what are good things about wake forest compared to other schools?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wake Forest University
1

<p>i am currently a high school student, and considering wake as my 1st choice... but when i said this to other people they all were like...</p>

<p>"i can't even understand why u'r applying to wake forest...ur a science person, wake is more like liberal arts goody goody school isn't it? how about vanderbilt"</p>

<p>"u should def'lygo to UNC instead of wake. better education with less money"</p>

<p>"i haven't heard about wake forest university. what is that?"</p>

<p>"i've heard that wake is simply a smaller version of vandy...."</p>

<p>"i think it'd be better to go to wake tech and then transfer to tar heel..."</p>

<p>and so on...</p>

<p>isn't wake forest one of the top schools in the nation? i thought it was...and it ranks like 30'sh or sometimes 25ish...</p>

<p>i am confused...</p>

<p>anyone can say something really good about wake forest? reputation? (seems pretty bad) facilities? diversity? food? dorms (esp. about cockroaches)? surrounding city? social scene?
and one more thing to ask.</p>

<p>i live in wake forest, and attending a small, no-social life private high school right now, and i like it here. can u tell me how wake forest experience gonna be like, compared to my current high school?</p>

<p>p.s. questions may seem stupid...but u know. high schools kids are high school kids. we sometimes get too romantic, and don't always do the right.</p>

2

<p>Things my son liked about Wake:
-small class sizes
-lots of class discussions
-engaged professors who knew everyone in the class
-professors who would sit and eat with you in the Pit, invite you to their homes for dinner, have open door office policies
-beautiful campus
-easy admittance to basketball and football games
-no parking problems
-he was in sciences, and had very good experiences with those classes, opportunity to TA as a sophomore (grading homework assignments)</p>

3

<p>My daughter will be graduating from Wake in a few weeks. Four years that went by way too quickly. She applied Early Decision/Single Choice (when that option was still available) and never looked back. Like you, her primary interest is in the sciences (graduating with a B.S. in Biology and attending NC State in the fall for her PhD in Plant Biology). But, the required core courses opened her eyes to many other interests and experiences - absolutely loved studying British Art History and British Drama during a semester abroad in London with other Wake bio majors.</p>

4

<p>I think mkh56 has highlighted some of the reasons I applied to Wake. I am a current student at Wake Forest and LOVE it. Sometimes it is tough (like this week- last week of classes- ah!) , but Wake really isn't as 'workforest tough" as people emphasize it to be.
I've lived in big cities my entire life, I've never needed a car etc. I was so worried before I came here about losing my social life/ feeling confined to a box. This has NOT been a problem. The Greek scene always guarentees parties during the weekend and a club is always hosting some major event every weekend. Wake is never boring.
As for reputation - yeah, sadly not every person on the streets knows us. Look at it this way, the average person knows what Harvard is --- but how many people know what Brown or Stanford is? I think you would be surprised that the general public only knows a handful of college reputations. However, employers know. Employers and educated people know what Wake is -- especially if you major in business- our business school is 17th in the nation I think.
If you are looking at Wake, Vandy, and UNC I really recommend going to visit all three. I'd say they are all near equally prestigious (after reading your post, it seems thats what you are looking for). I personally love wake and know from experience that it has alot to offer if you look for it....</p>

5

<p>when I refer to 'a club' - I mean a campus organization, not a bar. I'm trying to emphasize there are fun things for both partiers and non-partiers.</p>

6

<p>I'm a bio major, and I'm going to medical school next year. Wake's science programs are wonderful. We are a liberal arts school, and because of that, you won't be able to come here and take only sciences. You'll have to take classes in many of the departments around campus. But that's actually one of the things that I've loved about Wake. In fact, one of my main regrets is that I left so many of my divisionals until my senior year. If I'd taken them earlier, I would've seriously considered a minor in religion, I think. If you're interested in getting a major in one of the sciences, you'll be getting the best of both worlds. A great department to have your degree from, and opportunities to take classes in all sorts of other interesting areas.</p>

<p>Regarding the facilities and dorms, I've never found them at all lacking, and they're constantly doing things to improve them. Starting this semester, the library is open 24 hours a day during the week, which is something that I never knew I wanted until they started it. The dorms are....dorms. I don't want to live in one for the rest of my life, but I've never hated living in them while I was here. I think I've only ever (in four years here) seen one cockroach in a dorm.</p>

