Wake Forest University Top Questions

I love the overall feel of the university to do more, be more, & achieve more. With the newly released Wake Will campaign (attempting to rise higher in the rankings & become one of the best universities) I think that that is evident. That feeling exudes throughout the classrooms and student body. Due to this, when I tell people where I go they either have never even heard of it (that's mostly Northerners) or know it well for its strong academic programs as well as its basketball program. Speaking of, I would however, change the creepy mascot...the Demon Deacon needs to go. Even though there is tons of school pride here (rolling the quad, applying for a tour guide position, or being in our student section, the Screamin' Demons) you always find a few who are not as passionate. I have been there and I have to say that I have come to love it here in Winston Salem. Winston (as the locals call it) is not quite yet a college town. It is a step up from my tiny farm town in Kentucky, but it's nowhere near Chapel Hill. It is stepping up its game, though and many students don't even leave campus enough to care. I dislike the "need to be Greek" approach that Wake seems to give off. I am not involved in Greek life, but I want it to be known that you can be happy here without a sorority or frat. Many of my friends' lives are heavily run by the Greek system and I find myself more content outside of it although there is nothing wrong with either. Going off of that, I love Wake's size- it's not too big, nor too small and class sizes stay under twenty. If you're looking for an academic based school that has a little Southern charm and the programs to help get you where you want to be in life, I highly suggest applying to Wake Forest.

I love Wake. The academics seem to speak for themselves. It may not be as well-known by the average person, but every time I speak with professional contacts or employers they are always impressed with Wake's academics. Students put in a lot of hard work to succeed, hence why some people say they go to "Work Forest". There are definitely some stressful times with schoolwork, but I feel like the work is always worth it. Student also know how to have fun and relieve some of that stress caused by school work. Winston-Salem has some fun things to offer, but there are often so many activities on campus that students don't have to go far to look for something to do. People might think expect that with a school as small as ours. Fraternity events, movies, concerts, comedy shows, plays and musicals, and fundraisers are just some of the events that occur often on campus. Overall, whenever the work seems to get too stressful, there are always a ton of fun events to let loose and have some fun.

Everyone has something to complain about regarding Wake, but we find ourselves whining about the same things time and time again because there is so little to complain about. We especially harp on the parking and computers, but how many schools allow freshman to bring cars or give all their students laptops?! We complain, as all 18 to 20 somethings do, but overall, what an incredible place to be.

The campus is utterly breathtaking. The historic architecture set against the progressive backdrop of the seasons is just plain easy on the eyes. In terms of size, if you live on campus you avoid that winded feeling of a marathon runner you might get traveling between classes on a larger campus because everything is relatively close. Even on the worst days it takes 10 minutes at most to get to your farthest class. Yet you never feel smothered or cloistered by the people or surroundings. I'd say Wake Forest hits a relative sweet spot in terms of size. The quality you'll be most thankful for is the low student to teacher ratio. Learning is much more engaging when it has the chance to be interactive. The library is amazingly huge and has an in-house Starbucks that is a godsend on some days, and a computer trouble-shooting office. Wake Forest does a great job of accommodating students' needs. I've seldom had difficulty getting something done. Some detractions are that if you don't have a car there's isn't any good social hotspots nearby and social events on campus are largely directed at frats and sororities.

The best thing about Wake Forest: BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS What I, personally, would change: The elitist and ridiculous process of being admitted into the social stratosphere known as GREEK LIFE School size: If you're trying to avoid someone, you can't. You'll probably see them at least 3 times per week Reactions: When I tell people I go to Wake Forest, generally they know it's a Top 25-ranked university Time well-spent: THE ZSR aka the LIBRARY. We have had an open relationship since my freshman year here. College town: Fallacious Administration: Natty O. is our president. Sometimes I see him, most of the time I get his emails which he may or may not actually write himself. Controversy on campus; In order of most controversial, 1) Greek life, 2) Politics, 3) What party to go to on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and 4) On which floor of the library should I study today? School pride: Black and Gold. Mainly at basketball games. Football games are apparently for Lilly Pulitzer dresses and Vineyard Vine button-downs Unusual things: the high number of girls with eating disorders and the dearth of boyfriend-girlfriend relationships. Hook-ups are prominent Experience I'll remember: Creating a team for Hit-the-Bricks to raise money for cancer research Student complaints- THE PIT (cafeteria) gets old real fast, not enough seats available in the library, TOO MUCH WORK, not enough alcohol

I think the most unique aspect of Wake Forest is its size. While the campus is small enough to navigate around in fifteen minutes, the facilities it boasts are impressive. A wide variety of academic curriculum are available, and with a small community comes small class sizes and the opportunity for better teacher-student interaction. The prestige of the campus in relation to its size cannot be overstated. It is simply one of the most well-known small schools left. In addition, the community on campus is distinctly set apart from the town, but the town is close enough to drive to and experience.

