<p>I have noticed that the Wake Supplement to the Common Application differs from the Downloadable Supplement on the Wake Admissions website and that both differ substantially from the mail-in application that is downloadable on the Wake site. </p>
<p>The Common App Wake supplement does NOT include items such as the "meaningful readings list" that the Downloadable Supplement includes. Further, neither of the latter include the "Accomplishments (and discuss them)" that are part of the mail-in application. CRITICALLY, neither the downloadable supplement nor the common app supplement includes the final Wake Forest Essay that appears only in the mail-in application. The mail-in application has the following essay requirements:</p>
<p>"The following essay is critical in the admissions selection process at Wake Forest. Use it to give the Admissions Committee insight into your character and
intellect. It should be written in multi-paragraph form on additional attached sheets with your name and address. Respond to the following prompt:</p>
<p>In 1962 Wake Forest became the first major private southern college to integrate. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary, we ask how your story will contribute to
the diversity of our campus community. Tell us your story."</p>
<p>I can't believe that Wake failed to include this essay topic on either the common app supplement or its downloadable supplement, but it did. Who will notice this? So far, only I have. </p>
<p>For all of you who wish to apply to Wake, since the essay is "critical" but fails to appear on the common app supplement, I suggest downloading the mail-in application and submitting the essay and the other materials they ask for.</p>
<p>First of all, Wake just wants an essay, Wake says the essay for the common app can replace the essay that Wake uses on their own application. They don’t want people to have to do yet another essay for them. One thing I’ve known people to do is under the common app pick the essay where it is topic of your choice and write about the WFU essay choice. The other two things you’ve seen that have been different should be negligible in the long run. Wake allows people to submit their application in many different ways and I’m sure they know this and will understand. Just try not to stress about it.</p>
<p>^^
I don’t believe that Wake “just wants an essay,” otherwise why would Wake specifically note that “the following essay is critical for the admissions selection process.” The Common App gives you a bunch of choices of essay, none perhaps even remotely touching on what Wake wants. Furthermore, writing the WFU essay under the “Topic of Your Choice” then forces the applicant to have create a whole new Common App version so as to create a new topic of your choice that is NOT the approved WFU essay, for other colleges. You know that Common App hates it when you create alternative versions anyway, so your advice has limited utility. Finally, next year, the “Topic of Your Choice” will disappear as an option, and then what will people do?</p>
<p>No, I believe that if Wake considers this essay “critical” it should have put in on its Common App supplement and not buried it in the “mail-in” version of the application, which in this digital age, very few people will chose to use. In short, either the essay is critical or it is not an if it is (as Wake specifically underscores that it is!) it should be on the Wake supplement. I am convinced someone just made a mistake and they probably won’t make the applicants who submit through the common app pay for it, but it is just very weird, nonetheless. All the various supplement versions should be absolutely aligned and the same, otherwise candidates aren’t being compared on a level playing field – at least that much should be readily apparent.</p>
<p>You can’t just modify the common app. The common app requires you to submit one of their essays or make a selection of your own. Wake has had to deal with this for years. Wake realizes it needs to be on the common app and that yes, there are some flaws to the common app, but it’s not worth not being on it. Plenty (if not a majority) of Wake Forest students apply to Wake every year off the common app. It was like this last year, it was like it this year, and Wake just has to consider that during the admissions process, Wake Forest admissions is supposed to be holistic. I agree that all the supplements should be aligned, but this is an imperfect process. And it will be for years to come.</p>
<p>Why is this a big deal for wake? Just put the question on the supplement, provide a 2,000 character limit and go from there. There is nothing technically that prevents them from doing so.</p>
<p>@kellybkk:</p>
<p>Thank you for pointing out this important glitch in the system. Hopefully this will help new applicants get all of the proper essays done. This should probably be brought to the school’s attention. When I was applying, 2 of the 15 schools that I applied to had serious issues in their applications - it’s unfortunate that this happens. </p>
<p>@sebastianivory: </p>
<p>I completely agree with kellybkk. This does not sound like something that Wake knows about; it sounds like a system glitch. Anyone who is reading this should take what kellybkk said into consideration or should contact the school for advice on how to proceed.</p>