A great university with qualified, engaged faculty, an active student body, and an atmosphere competitive enough so that students challenge one another but collaborative enough so that students are willing to help one another and engage in activities in which they can work together rather than compete. Unlike at larger universities, where, for example, the only members of the cross country club are those who have been running since middle school, Wake Forest fosters an environment where anybody can try anything. The Work Forest reputation is very real, but most students on campus have been prepared by pushing themselves in high school, otherwise the campus has great tutoring resources.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Don't be scared away by the Work Forest reputation or the reputation that Greek life dominates all. It is a top 30 university, so if you don't want to work hard, Wake is definitely the wrong place, but the work is not so much that you will never see the outside of the library walls or never have time to make friends. Greek life is prominent, but not so much that you will feel left out of anything if you don't participate.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The reputation of Work Forest is well earned. Professors take very seriously the mentality that one hour of class is equivalent to 2-3 hours of preparation, so you spend a lot of time studying, but so does everyone else, so it's not like you're studying while other people are watching tv or playing video games. Everyone here works really hard, and obviously worked really hard in high school to get here, so the level of expectation and level of work is high. However, students are very supportive of one another and professors low-key beg you to come to their office hours if you are struggling with even the smallest thing.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
South is the nicest, newest freshman dorm on campus, but every other dorm has its own character and charm about it. Students develop fast friendships within their halls and with roommates, despite Wake's policy of 100% random freshman roommate pairings. Restrooms are cleaned regularly and RAs are usually pretty chill.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The dining hall staff at the main cafeteria, otherwise known as the Pit, are extremely friendly and the food is pretty good as far as cafeteria food goes. Outside of the main Pit, there is a nicer, upgraded New Pit nearer to the upperclassmen dorms. The Magnolia Room offers really delicious meals for lunch, that's the best food on campus. There are two coffee shops, a Starbucks in the library and an independent one called Campus Grounds. One can use Old Gold Swipes at the campus restaurant Shorty's, Zicks (pizza place), a Subway, Moes, Chick Fil A, Boars Head (hamburgers and sandwiches), a really great salad place, Einsteins Bagels, and a fancy bistro place.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Outdoor basketball courts and volleyball courts, competitive intramural sports, going to Winston-Salem for artsy cute places to eat, mainly just joining student organizations. Great campus traditions like Hit the Bricks and rolling the quad.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
We roll the trees on the upper quad with toilet paper, rolling the quad, whenever we win a big game or beat a rival. Hit the Bricks is a cancer fundraising event where student groups try to run circles around the quad with a backpack full of bricks nonstop the entire day. Lovefeast is a Moravian Christian tradition where students eat bread and coffee and sing Christmas songs at the end of second semester. Library has humans versus zombies competitions sometimes.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Hardworkers, self motivated, were probably extremely active in high school in sports, clubs, all and any extracurriculars.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Wide range of student groups and organizations. One might think we have not that many groups due to smaller nature of the student body, but every student I know is in at least 3 clubs, so the student body is active enough to support a large variety of clubs. Most people love what they do and wouldn't choose to drop any of their activities for more free time. Student body is composed of a lot of busy bodies, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
While Greek Life is a large part of campus, students do not stereotype a student they meet based on Greek affiliation, as we all recognize that something so trivial as sorority or fraternity membership does not define a person in any way, so that whether or not you join Greek life, you are a valued and included student on campus as long as you get involved in other things.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Never heard of anyone getting hurt ever. Campus EMTs are on duty on weekend nights and take care of students who've had too much to drink. Medical immunity is a thing if you gotta take care of your buddy but don't wanna get in trouble.
A great university with qualified, engaged faculty, an active student body, and an atmosphere competitive enough so that students challenge one another but collaborative enough so that students are willing to help one another and engage in activities in which they can work together rather than compete. Unlike at larger universities, where, for example, the only members of the cross country club are those who have been running since middle school, Wake Forest fosters an environment where anybody can try anything. The Work Forest reputation is very real, but most students on campus have been prepared by pushing themselves in high school, otherwise the campus has great tutoring resources.
Don't be scared away by the Work Forest reputation or the reputation that Greek life dominates all. It is a top 30 university, so if you don't want to work hard, Wake is definitely the wrong place, but the work is not so much that you will never see the outside of the library walls or never have time to make friends. Greek life is prominent, but not so much that you will feel left out of anything if you don't participate.
The reputation of Work Forest is well earned. Professors take very seriously the mentality that one hour of class is equivalent to 2-3 hours of preparation, so you spend a lot of time studying, but so does everyone else, so it's not like you're studying while other people are watching tv or playing video games. Everyone here works really hard, and obviously worked really hard in high school to get here, so the level of expectation and level of work is high. However, students are very supportive of one another and professors low-key beg you to come to their office hours if you are struggling with even the smallest thing.
South is the nicest, newest freshman dorm on campus, but every other dorm has its own character and charm about it. Students develop fast friendships within their halls and with roommates, despite Wake's policy of 100% random freshman roommate pairings. Restrooms are cleaned regularly and RAs are usually pretty chill.
The dining hall staff at the main cafeteria, otherwise known as the Pit, are extremely friendly and the food is pretty good as far as cafeteria food goes. Outside of the main Pit, there is a nicer, upgraded New Pit nearer to the upperclassmen dorms. The Magnolia Room offers really delicious meals for lunch, that's the best food on campus. There are two coffee shops, a Starbucks in the library and an independent one called Campus Grounds. One can use Old Gold Swipes at the campus restaurant Shorty's, Zicks (pizza place), a Subway, Moes, Chick Fil A, Boars Head (hamburgers and sandwiches), a really great salad place, Einsteins Bagels, and a fancy bistro place.
Outdoor basketball courts and volleyball courts, competitive intramural sports, going to Winston-Salem for artsy cute places to eat, mainly just joining student organizations. Great campus traditions like Hit the Bricks and rolling the quad.
We roll the trees on the upper quad with toilet paper, rolling the quad, whenever we win a big game or beat a rival. Hit the Bricks is a cancer fundraising event where student groups try to run circles around the quad with a backpack full of bricks nonstop the entire day. Lovefeast is a Moravian Christian tradition where students eat bread and coffee and sing Christmas songs at the end of second semester. Library has humans versus zombies competitions sometimes.
Hardworkers, self motivated, were probably extremely active in high school in sports, clubs, all and any extracurriculars.
Wide range of student groups and organizations. One might think we have not that many groups due to smaller nature of the student body, but every student I know is in at least 3 clubs, so the student body is active enough to support a large variety of clubs. Most people love what they do and wouldn't choose to drop any of their activities for more free time. Student body is composed of a lot of busy bodies, and I mean that in the best way possible.
While Greek Life is a large part of campus, students do not stereotype a student they meet based on Greek affiliation, as we all recognize that something so trivial as sorority or fraternity membership does not define a person in any way, so that whether or not you join Greek life, you are a valued and included student on campus as long as you get involved in other things.
Never heard of anyone getting hurt ever. Campus EMTs are on duty on weekend nights and take care of students who've had too much to drink. Medical immunity is a thing if you gotta take care of your buddy but don't wanna get in trouble.