Wake Forest University
Reviews

Computers

The school provides us with our own laptops, pre-loaded with all the software that my friends at home had to buy. They're okay, kinda slow, so bring your own Mac if you want. Printing is good, computers in the library are PCs. Can't really complain.

The True Love of the Old Gold and Black

Wake Forest holds a special place in my heart. It has ultimatley changed my life for the better. Wake is a community of individuals who care deeply about making the world a more accepting place to live.

All Greek All the Time

If you go to Wake, you need to join a fraternity/sorority. There is a very limited social scene outside of Greek life, and unless you have a deep interest in something like the performance arts, you will be very lonely. For the most part you can still go to the parties, even if you are not in the frat/sorority, but when it comes to the rest of your social life... good luck.

Same-Ville

Excluding the small group of scholarship students, the student body is not very diverse. The minority of people with a different race are from the same socio-economic background as all of the white students. Boringgggg.

Frater/Soror

Students at WFU are stereotyped as fraternity and sorority preps. People get good grades but don't seem very smart. Men wear collared polo shirts and khakis and women wear sun dresses and pearls, and go to church on Sunday after drinking at keggers Saturday night. People who don't fit this description are very unhappy. However, people tend to be polite and pleasant. Women are usually quite good-looking and there are a lot of future home-makers. Men are hit or miss - either really hot, or really not.

Work Forest: Work Hard, Play So Much Harder

Most schools that are well-known nationally are known for either their academic quality, their athletics, or their reputation as a party school. In addition most of these schools have large student bodies.

Wake surprises everyone who is not familiar with the school in that people usually know us for either our academics or our athletics and therefore assume we have a huge student body too.

In fact, we have a really small student body and we excel at all three of those areas I listed. Okay, our sports teams aren't doing amazing lately, but we're in the ACC and routinely beat big name schools enough to make us happy.

Where Wake really shines though is with our little secret of what a party school we are. When your parents tell their friends where you're going to school or an employer sees it on a resume, you'll get the typical nod that they're impressed. But what they don't know is that while you're off getting that impressive degree, you're actually having the time of your life.

I am a double-major in two difficult subjects and hold a job while I go here, but this kind of over-commitment is the norm here and doesn't stop anyone from having a good time. We get through the grueling hours and hours of homework and study sessions each night because we know that 2-5 nights (yes I said 5) we will be hammered with those same people we just spent the last few hours studying financial models with. Plus add in the fact that 95% of our student body is extremely attractive and you can't really go wrong.

I can honestly say that most semesters I have averaged going out to parties at least 3-4 nights a week, but I still have a great GPA and two job offers on the table that most college seniors would kill for.

The lifestyle may not be for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't have it any other way.

There If You Want It

Almost everyone I personally know at Wake drinks at least once or twice a week (although most do more). Within Greek life, it is extremely rare to find people who don't drink, but I do know that there are many people not involved in Greek life who do not drink. We all complain about alcohol enforcement in terms of the local police and ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement agency), but they really aren't that bad comparatively speaking. On-campus enforcement is also minimal.

Alternatively, drugs aren't seen openly that much at all. Some fraternities/sororities have reputations for being involved with certain drugs, but even these groups try to keep it under wraps. So not doing drugs is usually the norm and drugs aren't usually openly offered and certainly never forced.

The biggest drug that is used here is actually Adderall and even that is mostly used to study. I guess that says something about Wake in itself...

BEM Is Tough--But Worth It

The Business School is tough--no way around it. Grades are deflated and all of your classmates will be just as smart and driven as you. However, the resources in terms of teachers (rated #1 in undergrad business teaching quality by BusinessWeek), peers, and career preparation/opportunities is so worth it!

Student Profile

Students are generally smart, friendly, attractive, and social

Lots of Money= Good Facilities

The first thing that I noticed about Wake Forest University was how beautiful the campus and its buildings were. As an expensive private institution with connections to the nearby tobacco and meat industries, Wake Forest University has plenty of money to spend on renovation and making state-of-the-art facilities. The library is very large and has won awards and has been recently renovated. The student center (Benson) looks very nice, and has lots of places to study and a decent selection of fast food (and sit-down) restaurants. Wake Forest has recently completed a new dorm (South Hall) and welcome center which are certified as "green" buildings. The most famous building on campus, Wait Chapel, is a huge, beautiful building which is a great venue for musicians and speakers. The facilities on campus are great and are probably one of the greatest attractions for prospective students.

Great Place to Explore

Winston-Salem is decently sized and has a lot to offer. The arts are very big in down town and I suggest going to a show offered by the arts high school in the area. Wake isn't too far from UNC and Duke, so there is always the possibility of leaving the campus to interact with other college students.

Safety

Safety on campus is great. I always feel safe and I really feel like the police are there just to keep the students safe. I feel like they are doing what law enforcement really should do, they're not just there to get the students into trouble.

Get Meal Plan With Maximum Food Dollars

Food Dollars are key and a part of the meal plan. They can be used to buy Chick fil A, Starbucks, Subway, Campus Grounds(student run coffee shop), Moe's, the Sundry (drinks, food, snacks, and other over priced household items), Take Two Deli and Grill (Boar's Head), and Shorty's, our on campus restaurant. The other option is the Pit, our cafeteria. Some love it, some hate it. I am indifferent. The options are pretty good, but the food isn't always cooked to be it's best, except for the epic Thanksgiving dinner, when parents, prospective students, or large event are here, and when the Pit is having a special theme night. The Pit tries to change it up every now and then, some changes like are welcome, where as the weird changes to normal recipes are not. As a picky eater, I prefer the food dollar options, yet I always find myself pit-sitting for hours because the Pit, regardless of the food, is a great place to spend time with friends and procrastinate.

