<p>My school leads my state in eating disorders, stress problems and abusive parents. We're also ranked first in academics, first in advanced placement testing and 26th overall in the country. Why? Because it's extremely academically challenging and students stress themselves out (way out) over test scores and grades. </p>
<p>I don't want to attend a school like that. From what I've heard Wake is heavy workload school. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind a laid back course load and some easy classes. I mean I understand it's college, but compared to other schools, how bad is it?</p>
<p>oops didn’t mean to double post! my bad guys!</p>
<p>If you don’t want to attend a school like that, then yes, Wake probably wouldn’t a good match. We have like 0 grade inflation, and it’s very very hard. Newsweek just ranked us #13th hardest workload in the country. The humanities aren’t too bad, so if you’re planning on majoring in that area, maybe it’ll be ok. Also take into account that if you’ve come from a really challenging high school, then maybe Wake won’t seem too much of a step up from that. But then again, you said it yourself, you came from a really challenging high school and don’t want a repeat. If anything it’ll be more a step up in workload than a repeat. I’m not gonna sugarcoat, it’s really really tough. I had friends who graduated valedictorian who didn’t end up in med school after they graduated because of their GPAs…</p>
<p>I agree with Wake being difficult, but I think the med school thing is a bit of an exaggeration. Out of all of my friends who applied, only one did not get into anywhere in the USA. Wake’s premed program really prepares you for the MCATs. </p>
<p>Agreed with no grade inflation and the workload, though. Coming from a challenging high school made the transition easier though.</p>
<p>I don’t know when your friends graduated, but it’s definitely NOT an exaggeration. From my graduating class, only a handful got in. Unless they’ve eased up on grading within the last few years…which I wouldn’t question since they have dropped the number of core course requirements students have to take for the class after mine…</p>
<p>Liteblueprincess, I’m not sure when you graduated, but I know several people who have been accepted to med school or are there now and didn’t necessarily have a great gpa.</p>
<p>I’d say your comments are definitely an exaggeration, although there’s no denying Wake is a tough school. It will prepare you for the future, nonetheless (IMO)</p>
<p>The workload is high at Wake, but it is not a competitive, cutthroat culture. There is a BIG difference between those two things.</p>
<p>@Wneckkid99, I think she may have graduated earlier than me. I graduated a couple of years ago, and I don’t think her comments are exaggerated during my time. I think she can tone down the phrasing at times (sorry liteblueprincess, you can tone it down a bit), but I do understand because I was also in the same position as her at Wake - premed, current medical student. I think the premed classes we have to take are way tougher than the other classes I had to take for my core requirements. And your friends must have been really lucky, because medical schools do place a lot of emphasis on GPA, contrary to what people think.</p>
<p>As for how hard Wake is, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have changed over the years. I know the year before my year had to take a lot more core class requirements…My year like 4 or 5 of the requirements were dropped, which made it easier compare to their class…and I know that over the 4 years I was at Wake, they have been trying to make it somewhat easier, not by a lot, though, it was still hard. Obviously, I don’t know how it is now, but if you guys don’t think it’s that impossible nowadays, then they’ve probably made grading a bit more lenient. So I think liteblueprincess is probably a few more years before me, and if that’s the case, I can kinda understand where she’s coming from. I think Newsweek ranked us #4 for hardest workload back in '06, and now we’re #13…just saying. As for cutthroat, I think the current students are better judges of that now…because back when I was a junior, I remember there were 3 suicide attempts on campus all within 1 week of each other. 2 died (overdose, and gunshot - the other one lived through jumping off that tiny road bridge by Polo), thats probably why they changed things around.</p>
<p>Although, no disrespect to anyone, but I have to say, this forum is really not healthy sometimes. I feel like alumni and students alike can try to act a little bit classier and stop attacking one another. I learned respect while I was at Wake, and I’m sure you guys did too, so I think it’s time to start showing it. It’s a forum, let whoever say what they feel, and let it go if you disagree. Bitter arguments over the internet between alums/students will turn
me off if I was an applicant.</p>
<p>green - nicely put at the end there - it does not reflect well on Wake Forest to have current students and alumni bashing each other over a difference of opinion. I would also suggest that information from a current student is more useful than from someone who graduated several years ago as things do change.</p>
<p>I have no insight into premed - but my son is a junior in Calloway. They are actually addressing the grade deflation issue. I don’t have specifics - but the general idea is that they have research to document that students at peer schools tend to have higher GPAs - suggesting there is a factual basis for the perception of grade deflation at Wake. My impression from my son is that the workload is demanding but manageable. He still has time to work a fairly substantial number of hours per week, participate in IM sports, etc. I would be concerned he if portrayed a situation where all he did was school work - but that is not the case.</p>
<p>Green, you’re right. I completely forgot until you brought it up that they did take off some of the requirements for the class year behind mine. So, I think you are right that they have changed/are changing the curriculum to make it more manageable for these kids. That’s probably why they think my comments are exaggerated (they’re not but I guess we know why they seem like that now). I was just trying to be honest based on my experience. Now that I realized they’ve changed the curriculum, then I agree with you and Rockvillemom that current students probably have a better gauge on workload.</p>
<p>I would add that incoming students often have different perceptions of the workload at Wake, based on their prior experiences in HS. When D ('10) was a freshman, I remember her saying that many of her new Wake friends complained a lot about the workload, saying, “I’ve never had to work this hard.” D’s response was, “Are you kidding me? I’ve spent the last 4 years (of HS) working this hard.” So, for many students there is an adjustment period. Good time management skills are essential.</p>
<p>I actually thought Wake was more relaxed than my high school. My friends who thought otherwise picked up time management skills quite quickly! Although Wake is tough at times, the professors are quite understanding and will work with you if you are overloaded.</p>