<p>mu son is considering applying to wake next fall. can any freshman, please give me their impression (good or bad) about their experience over the first 4 months of being at wake forest.</p>
<p>i am interested in everything you have to say,... social life, dorms, food, classes, professors..</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>I'm not a freshman anymore, and so all of my advice is coming from extreme hindsight. As much as I enjoyed Wake my first semester of freshman year, each semester after that has gotten even better. Wake does a whole lot in the fall for its freshmen to make sure that they adjust to college life well, and that's really appreciated.</p>
<p>Admittedly, the freshman dorms aren't so hot. But they're manageable. Some are better than others, but freshmen don't get a choice about where they live (unless they request substance-free house).</p>
<p>The food it typical college fare, although I haven't found that there's a whole lot of variety.</p>
<p>My classes and professors are what really made my freshman year for me. The first-year seminar program is wonderful. You get to be in a class with 14 other freshmen, and the topic is something that simply interests the professor, and that interest shows. It gives freshmen a chance to take a course on something that they'd probably never otherwise take. Most everyone I know had good things to say about their FYS, and it remains probably my favorite course taken at Wake.</p>
<p>My son is a soph. I can share with you only what he has shared with me.</p>
<p>Things he likes(ed): Most of all the professors. After 3 semesters has only had one prof that he did not feel positively about. He has had several for whom I think he would walk over hot coals for. The professors are very easy to talk with, have office hours that are accessible, show great interest in the individual student and have helped my son work out some special needs (has had 2 emergency surgeries since starting school). He also likes the small class sizes, the convenience of the campus, the accessibility of administration when they are needed, the geographic location (easy to visit with Elon, UNCG, Chapel Hill, UNCC, and NC State), the student gym facility and ACC sports.</p>
<p>Things he hasn't liked so much: preponderance of Greek life (not as much of an issue as a freshman as it has been this year), work load is tougher than he imagined it would be. Actually, can't think of other real negatives other than the occasional complaint about food (probably would hear about that from him at most places) ;).</p>
<p>Well I absolutely love Wake so far. It was a bit of an adjustment for the first few weeks, but I already know that I made the right choice.<br>
The social life is great, everyone is so friendly and there are tons of clubs and such to join. I was a bit apprehensive about the Greek/drinking at Wake, because that is not really my thing, and while Greek is pretty big, it isn't intolerable. The drinking isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and one can still go to parties and have a good time without drinking. Recently I visited a friend at school in NJ and that really highlighted Wake's positive attributes even more.<br>
The dorms were one place where at first I had a problem. I requested substance-free dorms and was not thrilled with it at first. While it was quieter than some of the other dorms, the kids tended to hang around the dorm more often on weekends or go home. However, I came to appreciate this, because if I didn't feel like doing anything there were people to hang out with and it was quieter. It provided flexibility. However, in retrospect, I'm not sure if I would have picked it.
The food is not sometihng you will write home about, but it provides some variety and isn't so bad that you can't eat it. It could have been so much worse (my friend's cafeteria was terrible). There is a Subway, Chick fil a, and a pizza hut on campus so there are other options.<br>
My classes were also great. Some of them were larger intro classes. By larger intro classes I am talking 30-40 kids. My favorite class was my British Literature class which similarily to the FYS is 15 students and discussion orientated. That was the class where I really got to know my classmates. In the beginning I didn't know any of them, but by the end of the semester I had a pretty good idea what they were going to say before they said it. I visited all of my professors once during office hours and in general they were all helpful (I should have visited office hours more often though :)) My political science teacher was especially good. It was a 9:30 class, but he was so enthusiastic that the time didn't matter.
Other than all of this the athletics have been amazing. Football season was just unbelievable. It really contributed to campus unity and excitement about the games (if only the same was true of basksetball :)--but we are young).
All and all I have had such a great experience so far, and I think next semester when I finally become 100% adjusted I will love it even more.</p>
<p>I'm a freshman and I have to say that i'm very happy here! I am actually a guaranteed transfer to an ivy-league college (overaccepted people last year I guess) but I'm probably not going to go because Wake is so awesome.</p>
<pre><code> My professors last semester were AMAZING. Each knew my name! On several occassions I saw them at places like the cafeteria or the mall and they would come up and talk to me! Where else do you get that? All of them had really flexible office hours too...
