Wake Forest University (WFU)

North Carolina's own Wake Forest University prepares students to lead lives that matter and has a reputation for quality that affords its students "excellent placement into jobs and graduate schools." Students come to Wake Forest for an education of the entire person, and the school "practices intentional interactions between professors and students, students with each other, and students and their larger community." This grand scale plan for well-rounded development includes "opportunities to serve, to become a leader, and to become part of initiatives that are larger than you." Professors "demand a lot of work but love teaching" and "ensure that students are comfortable with voicing their opinions." Classes "are not easy and good grades are tough to come by." Fortunately, faculty "are extremely helpful" and it's worth noting that many students receive academic credit for faculty-directed research. "Overall I've had a fantastic academic experience with professors that have helped me discover my intellectual passions and have had a vested interest in my success," says a junior.

Some students note that "the greatest aspects of Wake Forest" are the small school atmosphere but large school resources, as well as the high levels of support. "I feel that I could ask any professor I've had at Wake for a letter of recommendation, and they would know me personally enough to do so," says a student. There is a similarly "strong vision and support" from the administration and the alumni network, who back "opportunities that meld ideas and people that just don't happen at other colleges."

The university is steeped in Southern traditions and hospitality that "most students fit into or learn to adhere to in their tenure as Wake Students," but the school "is also home to students from around the country and the world." In this "tight-knit, supportive community" nearly everybody is "intelligent, ambitious, [and] highly involved." Some even describe the experience as "a living J. Crew magazine" in which many students are "preppy, involved in Greek life, [and] from the East Coast." But thanks to a strong foundation of friendliness and acceptance among the student body, "people generally don't have any trouble fitting in here, and can usually easily find groups of people who share their interests." WFU students come from 49 states and more than 40 countries.

Wake Forest students work extremely hard on weekdays, often spending hours in the library to complete work, but "absolutely let loose on weekends." The school's "vibrant social scene" and a schedule that is "always bustling with extracurricular activities" keep the candle burning at both ends, and "parties, going to bars downtown, concerts, game nights, and chill hang outs at friends' houses" are other methods of fun. The Division I athletics-perhaps you've heard of them?-lend Wake Forest a "big-school sports feel at a small school"; and many students play intramural sports or exercise fairly regularly as "people are very conscious of their image" at this health-conscious university. While Greek life is highly visible here, there are also organizations like the Student Union that "promote other fun aspects of campus life (i.e., movie nights, guest speakers, campus carnivals)." Students take part in "lots of great traditions at Wake Forest, like our annual Shag on the Mag dance in the spring," "rolling the quad after a big athletic win," and dinner at the on-campus restaurant Shorty's. Philanthropy is a "HUGE part of the WFU experience," and there are several extremely large community service events that happen throughout the year, including the Project Pumpkin Halloween festival, the Hit the Bricks race to support cancer research, and many others.