<p>I'm struggling with the "Why Wake Forest?" question on the application. I'm looking for a school with more of a serious atmosphere where students actually take studying seriously and undergraduate research abounds. I'm not really sure how to answer this question well. I want to go there for the aforementioned reasons, but also because it's away from my home. The school I go to is a top 50 nationally, but it's more of a party school and I really hate the atmosphere. Can anyone help guide me through how I should answer this essay question? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.</p>
<p>Have you visited Wake Forest? I would start there. Did you have any interactions with students or faculty while on campus that led you to believe that Wake was the sort of school you were looking for?</p>
<p>I haven’t visited Wake Forest, yet. The school strikes me as an intellectual hub, though, and that’s what I’m looking for in a school. My current institution has more of a party atmosphere and not an intellectual one. I’m looking for a place where there is also a low faculty to student ratio, as well. Do you attend WF? If so, what is it like there?</p>
<p>No, my son is a Freshman. He chose WF in part because it did have a strong intellectual vibe. I think my favorite quote from one of the theater faculty was, “At Wake, we believe that the world doesn’t need more stupid actors.” (Indeed!) We also met with the History chair who spend 1.5 hours talking with us about the program. When my son went back a second time to visit, he stayed up late into the night talking with an upperclassman about one of this favorite composers/playwrights. Now an actual student, he called me about a week into school to tell me he couldn’t believe how smart his peers were. </p>
<p>Anyway, why Wake? Only you can answer that. A heartfelt answer is always best. Why are YOU looking for a more academic environment? How is Wake going to help YOU to fulfill your ambitions? What role are YOU going to play in this new more academic environment? What are YOU going to give back?</p>
<p>Thanks @cbrand. I think I will have to go to Wake Forest for myself to understand more about the school.</p>