A social life is out there for anyone and everybody who wants one. People in halls usually befriend each other quickly. The first couple weeks everybody in the hall usually buddy up together and go to parties.
My best friends actually come from my clubs and my classes. They are not all freshmen! It is remarkable how many people want to help you out and welcome you to wake. If your son is an optimistic/outgoing person who likes trying new things/meeting new people he will love wake. Wake defines "you get what you make of college." The few (ehem...one) people I hear complain about Wake don't try to become part of the community. If you talk to your profs and hallmates you will LOVE wake.
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<p>~As for food. Don't get the biggest mealplan .... you won't eat it all!</p>
<p>... oh and a sidenote : I was really worried about the Greek life at Wake. I was scared of Hazing and all those stereotypes. ..... </p>
<p>and now I'm rushing!
... (so basically = i love wake)</p>
<p>I want to go to wake! If only I could get in and get enough fin. aid. We'll see what happens :) wish me luck</p>
<p>I'm gonna chime in with the chorus and say I love Wake too. I had a really great first semester and can't wait to get back to Winston-Salem for the 2nd semester. I've spent one week at home and I'm already tired of it. </p>
<p>I love my dorm. I'm in Luter (which I think is the best dorm ever). I had the good luck of receiving a very large room with private bathroom so needless to say I'm very pleased with my room situation. Not all the rooms are like that though, but there are a few in Luter. :) I think the dorms are nice, they all have a few lounges with TVs and couches and kitchens so you can cook. None of them are so small. Most of the dorms have sinks in the rooms and all except Luter have hall bathrooms. </p>
<p>My classes this past semester were great. My biggest class was like 25-30 and it was an intro Philosophy class and my smallest was like 15. In the small classes you really get to know your classmates and your professor really well and also have amazing discussions. I was in a First Year Seminar with Saket who will probably come join the discussion shortly. We had debates and discussions nearly every day. I love the fact that classes are small and very discussion orientated. One of my classes was very close, we were like a family almost.</p>
<p>Most of my professors so far have been good, with the exception of one who was relatively new (I chalk that up to inexperience) who I really didn't care for her or her class. I really loved a few of my professors this semester who were just amazing. They were always available for extra help whenever, even giving the class their home phone numbers so we could call. Or they were just so interested in your subject and always bringing newspaper clippings or books from home to show you something. Or during your exam they go out and buy you Krispy Kreme donuts. </p>
<p>Food is OK, not terrible, not amazing. It's better than some other schools, but it's not home cooking. I ordered out a lot of food this semester and made some trips to the grocery store so I could have some other stuff. </p>
<p>I hope some of that helps. Any more questions just ask.</p>
<p>My First Semester at Wake: The good, the bad and the ugly!</p>
<p>The past four months have been great. I am back home in India right now and I miss Wake. I can't wait to get back.</p>
<p>I live in Collins, which is awesome. Yes, our rooms are tiny compared to yours in Luter and Johnson, but we have three amazing lounges. One of them has a BIG screen TV too. Keeping the beds bunked in our rooms gives us enough space. I like the sinks in our rooms.</p>
<p>The classes are challenging and are focused on discussion. Three of my five classes this semester took into account classroom participation as a part of your final grade (as much as 20%). I like small class sizes. My biggest class had 24 students. The first year seminar course is designed to encourage classroom discussion and intellectual curiosity. Its a class of 15 students and you tend to know everyone in that class before the end of the semester.</p>
<p>Professors are nice and helpful. They talk to you and help you with a lot of stuff. For eg, I had 3 meetings with my FYS professor to finalize my Final Paper topic. Any freshman next year must take a class taught by Dr. Durotoye. He's awesome! I took two classes taught by him Fall semester.</p>
<p>Getting into classes you like can be a problem if you have a bad registeration time. I see a lot of people who are in bad moods the registeration day as they didnt get into the classes they wanted to.</p>
<p>I love the people at Wake Forest! My friends, the professors, the cleaning lady, everyone! I have made very good friends in the past 4 months who I can't wait to see in the Spring!</p>
<p>I like the food. But when I don't feel like going to the cafetaria (we call it THE PIT), there are great wing and pizza places that deliver. Plus, we have Subway, Pizzahut and chick fil a ON CAMPUS!</p>
<p>I fell in love with the campus the day I visited! Its an awesome place! It's difficult to not like it!</p>
<p>thanks everyone for the replies.</p>
<p>sounds like wake is a great place to consider</p>