Hello folks,
I am an international student coming from Switzerland currently living in North Africa. I got accepted to Wake Forest University. The school being very expensive, I had to accept an offer from Canada (University of Toronto), which is much cheaper for me. However, being an IB student, Canada offers are only conditional. I thus decided to choose Wake Forest as a back-up plan, in case I do not get the amount of points required by the University of Toronto on my IB exams. Since I take Maths HL, this could very much happen.
I chose Wake Forest over other US schools (BU, Tulane, UMiami, UConn, UMass Amherst, Purdue). I am starting to wonder if that was a good choice. I am international student, the very opposite of conservative. I like diversity, and people that are open-minded. After having done some preliminary reading, I realize that Wake is very “Southern” in its mindset; can I fit in? Furthermore, I have no intention whatsoever to be part of any Greek organization. I now noticed that the Greek scene widely dominates the Wake social scene, and that non-Greek students may be excluded. I am quite outgoing and quite social, so this is worrying. Also, I have always lived in large, bustling cities. Winston-Salem does really not look like that at all. However, i think I can adapt to Wake on that point of view.
The mindset at Wake is what is worrying to me, and I am wondering if I can fit in. Being an IB student, the “Work Forest” reputation doesn’t scare me too much.
I hope some of you guys can help me out. I feel lots of pressure for the IB now that I realize that Wake is maybe not exactly for me.
Oh, and I am majoring in economics. I know Wake is very strong in the social sciences, so I am not too worried about that.
I just committed to Tulane, so super biased, but I would say that is your best bet! Many similarities to WF, probably about equal academically, but much less Southern and conservative (mostly from New England, IL, CA), amazing city, great social life, not very Greek. BU could be great for you too! Any scholarships at either?
Well, the problem is I already committed to WFU since decision day was May 1st. I am simply wondering, if I did not just make a bad decision. But after giving it some thought, I am sure I can fit in wherever i go.
Hey Globetrotter, I’m an international student who’s also just committed to WFU. Do you want to exchange skypes?
hahaha. If you want to mine’s samson.wang4
yaa, if you can find me 
I’m in some of the groups I believe.
My name’s Samson Wang and my location is Bracebridge Ontario. What about you?
Sorry about the late response.
Wake is a great school academically–as an IB student, you will do great! What I love most about Wake Forest is what you describing. By Wake Forest being a southern school, our students are SO friendly and nice. I have toured and visited moer than a dozen schools, and the Wake students are consistantly the friendliest and most welcoming. That being said, Wake students will be far more accepting of international students than students are at other schools.
Wake may be located in the south and have a more conservative reputation, but our students are not conservative, but moderates. We are a college, after all, and Winston Salem is a very very liberal city. Melissa Harris Perry, one of the most liberal figures in the American media, teaches at WFU. I wouldn’t be too worried about, if you are a liberal, not finding a group, because Wake is probably a 50-50 split between liberals and conservatives.
This incoming class into Wake is also Wake’s most diverse in history–most international, most diverse socioeconomically, and most diverse racially.
In regards to Greek life, Wake may have a lot of greeks, but you definitly do not need to go greek to fit in socially or go to parties. Nobody cares if you are greek or not if you try to go to a greek party. We all just want to have fun!
Great luck, and go DEACS!