<p>I'm looking at Wake because of its strong academics, but I'm worried that I might not do well socially as a pretty liberal person.
I'm not really liberal in the politically active sense, but more in a social sense (atheist, pro-choice, anti-war, pro-Obamacare, etc.). But don't get the idea that I'm the recluse, social outcast type; I'm very outgoing and social.
I'm also sort of a jock, and really into athletic team unity/family etc. Would I feel a sense of family and community at Wake?
I get the vibe that Wake is pretty conservative/preppy/southern. Any insight would appreciated.</p>
<p>My son’s pretty liberal and he fits in fine at Wake. </p>
<p>Sure, it’s conservative, preppy and southern. But that doesn’t mean everyone there crams those ideals down each others’ throats. People get along at Wake just like they do any where else. Really, just leave religion and politics out of the social conversation. </p>
<p>And, if I’m not mistaken, Wake law students just went on a road trip to protest an execution. So, please don’t get the impression that conservative/preppy/southern means all other opinions are unwelcome. [Wake</a> Forest law students, faculty and alumni travel to Atlanta to protest execution | News & Events | Wake Forest University](<a href=“http://news.law.wfu.edu/2011/09/wake-forest-law-students-faculty-and-alumni-travel-to-atlanta-to-protest-execution/]Wake”>Wake Forest law students, faculty and alumni travel to Atlanta to protest execution | News & Events | Wake Forest School of Law)</p>
<p>First of all, any selective college is going to lean liberal. In the case of Wake Forest, it is honestly the only school I have been to that is a truly moderate environment. The college dems are active, the college republicans are active, and even the libertarian group is active.</p>
<p>I saw John McCain, John Edwards, Sandra Day O’Connor, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Ron Paul, Thomas Friedman, and Kenneth Starr speak while at Wake (I’m probably forgetting a few other folks, but they were the biggest ones)–and that is a pretty eclectic group of leaders and thinkers in terms of political ideology.</p>
<p>I consider myself a pretty liberal person as well, and until my time at Wake Forest, many of my conservative peers came off as pretty stupid. I grew up in one of the “reddest” counties in New Jersey, and most of my peers would just regurgitate what they heard at home or listened to on Fox. At Wake, I met a lot of smart people who did have different ideologies than me, but were able to articulate their point of view in an intelligent way.</p>
<p>The problem with a lot of selective schools is that the liberal, “group-think” that occurs is very damaging, and you ironically become very narrow-minded–thankfully, I did not find this to be the case at Wake Forest.</p>
<p>Honestly, Wake is probably the only top 50 school that is conservative leaning (just look at the # of sign-ups from the College Dems vs College Repubs last week at the activity fair…it was about 100 for dems and about 200 for repubs). </p>
<p>That being said, I don’t like to label myself, but am definitely a “liberal” as people talk of the word today. Do I fit in at Wake? Completely. One thing I’ve really come to enjoy about being at a conservative-leaning school is the balance of political views…it truly is varied at this school. Also it provides a good discussion, as not everyone in your classes or not all of your friends will agree with you, but it’s nice to be able to hear the other side. </p>
<p>Overall, whether you are liberal, conservative, libertarian, socialist, etc…that won’t make you an “outcast” at Wake, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Also: speaking this week at Wake–Stephen Prothero (religion professor) and Christine Whitman (former EPA director under Bush)</p>
<p>I’m a liberal and we all know how much I love Wake Forest 
I don’t think this will be a problem for you.</p>
<p>I believe that too many people take political beliefs too seriously. There is not an inevitable culture war brewing where one must choose sides. There is however a difference of opinion among people about how to better our country, in the end almost every American wants the same thing.</p>
<p>I for one went to a school where my political and social views were in the minority, however I never felt treated any different nor ostracized for something as minor as a political view.</p>