Wake Forest vs. Wesleyan

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Though I am going to try my luck with the UPenn waiting list, it looks like my choices are between Wake and Wes, two completely different schools. I consider myself to be quite liberal, so I would fit in with that aspect of Wes, but I still get the feeling it may be a bit hardcore for me. I plan to major in something involving the social sciences, most likely political science, but I'm flexible when it comes to that. Just no math or science.</p>

<p>Anyway, which would you prefer if money is not a huge concern? Though it won't really affect my decision, which is considered more prestigious?</p>

<p>I appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>I think Wesleyan is considered a fair bit more academically respected of those two and that it seems like it would be a better fit too.</p>

3

<p>Wake Forest has a decent enough reputation. My family is originally from NC so it's a well-known quantity particularly the closer you get to NC. But, I still think it is mainly a creature of its sports teams, sort of like Duke but with not nearly same sway nationally.</p>

<p>Wesleyan is not big in the man-in-the-street sense. But, in New York, Boston and Los Angeles and in certain fields (journalism, law, medicine, scholarly research, popular culture, and the arts) there is no better college or university in the country.</p>

4

<p>I agree that Wesleyan has an edge in reputation (my advisor was stolen from Wes), although I prefer Wake.</p>

5

<p>Wesleyan sounds more up your alley--and I agree with the above, it has a better academic reputation than Wake.</p>

6

<p>Thanks, guys.</p>

<p>Who do you think has the edge in quality of life? In other words, which university is more fun?</p>

7

<p>I don't know anything really about Wake Forest, but Wesleyan has an interesting film scene, and some of the people there are very... different but in good weird way. Wesleyan is the kind of school that allows people in dorms to walk around bare-naked if I recall correctly, and they also had at one point a class the featured pornography and the social aspects of it. Although this not might reflect completely on how much fun the student body actually has, it definitely should tell you that Wesleyan is a very interesting experience to say the least!</p>

8

<p>The Val of S's class quit Wake Forest after one semester (transferred to UNC-CH) not due to grades (Dean's List) but due to the social atmosphere being a poor fit for her. She was very into Theatre and things of that nature in high school. I saw her at home for Spring Break last month. Asked her about Wake. She said "If you're not rich, beautiful and a size 0 you won't fit in". Apparantly the Greek scene is a major part of the social life according to her.
She is a cute girl/serious student whose parents are both school teachers, not a size 0 just average. Anyhow, she just didn't fit in and couldn't wait to transfer. Of course this is just one kid's opnion, just thought I'd share it.</p>

9

<p>Well, someone needs to defend Wake in this thread, after all of this bashing. Both are excellent academically, perhaps a slight edge to Wesleyan, perhaps... Prestige is such an objective term and I think Wake has more prestige. It is not a "given" that Wesleyan is THAT much better, it might be slightly better, but they are largely comparable schools. Also, Wake trumps Wesleyan in several aspects. </p>

<p>First let us start with climate. Wake is in NC and Wesleyan is in CT. Yesterday it was 80 degrees in Winston-Salem and only 40 in CT. Wake has a great climate, and I have been wearings shorts for over a month now. </p>

<p>Furthemore, Wake is the smallest Division ONE school and participates in the ACC. Our sports are great, we have one of the best overall programs in the country, and although basketball was not great for the past two years we are getting in 2007 two top 10 players at their positions and in 2008 we just got a committment who is our highest rated committment since Chris Paul </p>

<p>You just cannot imagine how amazing football season was this year, no other college students in the COUNTRY had as much fun as we did this fall. Watch this video to catch of glimpse of it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR0fI5mXm9g%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR0fI5mXm9g&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>About the comment of liberal versus conservative. I'm liberal and I fit in find. Sure there are lots of conservative kids, but it still is a college campus, so there are lots of liberals. College democrats are big and this week they hosted an Iraq Forum and a Peace Rally. I would not worry about the political slant of the campus.</p>

<p>As far as social scene, the only kids who do not fit in here are those who:
1) Went to Wake as a backup and think that they are better than everyone else and drop in conversation many times when/where they are transferring. This arrogance is quite annoying, especially as these folks don't do that great, for being supposed genius'. Almost everyone loves it here (righfully so), but people don't appreciate bashing it/not supporting our Deacs.
2) Those who absolutely hate the greek system. The greek system gets a horrible reputation, and at Wake many people are involved in it. But what is wrong with this? It is like any other organization. The percentage of Greeks is about half the student body. Nothing wrong with being independent, as I am. I have not lost all of my friends, have not been attacked for not being in a frat, etc. You don't have to like the greek system, I would just be tolerant, because lots of people are involved and the stereotypes do not usually fit here.</p>

<p>About being rich, I am not rich. I drive a car with 160,000 miles on it and have already taken loans to go to Wake. Sure, are kids rich? YES!, but most kids you can not tell from their attitudes that they are rich and it is something you find out about them, rather than something that is so up-front. Never has money interfered with making friends with anyone. </p>

<p>If you have any other questions feel free to PM me. Good luck!</p>