<p>Hi Guys! Asking for your help!</p>
<p>I have been accepted to both schools. Was wondering what you thought of both of them and which is deemed "better?" </p>
<p>I know this is opiniative but anything can help - I am going to visit them next week!</p>
<p>PS i also got accepted to Richmond - any thoughts?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I would pick W&L over Wake and Richmond, and I believe it does have a better reputation than the other two.</p>
<p>There’s a pretty interesting thread on the Parents’ Forum called “LACs Compared to Universities” which points out some of the strengths and drawbacks of each model. Wake Forest the rare hybrid of the two - much of the personal attention of the LAC with many of the expanded resources of the university, along with the big-time athletic ambience of huge universities. W&L is, of course, much smaller with the pros and cons that come with that. My impression is that Richmond’s student body is not as national in scope as Wake’s or W&L’s.</p>
<p>I would go W&L.</p>
<p>I’d go with Wake Forest, personally. I love the campus, and Winston-Salem is a great little city. Wake students are probably the friendliest I’ve met at the many colleges I’ve visited, and most facilities are new/updated and well-kept. Wake is a great size; although small enough to offer an undergraduate focus, it’s large enough to offer unusual classes like Egyptian and Akkadian (you certainly won’t get those at W&L). As gadad mentioned, the athletic side of Wake is a nice plus. </p>
<p>I would vehemently disagree that W&L has a better reputation. Also, 80% Greek? No thanks. The only LAC in the South I would consider turning Wake down for would be Davidson.</p>
<p>Agreed with above. ^^^^ Go to Wake. A national reputation. Superb campus environment. W & L is cliquey, bucolic and really a school that focuses only on getting their students into jobs on Capitol Hill. Its highly overrated in my humble opinion. Its got a HUGE drinking problem on campus and its about 90% sorority and fraternity driven. </p>
<p>I am NOT a fan of W & L. </p>
<p>Richmond is a fine school. But its not nearly the national scope that Wake has.</p>
<p>Go to Wake.</p>
<p>Congratulations.</p>
<p>Just visited them both…made my decision harder.</p>
<p>I have NO IDEA what to do! :/</p>
<p>I agree with IB & endlessrecession. I’m also going to add that Wake has Greek life as well – I believe that ~47% of girls are in sororities and I think the number is slightly lower for boys in fraternities. So the Greek life is there if you want it, but it doesn’t completely dominate the entire social scene. The campus is GORGEOUS. For a relatively small school, it’s a pretty big campus IMO. </p>
<p>If there is any way possible, I would suggest to go to one of Wake’s admitted student days (April 17th & April 20th, I believe). You will probably get a very good idea of what the students (in particular, the incoming freshmen) are like if you go. </p>
<p>I will also disagree with ElizaB. I’m not sure what W&L’s reputation is like in other places, but up here many people don’t really know about it. I would say that Wake is a more widely known school.</p>
<p>I don’t know think W&L is more well-known but it is more highly regarded by people “in the know” and is definitely more selective than Wake Forest.</p>
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<p>Ah yes the ‘smart set’, the ‘in-the-know’ people that really know what they are talking about and have an informed opinion because … why? Oh, yes, you said they do. Got it. </p>
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<p>Anecdotal to that point, my friend’s son (a freshman at W&L was arrested for underage drinking (walking drunk back to his dorm) from a fraternity party. He was arrested by town police, charged and sentenced. </p>
<p>CAgal91:</p>
<p>If I may ask, how would you describe your political and social viewpoint i.e., where do you fall between being ultra conservative and ultra liberal?</p>
<p>Wake Forest is a much more well-rounded school than either W&L or Richmond. </p>
<p>If this were my decision, I would go with Wake Forest.</p>
<p>No I don’t mind at all. My parents are from America, I have grown up all around the world. I would consider myself relatively conservative but am looking for the “all-american” college experience. Unfortunately, I can’t attend one of the admitted days due to living overseas and our spring-break; this was the one time I could visit. I definitely want to go greek but don’t want that scene to be overbearing. Thanks for your input guys!</p>
<p>Washington and Lee looks like a great place–very traditional, very old fashioned (but in a delightful way). Very personal, lots of attention, strict honor code. In my neck of the woods it is MUCH better known than Wake Forest (NE US) and has a better reputation, but maybe if you want to live in the South, it’s different? I doubt it, though.</p>
<p>“I definitely want to go greek but don’t want that scene to be overbearing.”</p>
<p>W&L’s Greek scene may seem that way to you then. It’s a big aspect of WFU campus life, but it virtually defines life at W&L.</p>
<p>To be frank, students who apply to Wake, often apply to W & L and Davidson. W & L gives driving directions to Wake and Davidson in the summer tours. Between these three schools, there is not that much difference academically. There are some social differences, but even those are not all that great. The OP is looking for the “All American College Scene”. That means Wake Forest with its superior sports teams: NCAA champions in Golf, Soccer, highly competitive Basketball and Football program (Division 1-A), and nationally recognized Law and Medical Schools. </p>
<p>But you can’t go wrong at any of the three.</p>
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<p>Because they are the ones hiring for very selective jobs or accepting students into highly selective grad schools and have seen more impressive candidates come from W&L and be successful in their firms and schools. It doesn’t matter what I say except that I have worked in these organizations and attended one of these schools and have seen who else is there. There’s a difference between being known as a school because you have a perennially competitive D-I basketball program and having the more accomplished graduates.</p>
<p>I chose Wake Forest in the end! Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Enjoy. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Congrats on making the right choice. ;)</p>