I was accepted to UVA early action in January and unfortunately waitlisted at Wake Forest. I just received a call today that I was accepted to Wake, but given that it is late July, they need a decision by tonight.
I’m from NJ so the price of tuition isn’t a huge factor; I’m sure the difference will be marginal, but I’m waiting for Wake to send me the financial aid report.
Other than finances, I think I will be studying business, where I think UVA has the upper hand. Despite this, if I got into Wake months ago, there is a high chance I would have chosen Wake over UVA.
At the same time, I’m very settled into UVA already - Im scheduled to move in in 3 weeks, I have my roommate, I made my schedule, etc.
Any guidance or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
@lucky0318
Very difficult situation, are you prepared for the stress of getting prepared for move in and classes in only 3 weeks as opposed to the plan you already have? I think they are both great programs, however placement at McIntire will be better than Wake. Also UVA is (much) more prestigious due to the “public Ivy” status, although there are ranked relatively the same. However being a public school, it’s very large and often overwhelming for a lot of people.
Where would you prefer to live Winston-Salem or Charlottesville. Imho their both boring town but is seems you prefer Winston.
There both impressive so congratulations…and I personally would go with Wake, as I prefer smaller private schools and I think you do as well.
I have been to Charlottesville many times since one of my kids went to UVa. It is a vibrant small city, the grounds of UVa are adjacent to many restaurants, bars shops. It often gets ranked well for being a great college town. I have only seen Wake Forest once but if I recall correctly, it is more isolated from the city?
These are both great schools so it is a matter of personal preference. It is unfortunate that Wake Forest has given you so little time to make such a major decision. Good luck!
One thing to consider: You have to apply to the UVa undergrad business school (though I think about 60% get in), while I think you can just major in business at WF.
But UVa has several clear advantages (at least somewhat more prestige, shorter distance from home, Charlottesville probably more interesting than Winston-Salem, and you’re already ready to go there). I would think that to choose WF you’d have to really, really prefer the atmosphere there and/or prefer having 5,000 undergrads and not 15,000.
I’m not sure if the financials are really going to come out the same, and a difference of more than a couple of thousand would be worth considering.
Both are great schools – perhaps consider logistics of late enrollment at Wake – can you get housing, with a freshman roommate, rather than be assigned somewhere more isolated from fellow first years? Can you get into classes you want, or need, to take, including pre-requisites for your preferred major etc.
Student bodies at each will have a lot of overlap in “types” as Wake kids tend to be middle of the road, nice, smart, hard working kids.