The best thing about Wake Forest University is the people. The workers, the professors, your fellow classmates, everyone is on the same page as you to make campus a great place. The size of the school is just right for someone like me who likes a lot of people but not too many where you feel lost. I spend most of my time on campus in the library since that is also where my work study and Starbucks is. Winston-Salem is not a huge college town but it is growing with at least three other colleges and a downtown area. There's definitely a lot of school pride in campus events including athletics. Being here you definitely will be proud to be a Demon Deacon!

When I began receiving information about Wake during my senior year in high school, my very first thought was, "everyone who goes to Wake Forest must be snobby and rich,". The school looked so elite in the brochures, and I thought I didn't have a chance of being accepted. However, I applied anyway and, amazingly, I was accepted. I didn't know of the school's fantastic reputation at first, but once I began telling people that I was accepted, I was quickly schooled on how great of a school Wake is. When I visited the campus for the first time, I knew that I wanted to spend my undergrad years here. Everyone was actually extremely nice; I honestly did not meet a single person-faculty, staff, student, or otherwise-that was not willing to talk to me about the school. I love the close-knit feel of the campus; the student body isn't too large or too small. All of the students here are very academic, but are able to find a good balance of work and play. We have so many fun campus traditions, like Seize the Quad, LoveFeast, and Rolling the Quad. The one thing that troubles me about the school is, however, the financial commitment it requires. I come from a humble background, so paying for my education at Wake has been a struggle at times. Despite this. the financial aid department is extremely helpful in directing you to scholarships and working with your family's finances. Honestly, although Wake is expensive, I feel that you definitely get what you pay for. I 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} believe that I am receiving a top notch, quality education, surrounded by amazingly bright students. Coming out of Wake Forest with a degree will definitely turn a few heads and garner a few respectful head nods!

I think Wake Forest is the perfect balance of several factors that students consider when choosing a college. The size is just right for the student who wants individual attention and small class sizes, but does not want to attend a tiny school where they feel like they know everyone. I have made personal connections with almost all of my professors and I have grown academically through the small class discussions that are typical in classes. However, I have also enjoyed the feeling of being on a decent sized campus and the opportunity to meet new people all of the time. Wake Forest is the perfect mix of the small academic environment and the Division I sports of a large university. I think that this school also allows for students to find balance between school and outside activities. Obviously our academic reputation is stellar and we are commonly referred to as "Work Forest." Academics are a definite emphasis and the work load can be overwhelming. However, there are so many opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community. Most students are involved in at least three activities outside of their school work and they find ways to make time for fun. I have been so grateful for the friends I have made here, who have been understanding whenever I need to cancel a social activity for school work, but are always willing to take fun study breaks.

Like the students it attracts and accepts, Wake is well-rounded. It's small enough to form relationships with professors, to never walk around without seeing someone you know, to guarantee on-campus housing, to network, and to reach any part of campus in under ten minutes . It's big enough to always meet new people, to attract professors highly-involved in the professional world, to compete competitively in sports, to host top graduate programs, and to call Maya Angelou our own. When you say you go to Wake Forest, people are impressed. Oftentimes though, they can't quite remember where it is. That would be Winston-Salem, NC, known for Hanes Brand and tobacco but not known so much as a college town--which is probably one of the main complaints consistently heard from Wake students in addition to the Campus Police's incompetence to deal reasonably and consistently with on-campus drinking. In a most recent discussion with Administration, students complained that if the school wants to move parties safely back to campus, there needs to be a safe, fun place to drink on campus. Impressively, the Administration immediately answered with new social venue, "The Barn"--success to be determined, perhaps. In the meantime, many students enjoy mild socializing in on-campus locations such as Starbucks, dorm lounges and courtyards, as well as my personal favorite hangout: student-run coffee shop, Campus Grounds. There's someplace for everyone--even if it is one of the seven floors of the ZSR library (which is often the case.)

Like the students it attracts and accepts, Wake is well-rounded. It's small enough to form relationships with professors, to never walk around without seeing someone you know, to guarantee on-campus housing, to network, and to reach any part of campus in under ten minutes . It's big enough to always meet new people, to attract professors highly-involved in the professional world, to compete competitively in sports, to host top graduate programs, and to call Maya Angelou our own. When you say you go to Wake Forest, people are impressed. Oftentimes though, they can't quite remember where it is. That would be Winston-Salem, NC, known for Hanes Brand and tobacco but not known so much as a college town--which is probably one of the main complaints consistently heard from Wake students in addition to the Campus Police's incompetence to deal reasonably and consistently with on-campus drinking. In a most recent discussion with Administration, students complained that if the school wants to move parties safely back to campus, there needs to be a safe, fun place to drink on campus. Impressively, the Administration immediately answered with new social venue, "The Barn"--success to be determined, perhaps. In the meantime, many students enjoy mild socializing in on-campus locations such as Starbucks, dorm lounges and courtyards, as well as my personal favorite hangout: student-run coffee shop, Campus Grounds. There's someplace for everyone--even if it is one of the seven floors of the ZSR library (which is often the case.)

