My D22 has been accepted to both schools and is struggling with the decision. Any thoughts on pros/cons of each?
Well - money for one - did you win the Johnson or a tuition only at W&L?
Both are fantastic - obviously Wake is larger and closer in society - not in downtown Winston but close enough.
W&L is a small, liberal arts school, gorgeous - but in a small town in rural Virginia…with great restaurants literally when you fall down the hill from campus. It will have access to great outdoor activities.
Short of that- they each have strong suits - for example, W&L is a top journalism school and has a wonderful business program. Obviously they both are strong in the arts and sciences.
They’re different enough that hopefully a visit to campus will help. My daughter, for example, didn’t like the Wake campus and loved the W&L campus. Every kid is different so hopefully one will stand out to your dhild.
btw - @DramaMama2021 generously offers her daughter’s experience at W&L (first year) if you need info. I know my neighbor was a Johnson Scholar and has thrived since and raved about the alumni network.
No doubt there’s equally as great as info out there about Wake.
Good luck.
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Can probably answer any specific questions you have about Wake. The school amazes me almost on a daily basis with all they offer and the things they do for the students. I suppose it depends on what your student is looking for and what they want to study. Won’t get into the COA as I’m sure your are intelligent to figure that out on your own.
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In many ways the schools are very similar but there can be key differentiators depending on topic (assuming cost isn’t an issue). For instance, if your daughter was interested in business then I’d suggest W&L for the Williams School of Commerce. We were disappointed that Wake requires you to apply for the business school after your freshman year whereas at W&L if you are into the college you are into Williams if you so desire.
Conversely, if you covet Div I sports then it’s Wake which can field decent basketball and football teams but frankly can be the runt of the litter among P5 teams due to smaller size compared to some of the behemoths in competition. That makes it all the sweeter when Wake does field a competitive team vs Goliath.
I don’t know the Greek scene at Wake but if your daughter wants to be part of a sorority then the odds probably favor W&L where it is more expansive.
I think the wild card could be the value of the degree/legacy 5-30 years from now when your child might be looking at employment or grad school or sending a legacy. W&L is currently ranked ahead of Wake but time will tell. W&L has a much stronger endowment per capita. That said, it will depend on how society reacts to the “Lee” name and if society is opposed then will W&L revisit the naming decision. Currently, the academic reputation for W&L is excellent as is the financial condition. I trust it will remain so into the future but you never know.
These are just a few differences. We’d have to know more about your specific circumstances to be more specific in return.
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Congratulations to your D22 on her acceptances! It would be helpful to know a bit more about her priorities and future plans to answer more specifically.
My D21 considered both Wake and W&L, but ultimately did not apply to Wake for the “all-important” reason that too many kids from her high school were attending. Ha. Both schools are strong academically and the DI vs DIII sports has been mentioned, so I’ll limit my comments to her freshman experience at W&L.
My D was initially concerned about the rural location of W&L. That has been a non-issue. My not very outdoorsy girl has been very involved with the outdoor club and taken advantage of all the Shenandoah Valley offers. Lexington itself is charming and has restaurants, coffee shops, book stores, pet stores and bars (that allow under 21) for socializing off campus (in walking distance). Most students at both these schools are academically motivated and involved in clubs/sports/ECs so there is not a lot of time to do much off campus anyway.
Greek life is a part of the social scene. Sorority rush was much more laid back than the stereotypical exclusive and expensive “big Southern school” experience many envision. We found it to be quite inclusive, which I believe is one reason for so much participation.
My D has loved her classes and relationships with professors. She’s involved in various campus organizations (especially community service-related) and will have leadership roles next year. The career services and pre-health advising (she’s premed) have been wonderful… she was matched with a summer internship in a free health clinic and has a research position for the fall.
I’ve seen comments on the parents’ FB page about some students having issues with class registration. My D has had no problem getting the classes she needed, although not always her preferred section (hello 8am classes). I’ve heard of waitlists for popular PEs and electives but not that someone could not get a class needed to stay on track for their major/minor.
Hopefully that helps a bit. Happy to provide more information if you have specific questions.
ETA: I’m assuming your D has visited both campuses. The speaking tradition at W&L was a big draw for my D. She found everyone so friendly and helpful when we visited. She confirms that remains a part of the campus culture she most enjoys.
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I’m a parent of two WF kids, one a 2021 graduate (BEM & English double major) and the other a sophomore Finance major. Both love their school.
Pros:
- Very engaged teachers and rigorous academics. Difficult but doable, with lots of tutoring assistance for struggling students. Small class sizes. Really outstanding humanities programs as well, though the professional schools draw the most students.
- Amazing study abroad opportunities with numerous school owned facilities, including the former US consulate on the Grand Canal in Venice. DD went to the Wake owned Worrell House in London, DS headed to a Wake finance program in Barcelona in August. The school owned programs are very rigorous, not party abroad.
- Beautiful campus with top notch facilities all around. The surrounding school owned properties (Reynolda House and Gardens, Reynolda Village, Graylyn Estate) are tied together by lovely walking trails. It’s really something.
- Excellent job placement out of the business school, and others are good as well. All of DD’s non-B school friends are employed in good jobs.
- D-1 athletics are huge, and very competitive. The football team ended up ranked 15th nationally at the end of the season, and the basketball team beat NCAA title team NC by 22 in February and was nationally ranked once during the season. Wake outperforms many larger schools, and athletics are a source of student pride.
- Both our kids were involved in Greek life and other activities. Greek life is bigger for girls than boys (55% vs 25% I think), but not all encompassing in the typical student’s life. It’s W&L “lite” in that respect.
- I don’t know if it’s due to the interview process, but most Wake students seem similarly friendly, content, and outgoing. That’s an anecdotal observation, of course, based on our experience.
Cons:
- Both a pro and a con, academics can be tough. A’s are sometimes hard to come by. The “Work Forest” description is deserved. Some struggle.
- Wake isn’t particularly diverse, but likely more so than W&L, based on DS’s impression when he spent two days there. It’s also not very political. There’s a pretty strong pre-professional vibe at Wake that sets the tone on campus.
- Fairly wealthy student body with a lot of kids from top NE prep schools. It took a semester for DD and DS to catch up with their friends’ more extensive academic preparation, but all was good once they did.
Winston-Salem gets both praise and criticism, but we have seen it really change over the last five years into a hip city with a vibrant foodie and art scene. DD now works there, and many young professionals are pouring into the urban core. There are lots of breweries, music halls, etc., plenty of things for the students to do on weekends. I think the number of people living downtown has gone from 1,000 to 12,000 in the last ten years, mostly young hipsters, medical students, and young families.
Congratulations on acceptance to two great schools, especially this year when applications were up so much. Wake’s applications were up 20%, and we know several great students who were waitlisted.
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