<p>One thing that a lot of my classmates (especially the ones interviewing for jobs right now instead of applying for further school) have noticed is that even though Wake Forest isn't particularly well known in the general public, employers know about it. Interviewers at other schools know about it. Doing well at Wake Forest is looked upon really well.</p>

7

<p>wow lots of replies! thank you so much!</p>

<p>I actually have visited chapel hill and didn't really like the campus...i felt like it was unorganized and...and a bit too crowed...</p>

8

<p>oh one more thing to ask. do they still have first choice/single choice ED?</p>

<p>if they have, then,</p>

<p>can i still apply to other Early Action schools...?</p>

9

<p>lol seems like i always add questions with the phrase "one more thing to ask"...</p>

<p>i think i'm gonna visit the campus pretty soon... i saw the pictures and they were sooo beautiful... anyways... thank you all</p>

10

<p>I would like to add a few more pros on behalf of Wake. (Disclaimer: Wake has offered S scholarship money, and Wake is on his very short list of schools.)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The people at Wake are NICE!
This may sound like a little thing, but I think it is a big thing. When S visited, that was his main comment. Everyone was so nice! The professors, the admissions people, the scholarship people, and the students all were very nice and friendly. He sometimes had to stop and ask for directions around campus. Every student he talked to was pleasant and helpful. </p></li>
<li><p>Beautiful and compact campus.
Wake has a lovely campus with pleasant brick buildings (they all match), grass, flowers, and magnolia trees. The "Quad" in front of Wait Chapel is a beautiful, green rectangle of grass surrounded by dorms, bookstores, Wait Chapel (on one end), and Reynolda Hall (on the other end). The Quad contains not-so-big trees that were planted not too long ago. (I think that the new trees replaced the old, tall Dutch elms that had succumbed to Dutch elm disease.) When Wake wins a big game (usually involving UNC or Duke), these trees are "decorated" using inexpensive rolls of items obtained from restrooms on campus. There are basketball courts around as well as tennis courts. For runners, there are plenty of great places to take runs.</p></li>
<li><p>Contact with Professors.
S was very impressed with the professors he met. It seems that the professors really get to know the students. S also commented that each professor he met seemed to have a great sense of humor.</p></li>
<li><p>Several Graduate Schools.
For those students thinking of graduate school, Wake has several. Wake has a medical school, law school, business school, and a divinity school.</p></li>
<li><p>Great Study Abroad Programs.
Wake has programs in several countries. Wake has a house in Venice on one of the main canals, a house in or near London (can't remember specifics) and several others in different countries.</p></li>
<li><p>Sports for Spectators and Participants.
Wake is a member of the ACC so you have ACC football and ACC basketball. Basketball used to be king at Wake, but in the past few years its football program has been catching on. There are also club sports (S investigated one of these) for those who want to participate..</p></li>
<li><p>Post-Graduate Scholarships.
In the last 20 years, Wake has produced 11 Rhodes Scholars. Wake has also produced several Marshall and Fulbright Scholars as well. </p></li>
<li><p>Wake has its own "Core" Curriculum.
At Wake, you are required to take courses from different divisions. Thus, even though there is a core, there is a lot of flexibility within that core.</p></li>
<li><p>Smaller classes.
You will not attend classes in large, cavernous halls along with hundreds of other students. There are also smaller freshman seminar classes as well.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Hope this helps. Wake has a lot going for it, and S faces a tough decision. Best of luck in yours.</p>

11

<p>A quick note before I get back to a paper that I'm writing. Regarding the study abroad programs, the house in Venice is on the Grand Canal (and is one of, I think, two American study abroad programs based in Venice). There is also Worrell House in London, and Flow House in Vienna. We also have programs in other cities around the world (Salamanca, Spain and Dijon, France are the first two that come to mind, although I know that we also have a Japan program and a number of others as well--and those are just the semester-long programs) that usually involve living with a host family.</p>

<p>Every year, just around 50% of the graduating seniors have studied abroad at one point or another.</p>

12

<p>Winston-Salem is a nice town. You are from a small town too like me, and honestly Winston-Salem is fine for me. The area surrounding the campus is being revitalized which will be very nice. While Winston-Salem is not New York City, it offers things to do. To some degree I think that if you are bored or have nothing to do, it is your own fault as there are ample opportunities to keep yourself occupied.</p>

