important. I may be biased as a member of the Greek community, but I think we do a lot more than just throw parties. The Greek system raises a lot of money on campus for great causes and always has a great turnout to nonGreek fundraisers as well.

Hannah

The most popular groups on campus are definitely the Greek systems. I'm a Kappa Delta, which is a sorority. We're known on campus as the "smart girls." Students typically leave their doors open in the dorms. I met my closest friends through my sorority. The dating scene is non-existent. People are either in committed relationships or they just hook up. The Greek system is very important. Last weekend I went to a frat party. There is not much to do on the weekends that doesn't involve drinking.

Stephany

The most popular groups are sororities or fraternities. I'm a Kappa Delta but I'm also a dancer. Students do leave their doors open - I feel safe here.

Rachel

About half of the students are involved in Greek Life on campus, which pretty much dominates the social scene. Athletic events are generally high in attendance, especially the football and basketball games. One of the most popular groups on campus is Student Union, which organizes fun and creative events for students to get their minds off work and enjoy a good time with their friends. This group also plans the annual events and traditions that Wake has. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are the big "going out" nights.

April

it's the jocks and the greeks, if you're not one there are definitely social groups, just on a smaller calaber; I'm a pi phi and don't do too much with it but do a lot of greek organized charity events like breast cancer fashion show and wake n' shake; we always locked ours but we were the minority; athletic events are popular but only if the team is good, very touch and go depending on the season; people only go to guest speakers for class which is stupid some great minds come here but it's hard to advertise; I only attend theater because I have friends in the plays; the dating scene is either marriage oriented or hooking up, there are a lot of couples on campus; my freshman hall is where I met my closest friends; I would be studying or hanging out with friends but any other night I may be out at a party; don't know much about traditions except rolling the quad; people either don't party or party 1-3 times a week; greek life is mostly important only if you are greek or want to be greek, if you are not affiliated normally it's because you don't want to be and aren't interested in the system; last weekend I was in Myrtle Beach on a fraternity beach weekemd; Saturday nights can be movies, sports games, or hanging out with friends or concerts; off campus I work at a tennis shop, volunteer most semesters, and go out to eat

Tristan

My closest friends were all on my hall freshman year. We've remained a close-knit group of girls and I couldn't imagine my life without them. If I'm awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, so are they. And they're probably with me. We're either out at a party, hanging out in sweatpants laughing and eating Ben & Jerry's, or at the library all studying together and sending emails to one another trying to make someone laugh out loud.

Alison

most popular groups are definitely Greek organizations, dominates the student activities on campus...I'm involved in Pi Beta Phi and that has definitely enhanced my experience at Wake this semester, allowing me to get to know over 100 new girls and get involved in different campus activities in a new way...It's a great way to get involved and get to meet new people and be a part of something fun and exciting...People seem to party pretty often at Wake, most parties revolve around the Greek system and off-campus fraternity house parties.

Katherine

greek life seems to dominate. most people party wed, fri, and saturday. sometimes mondays too. people not involved in greek life seem to despise it though. and the administration is not exactly supporting it, even though we raise so much money for charities and actually do good tihngs, not just drink

Reese

Greek life is huge on campus, although the school is trying to downplay its presence *by taking down the Greek letters on the quad) Athletic events are pretty big, especially basketball and football i'm awake at 2 am on a Tuesday.. I'm studying my brains out People party a lot. There is something to do on any given day

Ryan

There are plenty of fun organizations and teams for any interests. Dorm doors are usually closed when the people leave, but open when someone is in the room. Football games, soccer games, and basketball games are popular to go to. Greek life is a lot of fun, but very open if you are not interested. All parties are open to everyone and all sororities and fraternities intermingle and are friends. I met my closest friends on my freshmen hall and in my sorority. The dating scene varies. There are definitely a lot of couples dating, but there are also a lot of random hookups. You can have either depending on what you are looking for. People usually go to frat parties on Fridays and Saturdays. There is also drinking usually on Wed and Thurs at bars. A lot of times the frats rent out the bars for open parties. You can also go bowling, to the movies, hiking, or visit Charlotte on the weekends.