Good Times, Social Scene Wanting

Academically, Wake is exceptional. My professors have been extremely helpful and they have done a great job teaching their material. The work load is overwhelming at times, but it teaches time management (if you don't manage your time wisely by the end of your first semester, you're done for). The social scene is a different story. Frats and sororities are dominant and borderline oppressive. They are very exclusive and cliquey and it reminds me a lot of high school-something that doesn't sit well with me. Frat parties are the only social scene going on for underclassmen on the weekends. Otherwise, you'll be sitting in your room with some friends. I've done both, and they get repetitive. Overall, though, I love Wake.

Admissions difficulty average? Is this a joke?

Ok, I have long relied on the opinion of College Prowler to offer insights from the student peer review perspective. However, after seeing that Wake is given an

"average" admissions difficulty, it has really inquired me to think deeper. The school has a higher score range and academic rating than many of its peer institutions being compared on the site. The simple rating obviously shows that many other factors are not taken into consideration, and it can very easy give off a misleading impression to potential applicants.

We need to look at the profile of applicants, their credentials, background and many other factors that gives nuances to the admissions process.

And to give a fair review, on the diversity matter that a couple people has seemed to be concerned about. Yes, Wake Forest is not the most diverse campus. However, I think we can safely say that for that diversity is an issue of most college campuses in the southeast. I am personally a student of minority, so I understand and value the importance of how diversity contributes to a dynamic learning environment. It goes beyond socio-economic and racial diversity, it's also about diversity of viewpoints and opinions that helps to fuel the process of academic endeavor.

However, I think at times we are too quick to come to judgment. Wake, while lacks racial/ethic and socio-economic diversity, like a number of its peer private institutions, is not a close minded school. The college dedicate itself to the focus of undergraduate teaching. College is not about having bars and restaurants nearby, or a vivid nightlife scene. Wake believes in a truly transformative experience, of immersing its students to intellectual challenge, in an encouraging way. It's only through rigor and discipline can an individual fully engage in the self-discovery process. I am currently a senior at Wake, and I can confidently say that my experience here, has truly been one that has made be a better and more well rounded person.

I tried to be as unbiased as possible. I am very critical at ratings, and I rarely write reviews online. However, remembering how confusing the college application process was, I thought that someone needed to step up to help better define Wake Forest. I believe in Wake, and I hope that if you choose to come here, that you will too.

Good luck to your college search!

Read more: http://collegeprowler.com/college-of-saint-benedict--and--st.-john%27s-university/#ixzz1gO3K4olk

Best Days of My Life

i've never seen so much sun in my life. when the winter rains arrived, i had forgetten what it was like for the dewy drop to fall upon my brow. the thirsty grass yearned for this respite from Apollo's glorious stare. my tan is coming along wonderfully from just walking around naked.

Everyone Is Relatively Attractive

There really aren't any overweight people, everyone dresses nicely and on a scale of 1 to 10 - I have yet to see someone under a 5 with the average probably at a 7.5. Girls are treated like gold, especially at frats. Southern gentlemen are abundant.

I Love Wake

Wake Forest is the great school that it is because of the wonderful student body. Every student on campus is driven and dedicated and everyone encourages each other to succeed. The classes are interesting and the professors are engaging and willing to help. Outside of academics, the social aspects of Wake are a ton of fun. Greek life has a major presence on campus and joining my sorority was on of the best decisions I could have made in college. There are also parties on the quad, guest speakers in Wait Chapel, game day festivities, even camping on the lawn of the President's house. It is a great place to learn and a great place to have fun, not to mention it has one of the most beautiful campuses in America.

Wacky Winston Weather

You never know what to expect with Winston-Salem weather. September and April are filled with gorgeous warm and sunny days to mark the beginning and end of the school year, but every month in between is a toss up. One day in February could be snowing, and the next could be 60 degrees and sunny. The good news is that Wake is quick to cancel classes at any sign of snow, ice, or heavy rain.

Mehh

Frat parties...thats about it......if you want to have fun you have to join a fraternity or sorority. Nightlife is very repetitive.

Beautiful People

Everyone on this campus is beautiful...it's rare to see an overweight person as well. The typical student is the typical overachiever who is completely stressed during the week but then everyone cuts loose on Wake Wednesdays and the weekend which makes up for the high pressure academically. There is a mix of Southern and Northern brands but definitely buy cowboy boots and bring sundresses/buttondowns and ties for tailgates!

Computers

You get a laptop upon entry freshman year and then another one junior year. They are standard thinkpads with a camera built in. Some people use their macs but I don't think the thinkpads are that bad. The network is usually pretty good especially in the library. Most people buy a printer but you can also print easily in the library. There are also computers in the library for use but there is definitely an expectation to have a laptop.

Really Safe.

The police are always willing to help out if necessary. I feel as though the authoritative presence on campus is strong enough that students won't completely lose their minds, but calm enough that students don't feel that they can't still have fun. I have walked by myself at night quite often and felt perfectly fine. The students watch out for each other. Drinking games clearly affect health, but no college can escape that.

No Diversity Whatsoever

This is actually my biggest beef with the school, and what has led me to look into transferring. There is ZERO diversity in all respects.

Race:

Wake Forest is very white, and minorities stick out like a sore thumb. Asians especially.

Personality diversity:

As a whole, WFU is extremely preppy. There aren't many exceptions to this rule... if you're not preppy, it can be kind of tough finding people similar to you.

Economic background:

For the most part, I don't think anyone at WFU is too badly off.

Not Into Sports, So...

I'm not into sports, so I probably can't give as holistic a review as someone else. That being said, though, school spirit is pretty big here, and most people are involved in intramural sports. It's definitely a sporty campus.