<p>Dorms are okay. As a sophomore I lived in a pretty new dorm and shared a kitchen, bathroom and living room with 4 other guys. That is probably a bit atypical, but dorms aren't terrible, they aren't great either, but middle of the road. </p>

<p>I hate the stereotype that Wake is not diverse. People just have this misconception that diversity is only skin deep. Everyone has different experiences and that is diversity. Wake is like 80~% white and the USA is like 75~ white, so that is not exactly a huge deviation from the country at large. </p>

<p>As for food, the food isn't bad it just gets repetitive. I don't even eat meat and if I can get by at the pit than you can too. They are installing more eating venues on campus as this issue has been addressed in the past few years (although I don't know the specifics). There is also in Benson Chick-fil-a, a mexican station, a grill station, and a Subway. </p>

<p>Overall, Wake is fantastic place and I could not see myself anywhere else, but it is not a perfect place. You need to accept that, because at first I was disappointed because I expected everything to be. Once I got over that I was fine and realized it was as near-perfect as possible for me.</p>

<p>As far as reputation, I am rather confused how the reputation is "bad"? Wake is a top 25-30 school and will continue to rise in the rankings. Any anyway if it is a top 25-30 school how is that not top in the country? There are an awful lot of schools in the country.</p>

<p>However, perhaps the best aspect of Wake Forest is the professors. They really care and students--not their own endeavors--are their first priority. Again, if students do not see this it is largely their own fault because they don't take the time to talk to their professors, go to office hours, etc. At the end of the school year, a friend and I went out to dinner with a professor who was leaving to go to another school (tragic) and we were at dinner for 4 hours.</p>

13

<p>What helped my son put Wake Forest on his list was meeting a former coach whose wife happens to work with me. This gentleman came over to my son's school and sat down to talk with him about Wake Forest and other schools for more than an hour. They chatted about everything from majors to athletics to what he sought in a school. The best thing was that he just did not sell Wake Forest to my son. He sold academics, athletics, having a great college experience, etc.</p>

14

<p>Wake is a joke and I can't name 5 people who would matriculate again if given a choice. The exception would be the frat stars who focus more on that extra-curricular than their schooling. </p>

<p>sorry, but it's true.</p>

15

<p>BadNews -- everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, but it sounds to me like yours are of the "sour grapes" variety.</p>

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<p>Yea, I'm afraid BadNews and his 5 buds require watching. :eek: Sounds like a bear with a sore ear. :( And a definite opinion about the pasteled frat fellas. Maybe needs to broaden his circle of friends? :confused:</p>

17

<p>Yes, you sound bitter. Is there a story?????</p>

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<p>if anyone questions my "sour" posts, look at the immaturity and frat-tastic attitudes on display at juicycampus dot com. </p>

<p>(if you check and you're curious, "geed" is short for for g<em>d D</em>mn independent, which is what the non-greek students are frequently referred to.)</p>

<p>if anyone wwould like justification for my responses, before trashing me as a bitter, sour grape, by all means, just ask. the purpose of these bulletin boards is to show all sides, not just to offer glowing praise.</p>

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<p>and elizabeth - no story, no one occurrence. wake is the perfect place for some people. it wasn't for me, and it won't be for the less shallow, less materialistic students who are looking for positive academic challenges [instead of having disadvantages built in from the start(deflation)]</p>

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<p>I'll admit that my feathers are a little ruffled by the last post. First, I certainly disagree with the comment about academic challenges. I've never felt like there were unattainable goals, academically, for me at Wake. I've absolutely had difficult courses, and no one is expected to find all their classes easy, but it's not fair to write off four years of education as without any "positive academic challenge." And, for the record, I have maybe two classes that I still look back and think of as unnecessarily difficult.</p>

<p>I'm really not even going to comment on the insinuation that only people who are shallow and materialistic will find Wake a good match for them. Suffice it to say that I completely disagree with BadNews' opinion (And, for the record, I also did not participate in Greek life). </p>

<p>Finally, regarding Juicycampus, it's an immature website that gets immature posts about all colleges. Not just Wake. It's hardly an accurate measure of a university. Of course, no message board can possibly be an accurate measure of a university. Ultimately, we can only tell you our own experiences, and we can't tell you if Wake Forest is the correct school for you.</p>