Wake is a highly ranked, fairly demanding, and overall good school. It is a relatively small school, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on your perspective. On the one hand, this allows for small classes familiar surroundings. But on the other hand, the school's small size, combined with its location in the suburbs, makes the school feel pretty isolated. Living on campus can feel like living in a bubble at times, so it's recommended that you get off campus pretty often to keep things fresh. It's almost imperative to either own or know someone with a car, as you need one to get around the city. The city, Winston-Salem, is a midsize city with a metropolitan population of about 500,000. There are tons of places to eat, a large mall/many shopping areas, and a nice little downtown. There's not much in the way of nightlife (from what I hear; I'm not into the party scene), but there are tons of parties on campus anyway, so that takes care of itself. Also, the city's within an hour of Charlotte and Greensboro, which are NC's 1st and 3rd largest cities, respectively.

Wake is expensive, but it's worth it. Literally. You come out with a degree that people recognize as extremely hard to get relative to other schools around the world, which translates to greater post-grad opportunities. Winston-Salem is founded on tobacco money. RJ Reynolds is down the street, and the sweet smell of tobacco (not cigarette smoke, but actual tobacco) floats around campus on clear days to remind you where you are. Swimming in the RJ Reynolds fountain, though illegal, is a favorite pastime of graduating seniors. School pride comes and goes. I came the year Chris Paul (2005 NBA Rookie of the Year) had just left the basketball team and many students were disappointed with the lackluster performance of the basketball team. A noticeable disinterest in attending games was known, and pride in the school seemed to have slightly diminished. However, the football team ended up going to the Orange Bowl after having its best season in history, leading to a resurgence in school pride (that would ultimately collapse until the 2008 basketball season when WFU reached #1 in the country for a few days).

Wake is a great size, not too big, not too small. Very good reputation with employers. Winston-Salem sucks, but Wake is it's own little bubble. Beautiful campus. Fun social life if you go Greek. Division I sports. Main complaint of students is the grade deflation and massive amounts of work.

I think Wake is perfect...for a particular person. Many students here enjoy Wake Forest VERY much and I am definitely one of those persons. I really enjoy the workload/social balance that can definitely be a part of your Wake Forest experience. There is also a lot of school pride on campus. Many are very willing to talk about their different experiences on campus and are satisfied with the things they have learned when they leave the campus. I really encourage you though to take a good look at the student body make up as well as the different activities (which are so many) of which you can be a part. Wake is again a GREAT place for many people, but it also isn't for everyone.

Wake is a very good school that many people outside of North Carolina have never heard of. Appearance and reputation are very important to the administration. It is small but it still has the components of a larger school, such as Division 1 athletics and good job placement.

The best thing about Wake is the size. It's big enough so that you can always meet new people but small enough so you don't get lost in a sea of faces. Greek life helps people have a smaller family-type relationship with a sub-group of campus. I am from Connecticut so when I tell people I go to Wake they often want to know where it is and then are surprised that I went so far to go to school. I spend most of my time on campus in class or in Benson. A big controversy on campus is juicycampus.com which is a superficial and cruel website used to spread ridiculous gossip about people. One experience I will always remember will be living on my sorority halls sophomore year because it was where I developed my strongest friendships and it provided the best support system I've ever had. The most frequent student complaints are probably about how expensive things are, how bad the computers are, and how gross the food in the Pit is.

One thing I'd change would be the relationship with the administration. Wake students are very intelligent and have ideas that can actually benefit Wake as a whole. However these ideas cannot be implemented if Wake students don't listen to the administration and work with them to help ensure the students ideas are fulfilled.

I love the school size as it is, but think its terrible Wake is increasing enrollment. It undermines the motto of the school which is "Small in size, big in resources." The current administration doesn't seem to take student opinion into account, but rather is purely doing what will bring in more money.

I had a really hard time deciding where I wanted to go to college. I had no clue about size or location or what I wanted to study, but Wake was definately the perfect choice for me. Greek life is present but not overwhelming. It is very easy to become close to your teachers as opposed to being a face in the crowd. We do not always win in athletics but our school spirit is very fun and exciting. I have also realized that Wake is looked highly upon by the public. I knew that it was a well-known school for academic standards and such, but I have received more compliments on my school choice then I had anticipated. It is the perfect size for me. I am always meeting new people, but I can find friendly faces in the crowd when I walk from class to class. The campus and seasons are beautiful!