<p>My brother is a current senior at the university. He just sent me this email, and I thought it was worth sharing with you all. (I have removed my name.)</p>
<p>"*********,
As you go about the college application process I know you're
bombarded with propaganda from various colleges, to some of which you
will not even apply. You hear about Wake too much because I go here, but
some very exciting things are going on and I thought it was worth
telling you, not necessarily to convince you to come but simply to share
with you our newfound dedication to advancement.
First, our five year academic plan was released last week. The
university will be adding two dorms and two academic buildings to be
completed no later than 2014. An additional academic building, dorm,
dining hall, and rec center will be added by 2019.
Wake Forest is committed not only to growing the size of the student
body, but also to have the best students possible. When I arrived on
campus there were slightly fewer than 3,900 students on campus. Today
that number is just over 4,400 and although we no longer collect full
SAT/ACT data our average HS GPA is increasing. Our goal for student body
size is a Duke sized undergrad population of 6,000.
Even more exciting and unexpected is the fact that finally the meal
plan is accepted all over campus. In a surprising move, Aramark (the
company that controls all campus dining) announced that meal plans would
be accepted anywhere on campus, not just the Pit. What does this mean?
Normally you could only use a "meal" in the Pit and you had to use real
money/deacon dollars at the Subway, Pizza Hut, or the student union in
Benson. Now, you can use the meal plan anywhere, including the new
Starbucks that opened in our library this Monday (see, so much new stuff
has come!).
You may not be interested in these happenings, but you always hear
me complain about Wake Forest and I thought I'd let you know that these
changes have pleased even me (and I'm as skeptical as they come). So the
next time you're on a campus tour or receive some pamphlet in the mail
where a college touts its ever changing campus and how wonderful the
school is, ask yourself if they are as dedicated as Wake to improving in
the near future. You know how far the football team has come since my
freshman year (when we went 4-7), it appears our academic excellence is
improving at a similar pace. Exciting times are near, very near."</p>
<p>I've heard that Wake Forest wants to remain under 5,000 undergraduates total.</p>
<p>The freshmen class, I believe, is 1,200. 1,200 x 4 = 4,800 or so in three more years.</p>
<p>I'm also hearing that it will become even more pedestrian friendly than it already is (due to campus roads being rerouted) with additional green spaces on campus for students to enjoy.</p>
<p>hey, this is very exciting news. i will be attending wake forest next year. i was accepted a couple of weeks ago under ED. what else does your brother like about wake forest? how are the parties and social life? also, i know there is a lot of homework, but is it impossible?</p>
<p>I see a campus filled with construction, dirt, dust, detours for the students who are accepted in the next couple of years with no benefits realized from the inconvenience since the work won't be done until you guys are out. You'll just be paying for it with your tuition payments. Don't get me wrong. I like WF, but I don't think all that construction is such a positive. I like the schools that have just COMPLETED their 5 year plans and have the enhanced structures ready for use.</p>
<p>Cptofthehouse you bring up a good point. But, regardless, it's nice to know that the school is continuing to improve itself and that a degree from WFU may be worth even more in the years to come.</p>
<p>mahmed: Congrats on your acceptance! I sure wish I had an acceptance already under my belt! Most of the time my bro discusses WFU, he has various complaints (the students are all extremely preppy, most are rich and stuck-up, etc), but despite all of the complaints I can tell that he is genuinely happy with the school and does not regret choosing it. I'd say his two favorite things about the school are its football program and overall academic rigor. He is a hardcore football fan, and he absolutely loves Wake football (especially since they're now pretty good). I've been to several games myself, and the atmosphere at a Wake game is amazing. The fans are classy, as are the players.</p>
<p>Also, at Wake you're surrounded with highly intelligent students and top-notch professors. My brother is continually impressed with his professors. The workload is rather intense (although I would assume that it varies greatly by major), but Wake wouldn't admit anyone who couldn't handle it. It's definitely not impossible. Although, for those intelligent people who got straight As in high school without doing any work, I would assume it would be a bigger adjustment (as they will have to quickly learn that not working doesn't cut it at Wake). </p>
<p>From what my brother has said, parties and overall social life is great (just like any other college). You find your own circle of friends, but everyone is generally very nice. Fraternities and sororities dominate the party scene, but you certainly don't have to be greek to attend the parties.</p>